Threat Reduction Research Articles

Conceptual model for assessing a science–policy–management framework for threat mitigation

AbstractFire regimes are changing globally, leading to an increased need for management interventions to protect human lives and interests, potentially conflicting with biodiversity conservation. We conceptualized 5 major aspects of the process required to address threats to flora and used this conceptual model to examine and identify areas for improvement. We focused on threat identification, policy design, and action implementation. We illustrated the application of the conceptual model through a case study in southeastern Australia, where policies have been designed to prevent hazard reduction burns from exposing threatened flora to high‐frequency fire (HFF). We examined whether threatened species have been accurately identified as threatened by HFF, species were accounted for in key policies, and implementation of the policy reduced the incidence of HFF for target species. Species were mostly identified accurately as being threatened by HFF, and, broadly, the policy effectively minimized the threat from HFF. However, 96 species did not have HFF identified as a threat, and another 36 were missing from the policy entirely. Outcomes regarding the reduction of threat from HFF since policy introduction were species specific, despite an average increase in fire interval of 2 years. Despite the policy, over half (55%) the species studied have been affected by HFF since the policy was introduced. Although relatively minor improvements could optimize threat identification and policy design, the mixed success of action implementation highlights limitations that warrant further investigation. Our conceptual model enabled us to make clear and targeted recommendations for how different aspects of the policy could be improved and where further work is needed. We propose the conceptual model can be useful in a variety of contexts.

Modelling vaccination approaches for mpox containment and mitigation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Mpox was first identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1970. In 2023, a historic outbreak of mpox occurred in the country, continuing into 2024. Over 14 000 cases and 600 deaths were reported in 2023 alone, representing a major increase from previous outbreaks. The modified vaccinia Ankara vaccine (brand names JYNNEOS, Imvamune, and Imvanex) was used in the 2022 mpox outbreak in the USA and Europe. However, at the time of the study, vaccination had not been made available in the DRC. We aimed to inform policy and decision makers on the potential benefits of, and resources needed, for mpox vaccination campaigns in the DRC by providing counterfactual scenarios evaluating the short-term effects of various vaccination strategies on mpox cases and deaths, if such a vaccination campaign had been undertaken before the 2023-24 outbreak. A dynamic transmission model was used to simulate mpox transmission in the DRC, stratified by age (<5, 5-15, and >15 years) and province. The model was used to simulate potential vaccination strategies, varying by age and region (endemic provinces, non-endemic provinces with historic cases, and all provinces) assessing the effect the strategies would have on deaths and cases in an epidemic year similar to 2023. In addition, we estimated the number of vaccine doses needed to implement each strategy. Without vaccination, our model predicted 14 700 cases and 700 deaths from mpox over 365 days. Vaccinating 80% of all children younger than 5 years in endemic regions led to a 27% overall reduction in cases and a 43% reduction in deaths, requiring 10·5 million vaccine doses. Vaccinating 80% of all children younger than 5 years in all regions led to a 29% reduction in cases and a 43% reduction in deaths, requiring 33·1 million doses. Vaccinating 80% of children aged 15 years or younger in endemic provinces led to a 54% reduction in cases and a 71% reduction in deaths, requiring 26·6 million doses. When resources are limited, vaccinating children aged 15 years or younger, or younger than 5 years, in endemic regions of the DRC would be the most efficient use of vaccines. Further research is needed to explore long-term effects of a one-time or recurrent vaccination campaign. Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canadian International Development Research Centre, US Department of Defense (Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Mpox Threat Reduction Network), Global Affairs Canada (Weapons Threat Reduction Program), US Department for Agriculture (Agriculture Research Service, Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement).

Safety and immunogenicity of a delayed booster dose of the rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP vaccine for prevention of Ebola virus disease: a multicentre, open-label, phase 2 randomised controlled trial

rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP is the first approved vaccine with clinical efficacy against Ebola virus disease. Although a seroprotective threshold has not been defined for those at occupational risk of exposure, the current vaccine strategy is to attain a sustained high level of antibody titres. The aim of this trial was to explore the effects of delayed boosting upon both the height and duration of antibody titres following primary immunisation. In this open-label phase 2 randomised controlled trial, we compared antibody titres at month 36in participants who had received a homologous booster dose at month 18following primary immunisation with those who had received no booster. From Oct 25, 2016, to Jan 29, 2020, healthy adults aged 18years or older deemed at occupational risk of exposure to Ebola virus due to laboratory work, clinical duties, or travel to an active endemic region were recruited from four hospital clinics in the USA and one hospital clinic in Canada and received primary vaccination with 2×107 plaque-forming unit per mL of VSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP. 18months later, individuals who consented and were still eligible were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either a homologous booster dose or no booster. Study visits for safety and serial blood collections for antibody titres were done on enrolled participants at months 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 19, 24, 30, and 36. Through July, 2021, a web-based application was used for randomisation, including assignments with schedules for each of the five sites using mixed permuted blocks. The trial was not masked to participants or site staff. The primary endpoint was a comparison of geometric mean titres (GMTs) of anti-Ebola virus glycoprotein IgG antibody at month 36 (ie, 18months after randomisation) for all randomly assigned participants who completed the 36months of follow-up (primary analysis cohort). Investigators were aware of antibody titres from baseline (enrolment) through month 18but were masked to summary data by randomisation group after month 18. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02788227). Of the 248participants who enrolled and received their primary immunisation, 114proceeded to the randomisation step at month 18. The two randomisation groups were balanced: 57participants (24 [42%] of whom were female; median age was 42years [IQR 35-50]) were randomly assigned to the booster group and 57 (24 [42%] of whom were female; median age was 42years [IQR 36-51]) to the no-booster group. Of those randomly assigned, 92participants (45 in the booster group and 47in the no-booster group) completed 36months of follow-up. At 18months after primary immunisation, GMTs in the no-booster group increased from a baseline of 10ELISA units (EU)/mL (95% CI 7-14) to 1451EU/mL (1118-1882); GMTs in the booster group increased from 9EU/mL (6-16) to 1769EU/mL (1348-2321). At month 19, GMTs were 31 408EU/mL (23 181-42 554) for the booster group and 1406EU/mL (1078-1833) for the no-booster group; at month 36, GMTs were 10 146EU/mL (7960-12 933) for the booster group and 1240EU/mL (984-1563) for the no-booster group. Accordingly, the geometric mean ratio (GMR) of antibody titres had increased almost 21-fold more in the booster versus no-booster group at 1month after booster administration (GMR 20·6; 95% CI 18·2-23·0; p<0·0001) and was still over 7-fold higher at month 36 (GMR 7·8; 95% CI 5·5-10·2; p<0·0001). Consistent with previous reports of this vaccine's side-effects, transient mono-articular or oligo-articular arthritis was diagnosed in 18 (9%) of 207primary vaccination recipients; after randomisation, arthritis was diagnosed in one (2%)of 57participants in the no-booster group. No new cases of arthritis developed after booster administration. Four serious adverse events occurred following randomisation: one (epistaxis) in the booster group and three (gastrointestinal haemorrhage, prostate cancer, and tachyarrhythmia) in the no-booster group. None of the serious adverse events was judged attributable to the booster vaccination assignment. In addition to no new safety concerns and in marked contrast to earlier trials evaluating short-term boosting, delaying a rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP booster until month 18resulted in an increase in GMT that remained several-fold above the no-booster group GMT for at least 18months. These findings could have implications for defining the optimal timing of booster doses as pre-exposure prophylaxis in populations at ongoing risk for Ebola virus exposure. The Division of Intramural Research and the Division of Clinical Research of the National Institute of Allergyand Infectious Diseases at the US National Institutes of Health, Canadian Immunization Research Network through the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

Regional Security, Problems and Influencing Factors: A Case Study of Albania

The new national, regional and global security environment and its trends are expressed in a synthesized way in the National Security Strategy. Our region is increasingly characterized, on the one hand, by overcoming the old mindsets of confrontation between states and the perceptible reduction of traditional threats, by the promotion of a new spirit of cooperation and the values of integration in the collective security structures and on the other hand, it is facing a new nature of challenges, dangers and threats with non-traditional, asymmetric forms and contents, on terrorist, ethnic or other grounds, initiated by nationalist-extremist elements and groups. Receiving the long-awaited invitation to the Bucharest Summit in April 2008, as well as the final moment for NATO accession at the NATO Summit in Stratsburg and Kehl, marks a qualitative stage in the complete process of Albania in the Euro-Atlantic structures. In this new perspective, the security and defense of our country will suffer qualitative effects; from the concept of individual security and protection, it will finally be passed "de jure" to the concept of collective security and protection, accompanied by all the relevant benefits and contributions. Likewise, the new states of Kosovo and Montenegro have given our region a new favorable panorama of regional security. Going forward, our assessments of the security environment, expected risks and threats, and the spectrum of FARSH combat and non-combat missions will be significantly influenced by the collective security assessments articulated in the Alliance's Strategic Concept (CSC), Policy of European Security and Defense (ESDP) and the Charter of the United Nations. In this new perspective, in full accordance with the constitutional obligations, FARSH to adopt a new defense planning system, in harmony with the standards and planning processes of the Euro-Atlantic Alliance. Keywords: Influencing factors, Regional security, NATO, National security

Coastal Resilience: A Comparative Analysis on the Landscape Management of Tanjung Lesung Beach and Puerto Galera Beach

Abstract Coastal communities in the Southeast Asian region are presently at risk from natural disasters emerging from climate change. Along with these situations are landscape-based solutions that arise immediate concerns for the landscape management approaches for coastal areas, aiming at reduction of threats toward communities. Beach communities like in Tanjung Lesung in Banten, Indonesia, and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro in the Philippines have become subject contexts in this comparative study, considering that potential landscape management solutions have been observed from some cultures in both places, which may promote profound techniques that are cultivated from Southeast Asia. This research employs SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) and PEST (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological) frameworks to evaluate the environmental features of both Tanjung Lesung and Puerto Galera. These methods were preassigned to investigate their advantages in studying the landscape and their capacity to provide valuable insights for the development of both destination’s Landscape Character Management Plan. Structured around four interrelated objectives: (1) geospatial integration, (2) indicator system development, (3) synergistic integration, and (4) landscape management enhancement, the research utilizes a multifaceted approach. This includes desk reviews, observations, interviews with key informants, and mapping, supplementing the SWOT-PEST analysis. In doing so, an integrated methodological framework set in a spatial context was the result leading to determining strategic areas, nodes, and networks that are crucial to improving the environment, primarily characterized as the coastal landscapes, thus serving as potential coastal landscape management references of other coastal landscape areas with similar conditions in the Southeast Asian region.

Influence of inhomogeneous state of charge distributions on thermal runaway propagation in lithium-ion batteries

It is well known that lithium-ion batteries pose a certain safety risk. The thermal runaway of a cell and the subsequent thermal propagation through the battery are considered particularly dangerous. Effective solutions for their mitigation are therefore of great interest. Previous studies have shown the significant influence of a cell’s state of charge (SOC) on its behavior during thermal runaway. This relation may be exploitable in a battery pack to improve its safety. This study aims to assess the leverage of active SOC reduction in the imminent threat of thermal runaway. Implementing such a technique could become feasible with the emergence of reconfigurable battery systems. Four experiments were conducted, each with a module of three fresh 63Ah high energy pouch cells in a spring-loaded bracing. The experiments studied different stationary SOC configurations, uniform (100% and 60%) and non-uniform (100%–60%–100% and 100%–20%–100%). The results indicate that thermal propagation is substantially delay (87s) by discharging a cell in its path. The SOC reduction primarily decreases the maximum temperature of the respective cell. Further effects are a calmer thermal runaway and prolonged propagation time within the cell as well as to the next cell. In comparison, the SOC reduction has little impact on the cell’s own triggering time, as the triggering time is mainly determined by the thermal energy transferred from the preceding cell and hence by its SOC. Furthermore, the analysis of the experimental data (temperature, voltage, pressure, video) gives insights into the propagation of thermal runaway through the individual layers of a cell. With reference to the position of a cell relative to the origin of the thermal propagation, a decrease of its mass loss and an increase of its internal propagation time is observed. This effect is attributed to the decreasing module pressure due to progressive loss of material. The assessment shows that active SOC reduction techniques have great leverage for mitigating or even stopping thermal propagation in a battery pack.

Sunscreen pollution is abated during the COVID-19 “Anthropause” of 2020 in two U.S. National Parks: Cape Lookout National Seashore and Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park

From March to June 2020, governments across the world imposed lockdowns in an attempt to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 during the early phase of the pandemic. This period of time in which human activity slowed worldwide has been coined the “Anthropause”. The goal of this study was to determine if sunscreen pollution abated during the Anthropause and to identify the severity of the pollution when tourism/recreation recovered at two coastal units of the U.S. National Park System: Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park in Hawaiʻi, U.S.A. and Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina, U.S.A. Active ingredients of sunscreen products were measured in water and sand samples at both locations, including oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, octisalate, homosalate, and relevant breakdown products of some of these ingredients. A risk assessment was conducted on Anthropause and post-Anthropause contaminant levels for both locations to determine if there was a threat reduction during the Anthropause, and whether tourism recovery in the post-Anthropause period served as a threat to coastal wildlife. Both national park units exhibited an almost absolute reduction in the levels of sunscreen contamination during the Anthropause period, a striking commonality considering the geographic expanse separating the parks. Once travel restrictions were lifted, a large influx of tourists ensued at both locations, resulting in a relatively sudden and dangerous increase in the levels of sunscreen chemical pollution. This study supports the argument that unmanaged tourism is a source of coastal sunscreen pollution that poses a threat to the localized continuity of species populations and biodiversity, especially to coral reefs and fisheries.

From Theory to Practice: Implementing Effective Role-Based Access Control Strategies to Mitigate Insider Risks in Diverse Organizational Contexts

This study investigates the effectiveness of Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) systems in mitigating insider threats to database security within various organizational environments. Insider threats represent a significant challenge for database security, necessitating robust and adaptive security measures. By delineating access based on users' roles within an organization, RBAC emerges as a critical tool against such threats. Employing a quantitative research methodology, this work gathered data through a survey targeting professionals directly involved in the security and management of organizational databases across technology, finance, healthcare, and government industries. The study utilized Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to validate the measurement model and analyze the relationships between RBAC effectiveness, implementation challenges, RBAC enhancements, and their collective impact on insider threat reduction. Findings indicate that RBAC effectively reduces unauthorized access and data breaches, significantly mitigating insider threats. However, implementation challenges such as role definition complexity and adapting to dynamic access needs emerge as notable obstacles. Enhancements in RBAC, mainly through integrating technologies like machine learning and dynamic access controls, are identified as critical mediators that enhance RBAC's effectiveness. The study concludes that while RBAC is a vital tool for database security, its success depends on continuous improvement and customization to specific organizational contexts. It recommends developing continuous enhancement programs for RBAC systems, specialized training for administrators, and the customization of RBAC strategies to meet unique organizational and industry needs. These measures are crucial for optimizing RBAC's effectiveness against insider threats.

What is the evidence that counter‐wildlife crime interventions are effective for conserving African, Asian and Latin American wildlife directly threatened by exploitation? A systematic map

Abstract Counter‐wildlife crime (CWC) interventions—those that directly protect target wildlife from illegal harvest/persecution, detect and sanction rule‐breakers, and interdict and control illegal wildlife commodities—are widely applied to address biodiversity loss. This systematic map provides an overview of the literature on the effectiveness of CWC interventions for conserving African, Asian and Latin American wildlife directly threatened by exploitation, including human–wildlife conflicts that trigger poaching. Following our systematic map protocol (Rytwinski, Öckerman, et al., 2021), we compiled peer‐reviewed and grey literature and screened articles using pre‐defined inclusion criteria. Included studies were coded for key variables of interest, from which we produced a searchable database, interactive map and structured heatmaps. A total of 530 studies from 477 articles were included in the systematic map. Most studies were from Africa and Asia (81% of studies) and focused on African and Asian elephants (16%), felids (14%) and turtles and tortoises (11%). Most evaluations of CWC interventions targeted wildlife products (rather than species) and the transfer of those products along the wildlife crime continuum (40% of cases). Population/species outcomes were most commonly measured via indicators of threat reduction (65% of cases) and intermediate outcomes (25%). We identified knowledge clusters where studies investigated the links between (1) patrols and other preventative actions to increase detection and population abundance and (2) information analysis and sharing and wildlife crime/trade levels. However, the effectiveness of most interventions was not rigorously evaluated. Most investigations used post‐implementation monitoring only (e.g. lacking a comparator), and no experimental designs were found. We identified several key knowledge gaps including a paucity of studies by geography (Latin America), taxonomy (plants, birds and reptiles), interventions (non‐patrol‐based CWC interventions) and outcomes (biological and the combination of biological and human well‐being outcomes). Our map reveals an opportunity to improve the rigour and documentation of CWC intervention evaluations, which would enable the evidence‐based selection of effective approaches to improve wildlife conservation and national security.

Future of maritime autonomy: cybersecurity, trust and mariner's situational awareness

As technology evolves, the level of automation in the maritime industry also grows. Given the extensive benefits they offer, the industry will continue to develop its digital capabilities in order to improve. One key example of this is the industry currently striving for fully autonomous vessels. Current crew-based maritime operations on board rely on a mixture of automated simplistic processes, human decision-making, and human interventions. The future autonomy suggests the removal of the mariner physically on board. The remote nature of these operations will subject mariners and vessels to new operational risks, such as a potential reduction in Situational Awareness (SA) and/or cyber threats. In this research, authors engaged with navigators with a range of traditional operational experiences to extend previous discussions conducted with cadets on the importance of SA in maritime operations, and the potential challenges facing this when engaging in remote operations. This was done using tabletops, questionnaires and full bridge simulator exercises. Through this engagement, authors found that future navigators will need training to be equipped with new skills to interact with digital systems during different modes of human operation (such as remote monitoring, supervision and intervention) to overcome perceived challenges including cyber incident management.

Analytical Capabilities of Statistical Methodology for Assessing Threats to Economic Security

Subject. Reduction of threats to economic security based on the construction of multifactorial statistical models that quantify the impact of factors on the level of economic crime, in particular, on the scale of material damage from economic crime. Purposes. Adaptation and application of statistical methodology for complex quantitative assessment of threats to economic security, multifactor modeling of patterns and trends of economic crime. Methods. Applied methods of multidimensional classification - cluster analysis, correlation and regression, trend models and forecasting. Results. Statistical modeling was carried out in the context of clusters formed during the study, reflecting the specification of their regions based on the application of statistical methodology for the typologization of the regions of the Russian Federation and the construction of multifactorial statistical models that quantitatively describe the impact of factors on the level of economic crime (the scale of material damage from economic crime). Conclusions. The results of the conducted research can be used in information and analytical work and activities of departments of internal affairs bodies, public administration bodies to develop directions for reducing economic security risks from criminalization factors. The obtained substantiation of the significance of the factors provides the basis for their inclusion in the dynamic regression model, according to which it is advisable to create short-term forecasts of the crime level of an economic orientation.

Disaster Management and Landslide Risk Reduction Strategies in The Gebog Sub-District of Kudus Regency, Central Java, Indonesia

Historically, the Kudus Regency in Central Java Province, Indonesia, has been prone to landslides. This study was conducted in the Gebog Sub-District of Kudus Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The objectives of this study are: (1) to analyze the level of landslide disaster risk in the Gebog Sub-District, (2) to assess the current community-based landslide risk management activities undertaken by the local population in the Gebog Sub-District and (3) to formulate community-based landslide risk reduction management strategies to mitigate landslide risk. Variables for the level of landslide disaster risk include landslide hazards/threats, vulnerability to landslide hazards and community capacity to deal with landslides. Variables related to the management of landslide risk studied encompass pre-disaster, during-disaster and post-disaster activities by the community. Meanwhile, the variables for community-based landslide risk reduction management strategies include threat reduction, vulnerability reduction and enhancing community capacity before, during and after a landslide disaster. The research design is based on field surveys with 99 individuals as research subjects and 33 field units as samples. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews and analysis was conducted using scoring and ranking. The research findings indicate that the current community-based landslide risk management activities are still low. From the research and focus group discussions, new strategies for community-based landslide risk reduction management were identified to reduce landslide risk.

The Consequences of Anthropomorphic and Teleological Beliefs in a Global Pandemic.

To describe something in terms of its purpose or function is to describe its teleology. Previous studies have found that teleological beliefs are positively related to anthropomorphism, and that anthropomorphism decreases the perceived unpredictability of non-human agents. In the current study, we explore these relationships using the highly salient example of beliefs about the coronavirus pandemic. Results showed that both anthropomorphism and teleology were negatively associated with perceived uncertainty and threat, and positively associated with self-reported behavioural change in response to the pandemic. These findings suggest that highly anthropomorphic and teleological individuals may view coronavirus as agentive and goal-directed. While anthropomorphic and teleological beliefs may facilitate behavioural change in response to the pandemic, we also found that the associated reduction in uncertainty and threat may be detrimental to behavioural change. We discuss the implications of these findings for messaging about global events more broadly.

Transboundary determinants of avian zoonotic infectious diseases: challenges for strengthening research capacity and connecting surveillance networks.

As the climate changes, global systems have become increasingly unstable and unpredictable. This is particularly true for many disease systems, including subtypes of highly pathogenic avian influenzas (HPAIs) that are circulating the world. Ecological patterns once thought stable are changing, bringing new populations and organisms into contact with one another. Wild birds continue to be hosts and reservoirs for numerous zoonotic pathogens, and strains of HPAI and other pathogens have been introduced into new regions via migrating birds and transboundary trade of wild birds. With these expanding environmental changes, it is even more crucial that regions or counties that previously did not have surveillance programs develop the appropriate skills to sample wild birds and add to the understanding of pathogens in migratory and breeding birds through research. For example, little is known about wild bird infectious diseases and migration along the Mediterranean and Black Sea Flyway (MBSF), which connects Europe, Asia, and Africa. Focusing on avian influenza and the microbiome in migratory wild birds along the MBSF, this project seeks to understand the determinants of transboundary disease propagation and coinfection in regions that are connected by this flyway. Through the creation of a threat reduction network for avian diseases (Avian Zoonotic Disease Network, AZDN) in three countries along the MBSF (Georgia, Ukraine, and Jordan), this project is strengthening capacities for disease diagnostics; microbiomes; ecoimmunology; field biosafety; proper wildlife capture and handling; experimental design; statistical analysis; and vector sampling and biology. Here, we cover what is required to build a wild bird infectious disease research and surveillance program, which includes learning skills in proper bird capture and handling; biosafety and biosecurity; permits; next generation sequencing; leading-edge bioinformatics and statistical analyses; and vector and environmental sampling. Creating connected networks for avian influenzas and other pathogen surveillance will increase coordination and strengthen biosurveillance globally in wild birds.

Targeting ocean conservation outcomes through threat reduction

Nations have committed to reductions in the global rate of species extinctions through the Sustainable Development Goals 14 and 15, for ocean and terrestrial species, respectively. Biodiversity loss is worsening despite rapid growth in the number and extent of protected areas, both at sea and on land. Resolving this requires targeting the locations and actions that will deliver positive conservation outcomes for biodiversity. The Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metric, developed by a consortium of experts, quantifies the contributions that abating threats and restoring habitats in specific places offer towards reducing extinction risk based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. STAR is now recommended as an appropriate metric by recent disclosure frameworks for companies to report their impacts on nature and STAR has seen widespread uptake within the private sector. However, it is currently only available for the terrestrial realm. We extend the coverage of the threat abatement component of the STAR metric (START), used to identify locations where positive interventions could make a large contribution to reducing global species extinction risk and where developments that increase threats to species should be mitigated, to the marine realm for 1646 marine species. Reducing unsustainable fishing provides the greatest opportunity to lower species extinction risk, comprising 43% of the marine START score. Three-quarters (75%) of the global marine START score falls entirely outside the boundaries of protected areas and only 2.7% falls within no-take protected areas. The STAR metric can be used both to guide protected area expansion and to target other actions, such as establishment and enforcement of fishing limits, to recover biodiversity.

Impact of the minimum wage increase on intimate partner violence (IPV): a quasi-experimental study in South Korea

BackgroundPoverty is associated with intimate partner violence (IPV), but whether exogenous increases in wage could reduce IPV among low-income women is still unclear. We examined whether the 2018 minimum wage...

MPOX: Research priorities for threat reduction

MPOX: Research priorities for threat reduction Concerted efforts are needed to close knowledge gaps around mpox to improve preparedness and response efforts for this neglected disease. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a previously neglected re-emerging zoonotic disease caused by monkeypox virus (MPV), genus Orthopoxvirus, family Poxviridae. This virus can cause severe illness in infected patients and is endemic in numerous countries across Central and West Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia, and others. However, in 2022, a global mpox outbreak led to the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization, with more than 90,000 confirmed cases reported from non-endemic global regions. While swift responses to this outbreak helped reduce case trends across highly impacted regions by Fall 2022, including the distribution of vaccine and therapeutics to at-risk communities, as well as increased public awareness, ongoing outbreaks in endemic regions continue to have deleterious effects on public health.

Reduction of Nitrate Leaching and Threats to Surface Water Under Conservation Tillage

Highlights Conservation agriculture practice (NT) improved soil organic matter, a principal indicator of soil health, soil health score (SHS) and CO2 respiration, and other soil physical and chemical properties vs. conventional till (CT) practice. Conservation agriculture practice (NT) promoted soil health functions under sufficient precipitation distribution and ample temperature conditions and aided the soil's retention ability to resist nitrate leaching and loads in subsurface drainage discharge systems. Uneven weather conditions, drought, and other variable agronomic practices rendered soil conditions unfavorable to retain nitrate and induced adverse effects by increasing the nitrate leaching and loads in NT vs. CT. The limited experiment period presented significant challenges for the evaluation and synthesizing of soil health motivations and barriers in the NT vs. CT. Abstract. An edge-of-field subsurface drainage discharge system removes excess subsurface water from agricultural fields to improve the conditions of the soil system making them favorable for plant growth. Conversely, edge-of-fields can increase the nitrate (NO3 -) offsite movement to surface water bodies, which ultimately impacts water quality. In St. Johns, MI. Two on-farm large areas were initiated in 2013 for conservation (NT) and conventional till (CT) practices, of which two microscale fields, an area of 4 acres for each, were delineated in 2019 for NT and CT practices under a corn/soybean crop rotation. NT and CT fields were monitored and evaluated through full water years (WYs) 2019-2022. The objective was to use an innovative approach in coupling edge-of-field with soil health assessments to learn how improved soil health functions are influencing nitrate leaching and loads. NT practice enhanced SOM, other physical properties, and soil health parameters, promoting soil health functions compared to CT practice under conditions of adequate precipitation and favorable temperatures. Additionally, it improved the soil's ability to retain and resist nitrate loads in the 2020 water year, with reductions of 9.6 and 18.3 kg/ha, respectively. In 2021, WY nitrate loads reported nearly an equal value in NT vs. CT (4.8 and 4.4 kg/ha, respectively). Factors of uneven weather conditions and drought, variable agronomic practices, and residual nitrogen after corn, rendered soil conditions unfavorable to retain nitrate and induced adverse effects by increasing the nitrate leaching and loads in NT vs CT in 2022 WY (8.1 and 5.8 kg/h, respectively). Therefore, the limited evaluation period (2019-2022 WYs) presented significant challenges and revealed no affirmative evidence that the improved soil health functions under NT reduced the nitrate leaching loads in all WYs of this research. Further research is needed to prove the impact of NT on improving soil health functions to sustainably reduce nitrate leaching and loads in edge-of-fields. Keywords: Conservation no-till (NT), Conventional till (CT), Nitrate load, Soil health functions, Subsurface drainage discharge, Water quality.

Россия и Китай: взаимодействия в сфере наземного транспорта на современном этапе

The paper presents an overview of the dynamics of cross-border interactions between Russia and the PRC in terms of road and rail modes of transportation in 2020–2023. It is shown that transportation services underwent changes determined by short-term and long-term factors. In the period under consideration, short-term factors had a more significant impact: 1) restrictions related to COVID-19 infection control measures (2020–2022); 2) reduction of the pandemic threat and gradual lifting of the applied restrictions (from the beginning of 2023). Long-term factors also influenced transportation interactions. The paper analyzes the growth of containerization, changes in institutional conditions, increased demand for transportation in the context of growing sanctions pressure on Russia and reorientation of transport and logistics flows. The processes of adjustment of rail and road cross-border correspondence in the context of freight and passenger segments, as well as individual checkpoints on the border between Russia and China are considered. It is noted that by the beginning of 2024 the transport interactions between the countries have been restored at the «pre-pandemic» level and are developing: construction of transport infrastructure facilities continues, technical equipment of border checkpoints is being improved, new organizational forms of transportation (special container trains, new routes, transportation technologies) are being implemented

ПОДХОДЫ К ФОРМИРОВАНИЮ КОМПЛЕКСНОЙ СИСТЕМЫ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ БЕЗОПАСНОСТЬЮ ПРЕДПРИЯТИЯ

The article outlines issues of economic security at enterprises in the context of global digital business transformation, which are associated with the active use of modern information and communication tools containing various digital risks,. It is noted that modern approaches to the formation of a comprehensive system of economic security should take into account various external and internal factors of influence on the economic entity. The key elements of the management structure are considered, as well as priority directions for the formation of an effective system of economic security of the enterprise, contributing to the maximum reduction of threats and risks of macro and microenvironment. Authors highlight the main stages of operational assessment of the current level of economic security of the organization, which are necessary to maintain the effective functioning of the entire management system, The guidelines for economic security management are defined for. enterprises of various spheres of business, which allows achieving the security of all the departments functioning, as well as their implementation contributes to improving the business activities efficiency.