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Background: Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent) is a dioecious tree native to East Asia and mainland Southeast-Asia, introduced prehistorically to Polynesia as a source of bark fiber by Austronesian-speaking voyagers. In Oceania, trees are coppiced and harvested for production of bark-cloth, so flowering is generally unknown. A survey of botanical records of paper mulberry revealed a distributional disjunction: the tree is apparently absent in Borneo and the Philippines. A subsequent study of chloroplast haplotypes linked paper mulberry of Remote Oceania directly to a population in southern Taiwan, distinct from known populations in mainland Southeast-Asia. Methodology: We describe the optimization and use of a DNA marker designed to identify sex in paper mulberry. We used this marker to determine the sex distribution in selected localities across Asia, Near and Remote Oceania. We also characterized all samples using the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequence (ITS) in order to relate results to a previous survey of ITS diversity. Results: In Near and Remote Oceania, contemporary paper mulberry plants are all female with the exception of Hawaii, where plants of both sexes are found. In its natural range in Asia, male and female plants are found, as expected. Male plants in Hawaii display an East Asian ITS genotype, consistent with modern introduction, while females in Remote Oceania share a distinctive variant. Conclusions: Most paper mulberry plants now present in the Pacific appear to be descended from female clones introduced prehistorically. In Hawaii, the presence of male and female plants is thought to reflect a dual origin, one a prehistoric female introduction and the other a modern male introduction by Japanese/Chinese immigrants. If only female clones were dispersed from a source-region in Taiwan, this may explain the absence of botanical records and breeding populations in the Philippines and Borneo, and Remote Oceania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent.) was one of the most widely distributed crop species in prehistoric Oceania, occurring from continental East Asia to the Polynesian islands. Its broad distribution is largely due to human-mediated dispersal during colonization of the islands of Near and Remote Oceania. We explore the potential for analyses of genetic variation in paper mulberry and the value of such data for the development of a new commensal model species for reconstructing patterns of human mobility in Oceania. We introduce and discuss paper mulberry as another commensal species and outline key features for its contribution to the understanding of human migration and post-colonization interaction. Here, we describe some of the extant B. papyrifera populations in Remote Oceania and Taiwan that were sampled for initial studies. We argue that the unique characteristics of this species and its importance in ancient Pacific island societies may provide the opportunity to collect valuable genetic data with which we can address several key questions in Pacific prehistory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans introduced paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) from Taiwan into the Pacific over 5000 years ago as a fiber source to make barkcloth textiles that were, and still are, important cultural artifacts throughout the Pacific. We have used B. papyrifera, a species closely associated to humans, as a proxy to understand the human settlement of the Pacific Islands. We report the first genetic analysis of paper mulberry textiles from historical and archaeological contexts (200 to 50 years before present) and compare our results with genetic data obtained from contemporary and herbarium paper mulberry samples. Following stringent ancient DNA protocols, we extracted DNA from 13 barkcloth textiles. We confirmed that the fiber source is paper mulberry in nine of the 13 textiles studied using the nuclear ITS-1 marker and by statistical estimates. We detected high genetic diversity in historical Pacific paper mulberry barkcloth with a set of ten microsatellites, showing new alleles and specific genetic patterns. These genetic signatures allow tracing connections to plants from the Asian homeland, Near and Remote Oceania, establishing links not observed previously (using the same genetic tools) in extant plants or herbaria samples. These results show that historic barkcloth textiles are cultural materials amenable to genetic analysis to reveal human history and that these artifacts may harbor evidence of greater genetic diversity in Pacific B. papyrifera in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper mulberry, Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent. (Moraceae), a dioecious species, was transported by humans from Taiwan to the islands of Remote Oceania. Its introduction and cultivation in Remote Oceania was intentional due to its cultural importance as a fiber source for barkcloth textiles. The aim of this study was to explore the genetic diversity and structure of paper mulberry populations within Remote Oceania in order to infer dispersal patterns that may reflect past human interaction among island groups. We present the integrated analysis of 380 samples (313 contemporary and 67 herbarium specimens) collected in Near and Remote Oceania. Genetic characterization was based on a set of ten microsatellites developed for B. papyrifera and complemented with the analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer ITS-1 sequence, a sex marker and the chloroplast ndhF-rpl32 intergenic spacer. Microsatellite data identify a total of 64 genotypes, despite this being a clonally propagated crop, and show three major dispersal hubs within Remote Oceania, centered on the islands of Fiji, Tonga, and Pitcairn. Of 64 genotypes identified, 55 correspond to genotypes associated to female-sexed plants that probably descend from plants introduced by the prehistoric Austronesian-speaking voyagers. The ratio of accessions to genotypes between herbarium and contemporary samples, suggests recent loss of genetic diversity. In addition to the chloroplast haplotypes described previously, we detected two new haplotypes within Remote Oceania both originating in Taiwan. This is the first study of a commensal species to show genetic structuring within Remote Oceania. In spite of the genetic bottleneck, the presence of only one sex, a timespan of less than 5000 years, and asexual propagation of this crop in Remote Oceania, we detect genetic diversity and regional structuring. These observations suggest specific migration routes between island groups within Remote Oceania., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The peopling of Remote Oceanic islands by Austronesian speakers is a fascinating and yet contentious part of human prehistory. Linguistic, archaeological, and genetic studies have shown the complex nature of the process in which different components that helped to shape Lapita culture in Near Oceania each have their own unique history. Important evidence points to Taiwan as an Austronesian ancestral homeland with a more distant origin in South China, whereas alternative models favor South China to North Vietnam or a Southeast Asian origin. We test these propositions by studying phylogeography of paper mulberry, a common East Asian tree species introduced and clonally propagated since prehistoric times across the Pacific for making barkcloth, a practical and symbolic component of Austronesian cultures. Using the hypervariable chloroplast ndhF-rpl32 sequences of 604 samples collected from East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceanic islands (including 19 historical herbarium specimens from Near and Remote Oceania), 48 haplotypes are detected and haplotype cp-17 is predominant in both Near and Remote Oceania. Because cp-17 has an unambiguous Taiwanese origin and cp-17-carrying Oceanic paper mulberries are clonally propagated, our data concur with expectations of Taiwan as the Austronesian homeland, providing circumstantial support for the "out of Taiwan" hypothesis. Our data also provide insights into the dispersal of paper mulberry from South China "into North Taiwan," the "out of South China-Indochina" expansion to New Guinea, and the geographic origins of post-European introductions of paper mulberry into Oceania.

The automotive industry has always represented a key sector within the economy of any country. Moreover, its significant contribution to the gross domestic product of many countries transformed this industry into one of the main pillars of the global economy. Therefore, numerous countries have built and produced various motor vehicles on different continents. The purpose of the paper is to briefly present and analyze the evolution of the world motor vehicle production on the four continents (Europe, America, Asia-Oceania, and Africa) in the period 2018-2022. The research methodology is based on a qualitative research method. The paper shows that the pre-pandemic period was a better period for the automotive industry than the pandemic period. Also, it demonstrates that Asia- Oceania dominates the production hierarchy by continents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the mid-twentieth century, growing North American textile and ready-to-wear industries vigorously appropriated Native American aesthetics to cultivate a commercial and design identity apart from Europe. Most studies of the circulation of Indigenous idioms in these industries focus on Southwestern or South Pacific regionalisms, and scholarship on studio and commercial fabric and fashion design from the Northwest Coast in the twentieth century is limited. This paper contributes by raising Indigenous and non-Indigenous use of Northwest Coast design forms during the politically turbulent 1940s–1960s and analyzing the impact of this aesthetic vocabulary within broader North American textiles and fashion. Throughout, I engage with the approaches of critical fashion theory and multiple modernisms, considering the frictions of property and power relations within settler-colonial states, then and now. Drawing from study of objects, periodicals, and archival materials as well as first-person perspectives, I contextualize these representations within entangled art, museum, and design worlds in the Northwest Coast, New York City, and the Southwest. My examination illustrates that Northwest Coast artists and art ideas asserted a peripheral but locatable role in mid-century textiles and fashion, facilitating the development of today's robust Indigenous fashion network on the Northwest Coast and its cultural politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food is one of the basic necessities for human life. Nutritious food is essential for human health and helps oneself live up to our best potential as productive members of society. In spite of this, 3 billion people are estimated to have limited access to nutrient-rich food, and there are 768 million undernourished people in the globe today. There are still concerns with food systems and food security, despite the fast economic transformation of low-and middle-income nations in Maritime Southeast Asia and Oceania over the past 10 years. These issues include dwindling agricultural land, deforestation, ineffective food supply networks, environmental degradation, changing and unhealthy diets, non-communicable diseases, disappearing cultural legacy, and ineffective policies. These problems are exacerbated by climate change, natural hazards, and pandemic shocks. This review explores the perspectives of food systems that relates to all the elements and activities in transforming agri-food industry. In this paper, we discuss the challenges and solutions to transforming food systems in this region to achieve a sustainable and healthy diet for all, with the perspective of bringing the region closer toward the UN sustainable development goals. This paper is an outcome of the deliberations that took place during the Food Security in Small Islands and Developing States workshop in 2020. It also includes insights from subsequent expert group sessions that focused on the following topics: Agriculture and Food Systems; Nutrition, Health, and Culture; Innovations and Digitalization in Food Systems; as well as Policies Coordination and Future Shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous and strategic planning of full-service carriers plays a prominent role in transferring and adapting them into resilient full-service carrier network structures. The exploration of full-service carrier network structures using the latest long-term empirical data facilitates enhancing cognitive capabilities in aspects of identifying network development tendencies, readjusting network structures, and supporting determinations of strategic business routes. Aiming at providing sustainable transport network solutions with historical long-term network structure analysis, this paper researches the global top 10 full-service carriers' air transport networks from 2007 to 2022, applied using social network analysis (SNA). The static metrics from local to path-based perspectives are adopted to explore the global network evolution trend, along with competitiveness characteristics over critical airports. The cascading failure model is applied as a key indicator to analyze the dynamic robustness capability for the network. The similarity changing feature among the selected networks over the past years from 2007 to 2022 is measured using the autocorrelation function (ACF). The results indicate that, from 2011 to 2019, the majority of full-service carrier networks belong to the network types of closed, structural symmetry and two-way transitivity. The critical airports in North America present superiority in terms of network efficiency over those in Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The 10 full-service carriers' air transport networks all show the trend of being more destruction-resistant. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, the merger with other airlines and the signing of a joint venture agreement led to higher temporal variability in the network structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. New Zealand health training institutions have an important role in supporting health workforce training programmes in the Pacific Region. Aim. To explore the experience of Pacific Island country-based doctors from the Cook Islands, Niue, and Samoa, studying in New Zealand’s University of Otago distance-taught Rural Postgraduate programme. Methods. Document analysis (16 documents) was undertaken. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with Pacific Island country-based students. Thematic analysis of the interviews was undertaken using the framework method. The two data sources were analysed separately, followed by a process to converge and corroborate findings. Results. For Pacific Island countries with no previous option for formal general practice training, access to a recognised academic programme represented a milestone. Immediate clinical relevance and applicability of a generalist medical curriculum with rural remote emphasis, delivered mainly at a distance, was identified as a major strength. Although technologies posed some issues, these were generally easily solved. The main challenges identified related to the provision of academic and other support. Traditional university support services and resources were campus focused and not always easily accessed by this group of students who cross educational pedagogies, health systems and national borders to study in a New Zealand programme. Study for individuals worked best when it was part of a recognised and supported Pacific in-country training pathway. Discussion. The University of Otago’s Rural Postgraduate programme is accessible, relevant and achievable for Pacific Island country-based doctors. The programme offers a partial solution for training in general practice for the Pacific region. Student experience could be improved by tailoring and strengthening support services and ensuring their effective delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on the reproductive biology of elasmobranchs are essential for understanding their life history. Published studies on batoid ray reproductive biology are comparatively scarce, leading to limited understanding and data gaps. The Oceania fantail ray, Taeniura lessoni, is a good example. This Data Deficient nearshore stingray is restricted to Melanesia, with lacking biological and ecological data, including reproduction. To expand upon the limited life-history data for this species, this short paper provides observational data on the reproductive condition in female T. lessoni, at Drawaqa Island, Fiji. Field work involved direct observations and ocean temperature measurements. Over 40 days spanning three months, 105 surveys were conducted across five sites, resulting in 71 sightings of the species. Based on spot patterns and body markings, four female individuals were identified. Between January and March 2024, these females exhibited convex dorsa indicating advanced gestation, transitioning to concave dorsa suggesting parturition. The presence of neonates from early March onwards coincided with the estimated parturition period inferred from the rays' condition. Furthermore, a female previously pregnant was photographed with a dermal abrasion around her pectoral fin, possibly indicating pre-copulatory biting, suggesting a continuous reproductive cycle. The average monthly water temperature at the surveyed sites remained relatively stable throughout the study. Collectively, our findings suggest that Drawaqa Island provides suitable habitat niches for reproductive activities in female T. lessoni. Repeated and long-term data is certainly needed to confirm either a continuous reproductive cycle or seasonal peaks. While preliminary, our observational data represents the first documentation on female reproductive condition in a stingray in Fiji. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal changes of the water mass distribution and biogeochemical cycling in the tropical eastern South Pacific are investigated based on the extended Optimum Multi-Parameter (OMP) method. Two ship occupations of a meridional section along 85°50'W, from 14° S to 1° N, are analysed, one during a relatively warm (El Niño/El Viejo, March 1993) and the other during a cold (La Niña/La Vieja, February 2009) upper-ocean phase. The largest El Niño -- Southern Oscillation (ENSO) impact was found in the water properties and water mass distribution in the upper 250m. The most prominent change is the vertical motion of the Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ) associated to the hypoxic Equatorial Subsurface Water (ESSW). During a cold phase the core of the ESSW is found at shallower layers, replacing the shallow (top 250m) Subtropical Surface Water (STW) and allowing an intrusion of oxygen-rich and nutrient-poor Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) in the depth range of 300 to 600m. The shift in the vertical location of the intrusion of AAIW in the OMZ induces changes in oxygen advection and respiration, the largest the oxygen supply the greatest the respiration and the lowest the nitrate loss by denitrification. Changes in the intensity of the zonal currents in the Equatorial Current System, that ventilate the OMZ from the west, are used to explain the patchy latitudinal changes of seawater properties observed along the repeated section. Given that changes down to 800m depth are observed, not only interannual (ENSO) but also decadal variability (Pacific Decadal Oscillation) is a potential driver for the observed changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the seasonal dynamics of oxygen concentrations in the southernmost part of the Eastern South Pacific oxygen minimum zone (ESP's OMZ), offshore of Concepcion, Chile (∼ 37° S). We use data from a time series over the continental shelf off Concepcion, as well as other hydrographic data and measurements from moored instruments and ocean gliders to evaluate temporal and spatial variability in this region. We identify two extreme modes (winter and summer) that characterize the seasonal variability. A simple model that account for the main physical and biological processes that influences the oxygen concentration was developed. According to our results, the seasonal variability of the dissolved oxygen in the study region is mainly driven by lateral (advective and diffusive) transport that connect the waters over the shelf with poorly oxygenated water from the slope, which is in turn, advected southward by the Peru-Chile Undercurrent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used a retrospective cohort study to measure the impact of caring for children on female Australian researchers. Our aim was to see whether caring for children was associated with reduced outputs and collaboration. Women were randomly selected for inclusion if they published a first author paper in one of three Australian journals during 2007 to 2015, women who did not publish during this time were not included. One-hundred and sixty women were approached and 95 (59%) completed a survey on their history of caring for children. Two key outcomes were the women's publication and citation counts, which were accessed from Scopus. We also examined the number of authors, affiliations and countries on their published papers, as a reduction in these numbers could indicate an impaired ability to collaborate. We examined the probability of being first or last author as a measure of esteem. There was a small increase in publication counts after the first child that was reversed after the second child. Average citations counts declined after children, particularly after the second child. There was some evidence of a reduced collaboration with overseas collaborators after the first child. The probability of being the last author increased after the second child. Three women were identified as statistically influential and all three had children and were in the top 10% of overall publications and citations. After removing these women the estimated changes in outcomes were noticeably different for most of the outcomes. The repeated presence of statistically influential women shows that it may be impossible to find an "average impact" of caring for children when considering research output. Adjustments may need to be made individually, with women explaining how caring for children has altered their career. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent observations in the eastern tropical South Pacific (ETSP) demonstrated the key role of meso- and submesoscale processes (e.g. eddies) in shaping its hydrographic and biogeochemical properties. Off Peru, elevated primary production from coastal upwelling in combination with sluggish ventilation of subsurface waters fuels a prominent oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). Given that nitrous oxide (N2O) production/consumption processes on the water column are sensitive to oxygen (O2) concentrations, the ETSP is a region of particular interest to investigate its source-sink dynamics. To date, no detailed surveys linking mesoscale processes and N2O distributions as well as their relevance to nitrogen (N) cycling are available. In this study, we present the first measurements of N2O across three mesoscale eddies (two mode water or anticyclonic and one cyclonic) which were identified, tracked and sampled during two surveys carried out in the ETSP in November-December 2012. A "two peak" structure was observed for N2O, wherein the two maxima coincide with the upper and lower boundaries of the OMZ, indicating active nitrification and partial denitrification. This was further supported by the abundances of the key gene for nitrification amoA and the gene marker for N2O production during denitrification, nirS. Conversely, we found strong N2O depletion in the core of the OMZ (O2 < 5 μmol L−1) to be consistent with nitrite (NO2-) accumulation and low levels of nitrate (NO3−), thus suggesting active denitrification. N2O depletion within the OMZ's core was substantially higher in the center of mode water eddies, supporting the view that eddy activity enhances N-loss processes off Peru, in particular near the shelf break where nutrient-rich, productive waters from upwelling are trapped before being transported offshore. Analysis of eddies during their propagation towards the open ocean showed that, in general, "aging" of mesoscale eddies tends to decrease N2O concentrations through the water column in response to reduced supply of material to fuel N-loss, although hydrographic variability might also significantly impact the pace of the production/consumption pathways for N2O. Our results demonstrate the relevance of mode water eddies for N2O distribution, thereby improving our understanding of the N-cycling processes, which are of crucial importance in times of climate change and ocean deoxygenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to explore current developments and trends in the field of subjective well-being (SWB) of older adults at a macro level and identify research hotspots. Methods: We included reviews and articles on the SWB of older adults in the Web of Science Core Collection published from 2002 to 2021. We used Cite-Space to draw a knowledge map of the authors, institutions, countries, references, and keywords for visual analysis and used Microsoft Excel tables to count basic information details. Results: A total of 354 papers were included, and the number of papers published over the past two decades showed a pattern of growth. The core force of publications was primarily attributed to studies conducted in Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania, which have relatively major issues of aging and good economic strength. However, links between states, institutions, and authors were relatively weak. Cluster analysis showed that the research field could be divided into eight topics: the application of social psychology in the study of the SWB of older adults, aging in older adults, health condition of older adults, achieving successful aging, interventions for SWB, age differences in SWB research, an economic perspective of SWB research and social support for older adults. Current research frontiers are socioeconomic status, community, intervention, participation, adjustment, validation, and personality. Conclusion: The results of the present study provided a comprehensive picture in the research field of SWB of older adults. It showed that the mechanism, especially the bidirectional effect, between the SWB of older adults and its influencing factors is still worthy of further exploration. More research on evidence-based and intervention strategies should be conducted in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cycling and transport of dissolved silicon (Si) in the ocean may be traced by its stable isotope composition, δ30Si. We present a dataset of δ30Si values along 103° W in the eastern South Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Antarctic Zone of the Southern 5 Ocean (62° S) to the equatorial Pacific (12°S). At high southern latitudes, the uptake and associated isotope fractionation of Si by diatoms results in highly elevated δ30Si values (up to +3.2 %0) in the summer mixed layer. The efficient export of diatom opal to depths inaccessible to annual winter convection is reflected by high δ30Si values (+2%0) preserved in high-latitude winter mixed layers. These elevated δ30Si values o are introduced into the ocean interior by the subduction of Subantarctic Mode Water (SAMW) and Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW), whose northward spreading results in a strong isopycnal control on lower-thermocline and intermediate δ30Si values in the well-ventilated eastern South Pacific. Values of δ30Si are strongly conserved along SAMW and AAIW density levels as far north as 26° S, documenting the importance of s the export of preformed Si from the surface Southern Ocean to lower latitudes. In contrast, in the equatorial Pacific, depressed δ30Si values in the mesopelagic ocean are observed, most likely documenting the combined influence of a North Pacific Si source as well as the accumulation of remineralized Si within the eastern equatorial Pacific shadow zone. At depth, δ30Si values in the South Pacific remain indistinguishable from o deep Southern Ocean values of +1.25%o, even within Si-rich and oxygen-poor deep waters returning from the North Pacific. This homogeneity implies that the dissolution of opal plays a negligible role in altering the δ30Si value of deep waters as they traverse the deep Pacific Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen deficient zones (OMZs), such as those found in the eastern South Pacific (ESP), are the most important N2O sources in the world ocean relative to their volume. N2O production is related to low O2 concentrations and high primary productivity. However, when O2 is sufficiently low, canonical denitrification takes place and N2O consumption can be expected. N2O distribution in the ESP was analyzed over a wide latitudinal range (from 5° to 30° S and 71°-76° to ~84° W) based on ~890 N2O measurements. The intense consumption of N2O appears to be related to secondary Due to image rights restrictions, multiple line equation(s) cannot be graphically displayed. accumulation, the best indicator of very low O2 levels. Using relationships that depend on threshold levels of O2 (< 8µM) and nitrite (> 0.75 µM), we reproduced the apparent N2O production (ΔN2O) with high reliability (r² = 0.73 p = 0.01). Our results contribute to quantify the ratio of N2O production/consumption that is being cycling in O2 deficient water of N2O and may improve the prediction of N2O behavior under future scenarios of the OMZ expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From August to October 2018, a series of strong earthquake (EQ) events occurred in southeast Asia and northern Oceania (22°S to 0°N, 115°E to 170°E) within 50 days. In this paper, we analyze the features of ionospheric plasma perturbations, recorded by the Plasma Analyzer Package (PAP) and Langmuir probe (LAP) onboard the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES-01), before four EQs with magnitudes of Ms 6.9 to Ms 7.4. The ion parameters such as the oxygen ion density (No+), the ion drift velocity in the vertical direction (Vz) under the conditions of geomagnetic storms, and strong EQs are compared. The results show that within 1 to 15 days before the strong EQs, the No+ and the electron density (Ne) increased while the electron temperature (Te) decreased synchronously. Meanwhile, the Vz significantly increased along the ground-to-space direction. The relative variation of No+ and Vz before the strong EQs is more prominent, and the Vz is not easily influenced by the geomagnetic storm but is susceptible to the seismic activities. Our results suggest that the anomaly of ionospheric plasma perturbations occurring in this area is possibly related to the pre-EQ signatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies the trend of LIS education and practice in the Asia-Oceania region in four areas, namely LIS research, LIS education, library technologies, and library services. A bibliometric analysis was carried out based on the publications indexed by Scopus, ranging from 1979 to 2021. India, China, Iran, and Australia rank the highest for number of publications within the four focus areas and areas of bibliometrics, research productivity, text mining, and big data are frequently being studied recently. Within the past five years, the LIS education sector has been concerned with the quality of LIS education programs and integration of information and communication technology (ICT) in the education delivery. Meanwhile, library technology adoption and services are seeing a positive move toward enhancing the user experience via the latest technology enhancements, such as green technology initiatives, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality apps. Although several studies have reported on the trends in LIS fields, scarcely any research has been carried out in the area of LIS education and practices as a whole, particularly focusing on Asia and Oceania. This study elucidates the most recent trends of LIS education and practices, including all recent innovations and explorations within the specific areas analyzed in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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An increase in non-performing loans and bad debts in the banking sector can make banks vulnerable to a loss of confidence among customers and other banks and a banking collapse. The recent pandemic (COVID-19) and the evolving globalisation can affect bank operations, although the effects may depend on the type of banks and other bank-specific factors. In this paper, we revisit the topic on the determinants of non-performing loans of banks in a small island economy of Fiji over the period 2000 to 2022. We apply a fixed-effect method and consider seven banks (five commercial banks and two non-bank financial institutions). In our estimations, we examine the effect of bank-specific factors and control for the social and economic globalisation, the GFC, the COVID-19 pandemic, and bank-type effects, as well as the effect of the interaction between the bank type and the pandemic, as key contributions of the study. Overall, our results are consistent in terms of the effects noted from the bank-specific factors. From the extended model estimations, we note that COVID-19 had a more adverse effect on loan losses than the GFC, and the interaction between the bank type and COVID-19 indicates that non-banks were highly vulnerable to loan losses, whereas commercial banks exhibited greater preparedness. Economic globalisation reduces bank losses, whereas social globalisation exacerbates NPLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractional calculus (FC) has recently received increasing attention due to its applications in many fields involving complex and nonlinear systems. However, one of the key challenges in using FC to deal with fractal or multifractal phenomena is how to relate functions to geometries with fractal dimensions. The current paper demonstrates how fractal calculus can be used to represent physical properties such as density defined on fractal geometries that no longer have the Lebesgue additive properties required for ordinary calculus. First, it introduces the recently proposed concept of fractal density, that is, densities defined on fractals and multifractals, and then shows how fractal calculus can be used to describe fractal densities. Finally, the singularity analysis based on fractal density calculation is used to analyze the depth clustering distribution of seismic frequencies around the Moho transition zone in the subduction zone of the Pacific plates and the Tethys collision zones. The results show that three solutions (linear, log-linear, and double log-linear) of a unified differential equation can describe the decay rate of the fractal density of depth clusters at the number (frequencies) of earthquakes. The spatial distribution of the three groups of earthquakes is further divided according to the three attenuation relationships. From north latitude to south latitude, from the North Pacific subduction zone to the Tethys collision zone, and then to the South Pacific subduction zone, the attenuation relationships of the earthquake depth distribution are generally from a linear, to log-linear, to double log-linear pattern. This provides insight into the nonlinearity of the depth distribution of earthquake swarms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing technology is vital for precision agriculture, aiding in early issue detection, resource management, and environmentally friendly practices. Recent advances in remote sensing technology and data processing have propelled unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into valuable tools for obtaining detailed data on plant diseases with high spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution. Given the growing body of scholarly research centered on UAV-based disease detection, a comprehensive review and analysis of current studies becomes imperative to provide a panoramic view of evolving methodologies in plant disease monitoring and to strategically evaluate the potential and limitations of such strategies. This study undertakes a systematic quantitative literature review to summarize existing literature and discern current research trends in UAV-based applications for plant disease detection and monitoring. Results reveal a global disparity in research on the topic, with Asian countries being the top contributing countries (43 out of 103 papers). World regions such as Oceania and Africa exhibit comparatively lesser representation. To date, research has largely focused on diseases affecting wheat, sugar beet, potato, maize, and grapevine. Multispectral, reg-green-blue, and hyperspectral sensors were most often used to detect and identify disease symptoms, with current trends pointing to approaches integrating multiple sensors and the use of machine learning and deep learning techniques. Future research should prioritize (i) development of cost-effective and user-friendly UAVs, (ii) integration with emerging agricultural technologies, (iii) improved data acquisition and processing efficiency (iv) diverse testing scenarios, and (v) ethical considerations through proper regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oyster shell is a residue rich in calcium carbonate, which can be reused as a raw material for creating building materials. For this reason, many researchers focused on the incorporation of oyster shell in the composition of composites, as it is a means of contributing to the economic sustainability by reducing the presence of pollution caused by aquaculture waste in the environment, thus increasing the value chain of the construction sector and reducing its carbon footprint. This paper intends to systematize the scientific production related to oyster shell-based composites in construction, carrying out a search using the Scopus tool and a systematic review based on the PRISMA statement. The results show that research on the incorporation of oyster shell into cementitious mortar mixtures, with a focus on its use in concrete, dominates existing scientific research. There is a lack of studies on the incorporation of the oyster shell that address its application as an aggregate or binder in the composition of coating and laying mortars. Most existing research is from Asia, and there is a lack of research in some parts of Europe. In the Americas, Africa and Oceania, no existing studies were found. Despite the growing understanding of the importance of sustainability and economic issues related to products used in the blue circular economy sector, there are still few studies that consider the incorporation of waste or by-products of aquaculture. Future investigations that cover these practical and contextual gaps can contribute to the better use of oyster shell waste and its insertion in the blue circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent widespread and recurrent coral bleaching events over the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef system on Earth and a hotspot of marine biodiversity, are a reminder of the vulnerability of reef ecosystems to human activities and a warming world. Protection of the Great Barrier Reef and similar reef ecosystems across Oceania requires a better understanding of environmental and socio-economic pressures, as well as the development of integrated management strategies. The rapid expansion of Earth Observation technologies and data has greatly advanced our capability to map and monitor reef habitats, ecological processing and exposure risk, providing spatially rich data essential to support and evaluate management and conservation strategies. However, these technologies are proportionally still under-utilized, and it is important to synthesise remote-sensing-derived tools and methods currently available for mapping reef ecosystems in Oceania to facilitate their intake in coral reefs studies. Publications in this Special Issue contribute toward filling this gap and explore recent advances in remote sensing of the Great Barrier Reef and other reef ecosystems in Oceania, from novel methodological approaches (sensors, algorithm development and improved thematic classification) to applications for environmental monitoring and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Invasive plants are a prominent threat to ecosystems and economies worldwide. Knowing the identity of invasive plants is critical for preventing their introduction and spread. Yet several lines of evidence, including spatial and taxonomic biases in reporting and the ongoing emergence of new invasives, suggest that we are missing basic information about the identity of invasive plants. Using a database of invasive plants reported in the peer‐reviewed literature between 1959 and 2020, we examined trends in the accumulation of new invasive plants over time and estimated the size of the current pool of invasive plants both continentally and globally. The number of new invasive plants continues to increase exponentially over time, showing no sign of saturation, even in the best studied regions. Moreover, a sample‐size based rarefaction‐extrapolation curve of reported taxa suggests that what is documented in the current literature (3008 taxa) only captures 64% of the likely number of invasive plants globally (4721 taxa ± 132 SE). These estimates varied continentally; less than half of invasive plant taxa have likely been identified in Oceania and Central and South Americas. Studies that included multiple invasive plants (e.g., floristic studies) were much more efficient at adding new taxa to our global understanding of what is invasive (identifying 4.2 times more new taxa than single‐taxon studies). With more potential invaders arriving every day, this analysis highlights a critical gap in our knowledge of the current invasive plant pool. Expanding invasion science to better encompass understudied geographic areas and increasing the numbers of floristic surveys would greatly improve our ability to accurately and efficiently identify what taxa are invasive. Preventing invasive plant introductions is incumbent upon knowing the identity of invasive plants. Thus, large knowledge gaps remain in invasion ecology that hinder efforts to proactively prevent and manage invasive plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite progress made in recent decades, gender bias is still present in scientific publication authorship. The underrepresentation of women and overrepresentation of men has already been reported in the medical fields but little is known in the fields of exercise sciences and rehabilitation. This study examines trends in authorship by gender in this field in the last 5 years. All randomized controlled trials published in indexed journals from April 2017 to March 2022 through the widely inclusive Medline dataset using the MeSH term “exercise therapy” were collected, and the gender of the first and last authors was identified through names, pronouns and photographs. Year of publication, country of affiliation of the first author, and ranking of the journal were also collected. A chi-squared test for trends and logistic regression models were performed to analyze the odds of a woman being a first or last author. The analysis was performed on a total of 5259 articles. Overall, 47% had a woman as the first author and 33% had a woman as the last author, with a similar trend over five years. The trend in women’s authorship varied by geographical area, with the higher representation of women authors in Oceania (first: 53.1%; last: 38.8%), North-Central America (first: 45.3%; last: 37.2%), and Europe (first: 47.2%; last: 33.3%). The logistic regression models (p < 0.001) indicated that women have lower odds of being authors in prominent authorship positions in higher-ranked journals. In conclusion, over the last five years, in the field of exercise and rehabilitation research, women and men are almost equally represented as first authors, in contrast with other medical areas. However, gender bias, unfavoring women, still exists, especially in the last authorship position, regardless of geographical area and journal ranking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat collection plates (HCP) are installed above sprinkler heads in some tall halls in the Asia-Oceania region to give faster thermal actuation. In this study, experiments were thus conducted in a fire chamber to determine thermal activation times of sprinkler heads with and without HCP. Three HCP with different diameters were selected and tested with pendent fast response liquid-in-bulb sprinkler heads. A total of 48 sprinklers heads were studied under different conditions of height and pool fire size. The HCP was found to reduce sprinkler activation time in a fire chamber test by up to 61%. Thermal activation time of sprinkler heads was also investigated by the common plunge test in a wind tunnel. Results indicate that activation was delayed by 5%, 18%, and 221% on average by the three HCP. An HCP of pie plate shape with small diameter would alter the physical scenario of heating up the heat sensing element of sprinkler heads assumed in the plunge test. Therefore, the effect of HCP cannot be appropriately assessed in a wind tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural dihydrogen (H2) exploration is now active in various countries, but tools and workflows that help to characterize prospective zones are still poorly defined. This review paper is dedicated to share our experience in characterizing H2 plays based on exploration efforts carried out in many countries in Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Oceania between 2017 and 2023. We decided to focus on onshore exploration where three main reactions are generating H2: (i) redox reactions between Fe2+ and H2O, (ii) radiolysis of water and, (iii) organic late maturation where H2 comes from hydrocarbons. This leads to classify the H2 generating rocks (H2_GR) into four types that seem us the more likely to be of economic interest: basic and ultrabasic rocks of oceanic/mantellic affinity (H2_GR1), iron-rich bearing sedimentary and intrusive rocks, (H2_GR2), radioactive continental rocks (H2_GR3) and organic matter-rich rocks (H2_GR4). For the pre-fieldwork, the workflow aims to target new promising areas for H2 exploration. Cross-referencing the presence of H2_GR in the basement, classical geological-hydrodynamic features (fault, water source), and already-known H2 occurrences at the surface remain essential but should be accompanied by remote sensing analyses to detect possible H2 occurrences. For the fieldwork, the focus is made on gas and rocks. A discussion is led concerning the importance of punctual measurements and long-term monitoring of gas seepages, that allow to conclude on dynamics of H2 leakage from depth through space and time. For the post-fieldwork, we present the most useful analytical tools to characterize H2 gas seepages and the suspected H2_GR. The critical parameters to estimate the H2 potential of a rock are the content in Fe2+/Fetot (H2_GR1 and H2_GR2), the content of radioactive elements U, Th, K (H2_GR3), and the total organic content (H2_GR4). The hydrogen exploration is in its infancy and all the profession is attempting to define an automated and fast workflow. We are still far away from it due to a lack of data, yet this review presents a practical guide based on the current knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the South Pacific region, marine territories and resources play a crucial role for local communities. Children engage with these territories and resources from an early age onwards. As the next ocean stewards, they are a stakeholder group whose understandings of ocean connectivity and fisheries should be given serious consideration in decision-making processes towards the sustainable use and management of coastal seas. This paper analyses 290 children's drawings from Fiji and New Caledonia, created in 2019 in spontaneous response to the instruction: "Draw the sea and what you and others do in the sea". Exploring the webs of connections with and within the sea revealed by these children's drawings and their own interpretations leads us to discuss children's representations of the sea: (1) beyond a land-sea compartmentation, (2) as a locus of both exploitation and conservation of marine life, and (3) as a 'place-full' space connecting human and more-than-human realms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women who are spouses of students at a faith-based university in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are afforded proximal power. These women are perceived as leaders and regularly approached by members in their communities to provide advice on sexual and reproductive health matters. Women leaders therefore need access to sexual health information and training to provide appropriate advice. The aim of this paper is to review the characteristics of community-based sexual health training in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), as reported in published literature. This is evidence to inform the development of sexual health training programs for women in PNG. A systematic search of databases, repositories and websites identified peer-reviewed studies. Grey literature was also sourced from government and non-government organisations and PNG health professionals. Six published papers, one report, one health worker practice manual and one health worker training package were identified for inclusion. Selected papers were assessed against the Canadian Hierarchy of Evidence to determine quality of evidence for practice. Themes were identified using a thematic analysis approach. Three themes became apparent from the literature synthesis: i) program development; ii) mode of delivery, and iii) evaluation. Social and cultural context influenced all elements of sexual health training in PICTs. Few studies reported evidence of comprehensive evaluation. Successful sexual health training programs in PICT communities are designed and delivered accounting for local contexts. Programs that engage participants with diverse abilities inspire change to achieve desired outcomes. Key findings from this study can be used to assist women leaders to contextualise and operationalise sexual health training to promote the wellbeing of members in their communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impacts of extratropical Pacific on El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) spring predictability barrier (SPB). Using an empirical dynamical model – Linear Inverse Model (LIM), we find that the dynamics of the northern and southern extratropical Pacific can significantly and equally weaken the Eastern Pacific (EP)‐ENSO SPB, while the North Pacific is more important for weakening the Central Pacific (CP)‐ENSO SPB. The evolution of the extratropical optimum initial structures illustrates the different roles of the northern and southern extratropical Pacific in crossing EP and CP ENSO SPBs and demonstrates the decisive role that the South Pacific initial condition plays in ENSO diversity. Additionally, the extratropical Pacific greatly influences the forecast skill of El Niño during SPB, while tropical dynamics may be more important for crossing the SPB of La Niña. Plain Language Summary: The spring predictability barrier (SPB) is a sudden reduction of the prediction skill of the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the boreal spring. Using a linear dynamical model, we find the correlation forecast skill of Central Pacific ENSO in boreal spring and summer is significantly enhanced by including the dynamics of northern extratropical Pacific, therefore weakening the SPB. For the Eastern Pacific ENSO, both the northern and southern extratropical dynamics are equally important for weakening the SPB. Our results also show that the initial state of southern extratropical Pacific may determine the type of ENSO. Additionally, including the extratropical dynamics helps to improve the forecast skill of El Niño events in boreal spring and summer while the extratropical dynamics may not be essential for the prediction of La Niña. Key Points: A linear dynamical model suggests that including the dynamics of extratropical Pacific can significantly weaken the ENSO SPBNorth Pacific plays a role both in the central and eastern Pacific, while South Pacific may be essential in determing ENSO diversityExtratropical Pacific greatly influences the forecast skill of El Niño during SPB, while the impact on La Niña is limited [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volcanic ash is dangerous to aircraft. In response to this, a warning system has been created: the International Airways Volcano Watch. Many of the... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Oceania, Papua New Guinea (PNG) appears large in the consciousness of exploring social life through the notion of sociality. Scholarship within the Melanesian region employs sociality to interrogate forms of social life and the different ways research methods account for the understanding of interactions between individuals and communities. Yet for the three PNG authors this assumed coherency between epistemes and method highlighted specific conceptual challenges for us as researchers and participants. We identified with two conceptual notions: "pasin" and "luksave" as distinct Austronesian language ideas derived from Tok Pisin—a creolisation of English utilized as a lingua franca throughout the country. We explored the development of pasin and luksave and the ways the conceptual claims served a dual function of developing a methodological and epistemic pathway toward an ethical assurance of meaningful relationality. We extend on current understanding in two ways. Firstly employing the methodology of story as critique of research assumptions and secondly, extend on the process of story work to suggest storying as a novel but relatable research methodology. Storying such research experiences as both method and epistemic accountability, guided our responsibility toward the relationships we hold to people, community and knowledge. Pasin and luksave embed an emancipatory and de-colonial intent through the guise of oral stories. These intentions in our scholarship fostered a form of coherent expressions of research claim and method assumption and also raised questions for us regarding what decolonizing Papua New Guinea ought to consider. Our paper also highlights a reformulation of the different ways research considers Oceania in particular Melanesia and the Papua New Guinean research context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aotearoa New Zealand is a small, island nation located on the rim of Oceania. Since colonisation by British settlers in the mid-1800s, the internationalisation of higher education (HE) in Aotearoa New Zealand has reflected shifting notions of nationhood - from an extension of Great Britain, to a (separate) bicultural nation, to a player in the global knowledge economy. Since the late 1980s, internationalisation policy has reflected the primacy of market concerns; the internationalisation of HE has been imagined primarily as a means to attract export revenue and human capital to Aotearoa New Zealand, and to increase brand recognition. However, internationalisation, as the movement of people and knowledge between places, can also be seen as pre-dating the development of nations, particularly in the Oceania context. Within mātauranga Māori, or Māori (indigenous) epistemological traditions, place is central to identity. To be human is to be part of something bigger than oneself; care for the land is care both for ancestors and the wellbeing of future generations. In this paper, we (re)consider internationalised HE in light of three questions that are central to mātauranga Māori: "Who am I? What is this world that I exist in? What am I to do?" (Royal, 2012, p. 35). After tracing the connections between internationalisation, colonisation, and nationhood in Aotearoa New Zealand, we consider how attention to Māori place-based epistemologies and values drawn from mātauranga Māori might challenge, stretch and ground contemporary internationalisation policies and practices in Aotearoa New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we apply the Markowitz portfolio optimization technique based on mean-variance and semi-variance as measures of risk on stocks listed on the South Pacific Stock Exchange, Fiji. We document key market characteristics and consider monthly returns data from SEP-2019 to FEB-2022 (T = 30) of 17/19 listed companies on the stock exchange to construct various portfolios like 1/N (naïve), maximum return, and market and minimum-variance with and without short-selling constraints. Additionally, we compute each stock's beta using the market capitalization-weighted stock price index data. We note that well-diversified portfolios (market portfolio and minimum-variance portfolio) with short-selling constraints have relatively higher expected returns with lower risk. Moreover, well-diversified portfolios perform better than the naïve and maximum portfolios in terms of risk. Moreover, we find that both the mean-variance and the semi-variance measures of risk yields a unique market portfolio in terms of expected returns, although the latter has a lower standard deviation and a higher Sharpe ratio. However, for the minimum-variance portfolios and market portfolios without short selling, we find relatively higher returns and risks using the mean-variance than the semi-variance approach. The low beta of individual stock indicates the low sensitivity of its price to the movement of the market index. The study is an initial attempt to provide potential investors with some practical strategies and tools in developing a diversified portfolio. Since not all the portfolios based on mean-variance and the semi-variance analyses are unique, additional methods of investment analysis and portfolio construction are recommended. Subsequently, for investment decisions, our analysis can be complemented with additional measures of risk and an in-depth financial statement/company performance analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relationship between body composition and earnings in a developing country setting. We use body mass index, waist circumference and hip circumference. Exploiting the panel structure of our longitudinal survey, we find that along with BMI, waist circumference is related to higher earnings in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the ideologies informing the expansion of Japanese rule at c. 1900. The core feature discussed is the idea of tenka (天下; literally translated: all under heaven), constituting the group of ruled in terms of a universalist indigenat (kokumin 国民), which allowed its expansion beyond the Japanese archipelago at government discretion. The concept of the universalist indigenat, having been tied to the Confucian perception of the world as a well-ordered and change-absorbing entity, conflicted with the European concept of the nation as a particularistically conceived type of group, tied to the perception of the world as a dynamic and largely unruly entity. During the latter third of the nineteenth and the early years of the twentieth century, some Japanese intellectuals came to appreciate the dynamism enshrined in the European perception of the world and worked it into established universalism. The fusion produced a powerful ideology of colonial expansion targeted primarily at East and Southeast Asia as well as the South Pacific. By contrast, European military strategists and political theorists, unaware of the Japanese strategic conceptions, expected that solely Russia formed the target of Japanese military expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an assessment of hydrological research activity conducted in the Oceania Region. Literature from three databases (Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, and Google Scholar) was collected and analysed. Results show large gaps in the variety of themes and poor collaborative efforts between regional water specialists. Results also suggest that local specialists potentially lack the ability to conduct quality hydrological research or that, due to the region's developing status, more focus has been placed on project-based objectives rather than building a body of research. A solution could be the development of a self-reliant base for conducting hydrological research by empowering and improving capabilities of local citizens. Firstly, an overhaul of organization policies regarding the introduction of research and performance monitoring is needed. Secondly, education in hydrology must be improved to suit local capabilities while addressing the complex socio-cultural environment with transdisciplinary measures. This assessment could benefit the future management of hydrological services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Governments commonly fund research with specific applications in mind. Such mechanisms may facilitate 'research translation' but funders may employ strategies that can also undermine the integrity of both science and government. We estimated the prevalence and investigated correlates of funder efforts to suppress health behaviour intervention trial findings. Methods: Our sampling frame was lead or corresponding authors of papers (published 2007–2017) included in a Cochrane review, reporting findings from trials of interventions to improve nutrition, physical activity, sexual health, smoking, and substance use. Suppression events were based on a previous survey of public health academics. Participants answered questions concerning seven suppression events in their efforts to report the trial, e.g., [I was...] "asked to suppress certain findings as they were viewed as being unfavourable." We also examined the association between information on study funder, geographical location, targeted health behaviour, country democracy rating and age of publication with reported suppression. Findings: We received responses from 104 authors (50%) of 208 eligible trials, from North America (34%), Europe (33%), Oceania (17%), and other countries (16%). Eighteen percent reported at least one of the seven suppression events relating to the trial in question. The most commonly reported suppression event was funder(s) expressing reluctance to publish because they considered the results 'unfavourable' (9% reported). We found no strong associations with the subject of research, funding source, democracy, region, or year of publication. Conclusions: One in five researchers in this global sample reported being pressured to delay, alter, or not publish the findings of health behaviour intervention trials. Regulation of funder and university practices, establishing study registries, and compulsory disclosure of funding conditions in scientific journals, are needed to protect the integrity of public-good research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This article comprises a systematic review of the literature that aims at researching and analyzing the frequently applied guidelines for structuring national databases of epidemiological surveillance for motor neuron diseases, especially Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).Methods: We searched for articles published from January 2015 to September 2019 on online databases as PubMed - U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Library of Medicine, Scopus, Science Direct, and Springer. Subsequently, we analyzed studies that considered risk factors, demographic data, and other strategic data for directing techno-scientific research, calibrating public health policies, and supporting decision-making by managers through a systemic panorama of ALS.Results: 2850 studies were identified. 2400 were discarded for not satisfying the inclusion criteria, and 435 being duplicated or published in books or conferences. Hence, 15 articles were elected. By applying quality criteria, we then selected six studies to compose this review. Such researches featured registries from the American (3), European (2), and Oceania (1) continent. All the studies specified the methods for data capture and the patients' recruitment process for the registers.Discussions: From the analysis of the selected papers and reported models, it is noticeable that most studies focused on the prospect of obtaining data to characterize research on epidemiological studies. Demographic data (ID01) are present in all the registries, representing the main collected data category. Furthermore, the general health history (ID02) is present in 50% of the registries analyzed. Characteristics such as access control, confidentiality and data curation. We observed that 50% of the registries comprise a patient-focused web-based self-report system.Conclusion: The development of robust, interoperable, and secure electronic registries that generate value for research and patients presents itself as a solution and a challenge. This systematic review demonstrated the success of a population register requires actions with well-defined development methods, as well as the involvement of various actors of civil society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from a comparison between the Belep Islands (Kanaky New Caledonia) and O'ahu (Hawai'i), this paper aims to contribute to the debates about islands and the Anthropocene, highlighting the relevance of the social and ecological responsibilities deriving from genealogical connections to the islands: 'the weight of the ancestors'. Considering the implications of these kinds of responsibilities can help to understand human and non-human relational entanglements better so as to value the agentive role of other-than-human perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve high-precision forecasting of different grades of albacore fishing grounds in the South Pacific Ocean, we used albacore fishing data and marine environmental factors data from 2009 to 2019 as data sources. An ensemble learning model (ELM) for albacore fishing grounds forecasting was constructed based on six machine learning algorithms. The overall accuracy (ACC), fishing ground forecast precision (P) and recall (R) were used as model accuracy evaluation metrics, to compare and analyze the accuracy of different machine learning algorithms for fishing grounds forecasting. We also explored the forecasting capability of the ELM for different grades of fishing grounds. A quantitative evaluation of the effects of different marine environmental factors on the forecast accuracy of albacore tuna fisheries was conducted. The results of this study showed the following: (1) The ELM achieved high accuracy forecasts of albacore fishing grounds (ACC = 86.92%), with an overall improvement of 4.39~19.48% over the machine learning models. (2) A better forecast accuracy (R2 of 81.82–98%) for high-yield albacore fishing grounds and a poorer forecast accuracy (R1 of 47.37–96.15%) for low-yield fishing grounds were obtained for different months based on the ELM; the high-yield fishing grounds were distributed in the sea south of 10° S. (3) A feature importance analysis based on RF found that latitude (Lat) had the greatest influence on the forecast accuracy of albacore tuna fishing grounds of different grades from February to December (0.377), and Chl-a had the greatest influence on the forecast accuracy of albacore tuna fishing grounds of different grades in January (0.295), while longitude (Lon) had the smallest effect on the forecast of different grades of fishing grounds (0.037). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]