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The article discusses the book "Wonders and Rarities: The Marvelous Book That Traveled the World and Mapped the Cosmos" by Travis Zadeh. The book explores the concept of wonders and rarities and provides examples of things considered wondrous and rare. It focuses on the life and work of ʿImād al-Dīn Zakariyyāʾ al-Kammūnī al-Qazwīnī, particularly his natural history book "ʿAjāʾib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharāʾib al-mawjūdāt" (Wonders of Things Created and Rarities of Matters Existent). The book is divided into three parts, discussing Qazwīnī's influences, his study of natural philosophy, and the dissemination of his work in manuscript and print. The article also touches on the transformation and reception of Qazwīnī's work in the modern era. [Extracted from the article]

Aim: Tidal marsh ecosystems are heavily impacted by human activities, highlighting a pressing need to address gaps in our knowledge of their distribution. To better understand the global distribution and changes in tidal marsh extent, and identify opportunities for their conservation and restoration, it is critical to develop a spatial knowledge base of their global occurrence. Here, we develop a globally consistent tidal marsh distribution map for the year 2020 at 10‐m resolution. Location: Global. Time period: 2020. Major taxa studied: Tidal marshes. Methods: To map the location of the world's tidal marshes at 10‐m resolution, we applied a random forest classification model to Earth observation data from the year 2020. We trained the classification model with a reference dataset developed to support distribution mapping of coastal ecosystems, and predicted the spatial distribution of tidal marshes between 60° N and 60° S. We validated the tidal marsh map using standard accuracy assessment methods, with our final map having an overall accuracy score of 0.85. Results: We estimate the global extent of tidal marshes in 2020 to be 52,880 km2 (95% CI: 32,030 to 59,780 km2) distributed across 120 countries and territories. Tidal marsh distribution is centred in temperate and Arctic regions, with nearly half of the global extent of tidal marshes occurring in the temperate Northern Atlantic (45%) region. At the national scale, over a third of the global extent (18,510 km2; CI: 11,200–20,900) occurs within the USA. Main conclusions: Our analysis provides the most detailed spatial data on global tidal marsh distribution to date and shows that tidal marshes occur in more countries and across a greater proportion of the world's coastline than previous mapping studies. Our map fills a major knowledge gap regarding the distribution of the world's coastal ecosystems and provides the baseline needed for measuring changes in tidal marsh extent and estimating their value in terms of ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid and accurate landslide mapping following extreme triggering events is critical for emergency response, hazard prevention, and disaster management. Artificial intelligence- based approaches enable rapid landslide mapping, yet the lack of a high-resolution globally distributed and event-based dataset poses a severe challenge in developing generalized machine learning models for landslide detection. This paper addresses this issue by designing a diverse coseismic landslide dataset, the Globally Distributed Coseismic Landslide Dataset (GDCLD), which includes multi-source remote sensing images (i.e., PlanetScope, Gaofen-6, Map World, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) encompassing various geographical and geological backgrounds worldwide. The GDCLD can be accessed through this link: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11369484 (Fang et al., 2024). Furthermore, we evaluate the potential of GDCLD by analyzing mapping performance of the seven most popular semantic segmentation algorithms. We further validate the generalization capabilities of the dataset by deploying the models on three types of remote sensing images from four independent regions. Besides, we also assess the model on rainfall-induced landslide dataset and achieve good results, demonstrating its applicability in landslide segmentation under other triggering factors. The results indicate the superiority of the proposed dataset in landslide detection, offering a robust mapping solution for rapid assessment in future extreme events that trigger landslides across the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Airline Maps: A Century of Art and Design" by Mark Ovenden and Maxwell Roberts explores the evolution of airline maps from 1919 to the present. The book primarily consists of maps, accompanied by brief contextual information, showcasing the changing design trends over time. While visually appealing, the authors provide limited historical context and the index and bibliography are also lacking. The book covers seven chapters, each representing a different time period, highlighting the advancements in air travel and the interplay between the airline industry and other forms of transportation. The authors acknowledge the problematic aspects of early airline maps, including imperialist and racist depictions. The inclusion of women in airline maps is also discussed, although sometimes in a negative and objectifying manner. As the century progressed, airline maps became more consistent in style, but the authors express a preference for older maps and are dismissive of more recent ones. The book concludes with a discussion of the reduced attention given to the later period of aviation. Overall, the book offers visual inspiration for those interested in the design of airline maps, but lacks historical context and comprehensive coverage. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia ofCharlevoix–Saguenay (ARSACS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterizedby early‐onset cerebellar ataxia, peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy, and lowerlimb spasticity. We present clinical andgenetic data of the first Bulgarian patients diagnosed with ARSACS by wholeexome sequencing (WES). Methods: Variant filtering was performed usinglocally established pipeline and the selected variants were analysed by Sangersequencing. All patients underwent clinical examination and testingincluding the standard rating scales for spastic paraplegia and ataxia. Results: Five different SACS gene variants, three of which novel, have been identified inpatients from three different ethnic groups. In addition to the classicalclinical triad, brain MRI revealed cerebellar atrophy, linear pontineT2‐hypointensities, and hyperintense rim lateral tothalamus combined with retinal nerve fiber layer thickening on opticcoherence tomography (OCT). Conclusion: We expand the mutation, geographic, and phenotypic spectrum of ARSACS, adding Bulgaria to the world map of the disease, and drawing attention to the fact that it is still misdiagnosed. We demonstrated that brain MRI and OCT are necessary clinical tests for ARSACS diagnosis, even if one of the cardinal clinical features is lacking [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, characteristics of the geographical and seasonal distribution of the quasi‐diurnal lunar O1 tide were derived from a time series of ionospheric total electron content (TEC) maps provided by International Global Navigation Satellite System Service (IGS). The data analysis is focused on solar minimum in 2008 and 2009 where disturbing influences of geomagnetic and solar activity were minimal. We found that the magnitude of the O1 tide is as strong as the "dominant" semidiurnal lunar M2 tide. Relative amplitudes of 10% and larger are observed in some regions for the O1 component in TEC. The O1 component is particularly strong in northern hemispheric winter over the west coast of South America. There, two maxima occur which are northward and southward of the magnetic equator in the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) crest regions. Following Yamazaki et al. (2017, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017ja024601), it might be assumed that a longitudinal anomaly of ionospheric conductivities in the Peruvian sector leads to a stronger modulation of the equatorial electrojet by the lunar tides. Electrodynamic lifting of plasma and transport to the EIA crests may explain the variations of the O1 component in TEC. Contrary to many studies, we find the O1 component (period 25.82 hr) more important than the M1 component (period 24.84 hr, a lunar day). We show that the geographical distribution of the O1 component is totally different from that of the M1 component which is smaller. The seasonal variation of O1 shows maximal amplitudes in northern hemispheric winter and minimal amplitudes in southern hemispheric winter. Key Points: Geographical and seasonal distribution of O1 tidal amplitude is derived from world maps of ionospheric total electron contentO1 component is maximal in northern hemispheric winter over west coast of South America with maxima northward and southward of magnetic equatorQuasi‐diurnal O1 tide is as strong as the semidiurnal lunar M2 tide in the ionosphere [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few years, microplastics research has exploded, with the field exploring new procedures and techniques that focus on a variety of scientific and policy issues. As there are not standardized definitions for many terms in the field, including the term microplastic itself, researchers utilize the same labels to describe different aspects of microplastic pollution. Here we provide a visual tool, called a Hub for Interactive Literature (HIL), to assist researchers in identifying and targeting specific literature. Currently, there are four Hubs for Interactive Learning (HILs) corresponding to previously published reviews, including a scoping review of microplastics literature as well as three reviews examining the human exposure and health effects of microplastics, the unique liver carcinogenicity of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics, and micro and nanoplastics found in the air. The HILs incorporate all of the literature used to produce the corresponding reviews. A couple of advantages that HILs provide in their capacity as a supportive instrument are the filtering options and easily accessed original references. This tool can be leveraged by researchers to rapidly review microplastics research and isolate specific subtopics of interest to develop new conclusions and quickly identify data gaps. We give an in-depth look at the HIL corresponding to a scoping review of microplastics literature to exhibit the novel functionality and advantages of this exciting tool. We demonstrate a novel world map of the literature to show that microplastics are a global scientific and public health issue. The map offers the additional functionality of filtering the references by country. We also provide a brief description of the current HILs to show the flexibility and personalization available when using this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports of newly discovered equine hepatotropic flavi- and parvoviruses have emerged throughout the last decade in many countries, the discovery of which has stimulated a great deal of interest and clinical research. Although commonly detected in horses without signs of disease, equine parvovirus hepatitis (EqPV-H) and equine hepacivirus (EqHV) have been associated with liver disease, including following the administration of contaminated anti-toxin. Our aim was to determine whether EqPV-H and EqHV are present in Australian horses and whether EqPV-H was present in French horses and to examine sequence diversity between strains of both viruses amongst infected horses on either side of the globe. Sera from 188 Australian horses and 256 French horses from horses with and without clinical signs of disease were collected. Twelve out of 256 (4.7%) and 6 out of 188 (3.2%) French and Australian horses, respectively, were positive for the molecular detection of EqPV-H. Five out of 256 (1.9%) and 21 out of 188 (11.2%) French and Australian horses, respectively, were positive for the molecular detection of EqHV. Australian strains for both viruses were genomically clustered, in contrast to strains from French horses, which were more broadly distributed. The findings of this preliminary survey, with the molecular detection of EqHV and EqPV-H in Australia and the latter in France, adds to the growing body of awareness regarding these recently discovered hepatotropic viruses. It has provided valuable information not just in terms of geographic endemicity but will guide equine clinicians, carers, and authorities regarding infectious agents and potential impacts of allogenic tissue contamination. Although we have filled many gaps in the world map regarding equine hepatotropic viruses, further prospective studies in this emerging field may be useful in terms of elucidating risk factors and pathogenesis of these pathogens and management of cases in terms of prevention and diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open, collaborative mapping initiatives such as OpenStreetMap, a wiki-style map of the world, continually face concerns about the reliability and authority of its data. Based on harnessing the power of millions of volunteers globally, the data production process is decentralized and reflects a mosaic of individual contributors' skills, motivations, and experiences. Linus' Law, a widespread assumption within open-source communities, suggests that data quality increases with the number of contributors. In this paper, we evaluate Linus' Law as applied to the co-production of volunteered geographic information using an agent-based model and examine the effects of knowledge level, variability, and prioritization on emergent production patterns and overall data quality. Our results demonstrate how diminishing returns and the experience of contributors limit Linus' Law as an intrinsic assessment of data quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article summarizes the book "Cultural World Maps", edited by Paula Bruno and Sven Schuster, which analyzes the Universal Expositions in Latin America between 1867 and 1939. The book is divided into an introduction, an epilogue, and nine chapters that address different topics related to the expositions. The objective of the book is to analyze the universal expositions from a transnational perspective and avoid a nationalist approach. The article highlights the importance of this publication in Spanish and its contribution to the historiography of universal expositions. [Extracted from the article]

This paper considers the portrayal of the Orcades and the North Atlantic in a range of seventh- to eleventh-century insular sources. It is argued that the content of early medieval insular written sources suggests that Orcades should not necessarily be translated as 'Orkney' in every case, and that it is plausible that on many occasions, a territory encompassing a wider range of the island groups of Scotland is intended. Consideration of the depiction of the Orcades on the mappa mundi within British Library Cotton MS Tiberius B.v/1 bolsters this conclusion. New multi-spectral images of the map suggest that, despite apparent adjustments to the extent of the Orcades during the process of the map's production, a very large archipelago covering an extensive territory off northern Britain was intended from the time of the map's initial creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gut microbiota is a key determinant of long-term health. Promoting maternal health literacy may enhance children well-being. Aim of the present study was to assess gut microbiota-related health literacy of Italian women and identify potential gaps in awareness. Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted using an online questionnaire (17 questions) on determinants and long-term impact of infant gut microbiota. The survey targeted Italian pregnant women and mothers of children under 2 years old, and was distributed through various social media channels between September 28th and November 15th, 2022. A total score was calculated as the sum of positive answers. Data on demographics, pregnancy status, and pre-existing knowledge of the infant gut microbiota were also collected. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 1076 women. Median total score was 9 [7–11]. The 81.7% of respondents declared prior knowledge of the gut microbiota. The internet was among the most commonly cited primary sources of information. Independent predictors of total score were having a university degree (B = 0.656, p = 0.002) and prior knowledge (B = 2.246, p < 0.001). Conversely, older age was associated with lower total scores (B = -0.092, p < 0.001). The least known determinants of infant gut microbiota were gestational BMI, prematurity, mode of delivery and NICU stay. Pregnant women failed to recognize the role of breastfeeding in the development of infant gut microbiota more frequently than non-pregnant women. The 97.5% of participants reported increased interest in the gut microbiota, with heightened interest associated with prior knowledge. Conclusions: Our study revealed a moderate level of knowledge about infant gut microbiota among respondents, emphasizing the positive impact of prior knowledge on understanding and interest. Targeted educational interventions are needed to address awareness gaps, especially concerning the influence of breastfeeding on infant gut microbiota. Healthcare providers have the potential to enhance women's knowledge and awareness of this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current medium- and small-scale estimates of soil erosion in Russia are very few. At the same time, a favorable situation has now developed for assessing the rates and volumes of soil erosion losses. Erosion models adapted to available digital elevation models, various farmland maps, and climate databases are now available to researchers. We have estimated the rates and volumes of soil erosion with the use of different maps of cropland: world cover from the European Space Agency (ESA WC), global land cover and land use from the University of Maryland (GLCLU), the official unified federal information system of agricultural land (UFIS AL) from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, and the original conventionally reference land cover map of Alekseevskii district of Belgorod oblast. It has been found that the UFIS AL map gives cropland areas close to the average from first three maps. Public access maps (ESA WC and GLCLU) give maximum and minimum estimates of cropland, respectively. A comparison with the conventionally reference large-scale map shows that the accuracy of the UFIS AL does not exceed 90%; the accuracy of ESA WC and GLCLU maps is 84 and 83%, respectively. The total area of cropland in Belgorod oblast varies slightly (from 1445 to 1586 thousand hectares), which is favorable for erosion modeling. Deviations from the average rates of soil erosion calculated using different maps of cropland in the region as a whole are up to 7%; for some districts, they reach 27%. Thus, current estimates of soil erosion at the regional level can be carried out with an error of at least 10–15% only as a result of the uncertainty in mapping the boundaries of cropland. For Russia as a whole, data on the area of cropland vary significantly: from 80 to 132 million hectares. Consequently, the use of existing maps of cropland can lead to significant uncertainties in soil erosion estimates averaged at the level of the subjects of the Russian Federation and large regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the interaction on the page and in the book of the visual and textual representations of space. Its focus is on mappae mundi 'world maps' and the geographical extracts from the twelfth century encyclopedic text Imago mundi. Using the examples of map and text interaction in four manuscripts from the British Isles and the Netherlands, the article demonstrates that the juxtaposition of image and text can directly affect the reader's potential physical experience of the book. The dynamics of reading demonstrated in the course of this analysis show a symbiotic relationship between the map and the geographical, historical, and theological material which it accompanies. An important implication of this finding discussed in the concluding section of the article is that the juxtaposition of map and text does not always correspond to our contemporary disciplinary definitions, and that it is worth questioning the assumption that these are the result of scientific evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the facts pertaining to the genesis of federal States in general and in particular the Pakistan as a federation. This research also discovers the reasons, for the adaptation of federal system in Pakistan. There are various independent States adopted the federal system, and emerged as a model federation on the World's map. There are 29 Federal States and each State has an exclusive history behind the adaptation of federal system, Particularly the States which were the part of colonial system under the British rule such as U.S, Pakistan Malaysia and India etc. As for as the case study of Pakistan is concerned, the role of a few of political parties in general and in particular the historical role of All India Muslim League and its leadership, the specific role of Quaid-e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah the founder of Pakistan is a vital and is explored by using the secondary source of data collection, descriptive and historical methods of research study. Pakistan was made a federal State in the result of a series of constitutional reforms since the war of independence 1857 to 1947 in the context of Pakistan movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay will analyse how Goethe's " Weltliteratur " is interpreted and re-invented in China in the twenty-first century mainly by reviewing selective essays published in the Chinese journal Comparative Literature in China. The analysis reveals how Chinese scholars strive to engage actively in the international discussions of the concept and to chart a map of world literature by offering Chinese perspectives. One such attempt is to trace a parallel development line of similar ideas in Chinese literary history whereas another is to emphasize the position of Chinese literature in the picture of world literature, especially by incorporating overseas Chinese literature into comparative literary studies with the intention to enlarge the scope of reference of Chineseness. These attempts reflect the growing confidence of Chinese scholars to secure our position in the global development of world literature and world literature studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medina of Fez started to play a key role in the tourism industry after the Second World War (Girard, M. 2006a. "Imaginaire touristique et émotion patrimoniale dans la medina de Fès (Maroc)." Culture & Musées 8: 61–90). The city's image, traditionally linked to craftsmen, religious buildings and cultural heritage has contributed to the tourism industry and put Fez on the international map of world destinations. Labeled in 1981 as a World Heritage site, it has been experiencing government-orchestrated rehabilitations parallel to private investments in built heritage. Contributing to the economic development of the city, these investments have also transformed the image of the medina. A flourishing touristic destination and an urban environment of daily life shape the contemporary identity of the medina, structured around plural social imaginaries sometimes complementary and sometimes competing with one another. The paper qualitatively addresses the transformation of Fez's medina from the angle of spatial imaginaries considering the latter as a defining factor in the formation of the medina's contemporary identity. It discusses the emergence of new spatial imaginaries, which are thriving daily at the crossroads of diverse practices and initiatives of local and international actors. Results suggest that further understanding of the conditions of emergence, and spatial expression of these imaginaries can contribute to the debate on the development of historical medina in Morocco while highlighting the forces of reinvention of local identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Misophonia is a disorder of decreased tolerance to specific sounds, often produced by humans but not always, which can trigger intense emotional reactions (anger, disgust etc.). This relatively prevalent disorder can cause a reduction in the quality of life. The causes of misophonia are still unclear. In this article, we develop a hypothesis suggesting that misophonia can be caused by a failure in the organization of the perceived world. The perceived world is the result of both the structure of human thought and the many conditioning factors that punctuate human life, particularly social conditioning. It is made up of abstract symbols that map the world and help humans to orient himself in a potentially dangerous environment. In this context, the role of social rules acquired throughout life is considerable. Table manners, for example, are a set of deeply regulated and controlled behaviors (it's considered impolite to eat with the mouth open and to make noise while eating), which contribute to shape the way the perceived world is organized. So it's not surprising to find sounds from the mouth (chewing etc.) among the most common misophonic sound triggers. Politeness can be seen as an act of obedience to moral rules or courtesy, which is a prerequisite for peaceful social relations. Beyond this example, we also argue that any sound can become a misophonic trigger as long as it is not integrated into the perceived ordered and harmonious world, because it is considered an "anomaly," i.e., a disorder, an immorality or a vulgarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While Shiʿi clerics are among the most influential political actors in the Middle East today, there remains insufficient understanding of the network of relationships that links them together and shapes their politics. This article argues that understanding the influence of Shiʿi clerical elites in the region requires a more systematic exploration of their internal dynamics, including how individuals within the clerical elite ascend through the hierarchy and the legacy they carry. Without this knowledge, comprehending where, when, and how new leaders (maraji') will emerge, as well as the impact they are likely to have on the politics of their societies and beyond, remains challenging. To illuminate these dynamics and better understand the influence of this important group of actors, this article proposes an approach that aims to map the interconnected world of the Shiʿi clergy using quantitative network analysis. It argues that network analysis can complement existing qualitative studies by illuminating latent connections among the Shiʿi clergy; and, ultimately, can offer a more authoritative foundation for forecasting the identity and politics of future Shiʿi marjaʿiyya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) is a widely used disability-specific outcome measure. This study develops mapping algorithms to estimate Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL)-4D utilities based on the WHODAS 2.0 responses to facilitate economic evaluation. Methods: The study sample comprises people with disability or long-term conditions (n = 3376) from the 2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Traditional regression techniques (i.e., Ordinary Least Square regression, Robust MM regression, Generalised Linear Model and Betamix Regression) and machine learning techniques (i.e., Lasso regression, Boosted regression, Supported vector regression) were used. Five-fold internal cross-validation was performed. Model performance was assessed using a series of goodness-of-fit measures. Results: The robust MM estimator produced the preferred mapping algorithm for the overall sample with the smallest mean absolute error in cross-validation (MAE = 0.1325). Different methods performed differently for different disability subgroups, with the subgroup with profound or severe restrictions having the highest MAE across all methods and models. Conclusion: The developed mapping algorithm enables cost-utility analyses of interventions for people with disability where the WHODAS 2.0 has been collected. Mapping algorithms developed from different methods should be considered in sensitivity analyses in economic evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In oestrogen‐receptor positive breast cancer, daily oral adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) for at least 5 years significantly reduces risks of recurrence and breast cancer‐specific mortality. However, many women are poorly adherent to ET. Development of effective adherence support requires comprehensive understanding of influences on adherence. We undertook an umbrella review to identify determinants of ET adherence. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane and PROSPERO (inception to 08/2022) to identify systematic reviews on factors influencing ET adherence. Abstracted determinants were mapped to the World Health Organization's dimensions of adherence. Reviews were quality appraised and overlap assessed. Results: Of 5732 citations screened, 17 reviews were eligible (9 quantitative primary studies; 4 qualitative primary studies; 4 qualitative or quantitative studies) including 215 primary papers. All five WHO dimensions influenced ET non‐adherence: The most consistently identified non‐adherence determinants were patient‐related factors (e.g. lower perceived ET necessity, more treatment concerns, perceptions of ET 'cons' vs. 'pros'). Healthcare system/healthcare professional‐related factors (e.g. perceived lower quality health professional interaction/relationship) were also important and, to a somewhat lesser extent, socio‐economic factors (e.g. lower levels of social/economic/material support). Evidence was more mixed for medication‐related and condition‐related factors, but several may be relevant (e.g. experiencing side‐effects, cost). Potentially modifiable factors are more influential than non‐modifiable/fixed factors (e.g. patient characteristics). Conclusions: The evidence‐base on ET adherence determinants is extensive. Future empirical studies should focus on less well‐researched areas and settings. The determinants themselves are numerous and complex in indicating that adherence support should be multifaceted, addressing multiple determinants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildland fires are the most common peril for forests due to climate change. Furthermore, it is an uncontrollable disaster and poses a great deal of threat to human health and ecosystems. In Algeria, almost 40,000 hectares are burned each year, approximately 1% of all existing woodlands of the country. In this work, the forest fire event prediction is highlighted using machine learning. The study utilized data sets from several sources, including fire data obtained from the fire information system for resource management by NASA (FIRMS) and climate data accessed from the NASA energy project API, derived from the MODIS satellite (NASA forecasting of energy resources around the world). Fire data from NASA provides real-time information, spanning from 2000 to 2020. The methodology process of creating the prediction system involved collecting the data, preprocessing the data, finding the best models, training and testing the models, and evaluating them for validation. The machine learning model was trained and validated using 70% and 30% of the set features with a performance accuracy of up to 86%. Upon completion, we deployed our selected machine learning model to create a Web platform enables different end users to check possible future forest fires by select a geographical area on a world map. The objective of our machine learning model is to analyze the weather data of the selecting area on the map in real time and predict whether a fire will occur or not. This prediction system will enhance early detection, allowing prompt response measures to be implemented, reducing the risk of uncontrolled wildfires and safeguarding ecosystems and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Warner Brothers/Mattel movie Barbie is meant to be about feminism and capitalism in complicated, comical, and nuanced ways. It mostly succeeds in its dual purpose of comedy and inspiration. The doll's origin in 1959 places her and her consort, Ken, squarely in the context of the Cold War, although neither the movie nor the doll's long and successful marketing history acknowledges anything outside the sunny world of Barbie Land. The nuclear shadow does affect the movie's reception, however, in the form of international protests over the dashed lines scrawled on a supposed "World Map" in one scene. For nations in and around the South China Sea, the dashed lines evoke the specter of war in a nuclear age over claims to territorial sovereignty. Yet director Greta Gerwig's film is a runaway success, the first film solo directed by a woman to gross more than a billion dollars and counting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wars have always caused millions and millions of dead, destroyed peoples' wealth and held development back. Geopolitics, alternative history, futurology or nationalist politics tackle this problem by creating regional paintings, but the results are low compared to expectations, the war due to border disorder is still intense. This research aims to develop a conceptual framework, based on five principles: historical, linguistic, religious, cultural and geopolitical, through which to create a theoretical direction, a map of the world close to the ideal IPMW (Ideal Political Map of the World). The concept of mega-states, economically and nationally stable, such as: Brazil, the United States, China, Russia, India or the European Union currently existing, can expand worldwide, materializing in 21 countries with large areas and large populations, encouraging globalization, trade, free movement but above all an optimal framework of the balance of power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colour is one of the most powerful tools in the cartographer's toolbox and can enhance the quality, clarity, and beauty of maps. Both in Protestant culture specifically and Western culture more widely, a visual artistic culture developed from the Middle Ages until the modern age in which colours designated specific, sometimes contradictory, ideals and concepts. Using late nineteenth and early twentieth century Protestant missionary world maps as a case study, this article shows how mapmakers used colour schemes to visualise Protestant world views about the global spread of the gospel as well as Western colonial perceptions of non-European cultures. Discussion of map colours in contemporary missionary reports, fiction and magazines corroborates and contextualises 'map users'' shared understanding of the cultural connotations of map colours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land consumption is a major environmental problem. In relation to it, over the past decades different studies have raised awareness of the importance of a less visible but equally damaging process: growing 'Anthropogenic Landscape Fragmentation'. The objective of this study is to offer a global portrait of this phenomenon through a map. Following a methodology developed in previous studies, this research builds on the calculation of a widely used index for measuring Anthropogenic Landscape Fragmentation, the effective mesh size (meff). This index considers existing human settlements, as well as global railway and road networks. The maps illustrate the heterogeneity in the distribution of Anthropogenic Landscape Fragmentation worldwide. In addition, the study calculates average fragmentation values at the national level and explores the correlation of these values with other variables such as population density or the Human Development Index, revealing a positive trend but with a weak correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial thinking is a unique thinking skill that geographers use to reason. Every individual is believed to have this thinking skill, but not all are aware of it. This condition causes differences in the development of each person. A person’s spatial thinking can be improved by training. Geospatial technology is a representation tool that many people believe can be used to train spatial thinking skills. However, not many people encounter obstacles when using this technology. The complexity of the command to run is an obstacle that is often found. In line with the development of geospatial technology, many applications integrate this technology as part of visualization tools. This teaching and learning were conducted with Action Research Classroom (three cycles) in the form of Project-Based Learning with Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematic (STEM) approach. This article discusses the findings of the research on the use of Excel dynamic map chart and virtual globe to improve spatial thinking in research subjects with the case study of Indonesian Geography and World Regional Geography. With the Excel application project, for the context of upper-level education, the findings show an increase in spatial thinking skills and mastery of the use of mapping platforms without the need for prior experience of coding, software, or cartography, although it needs to be corroborated by other studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on Manuel Godinho de Erédia's geographical treatise, the Declaraçam de Malaca e India Meridional com o Cathay, published in 1613, describing the Malay Peninsula, the Indonesian archipelago, and a supposed southern land called Meridional India. Erédia's interest in exploring the land south of the Indonesian Archipelago was influenced by Marco Polo's descriptions.

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The book "Motion in Maps. Maps in Motion. Mapping Stories and Movement through Time" explores the relationship between maps and narratives, focusing on the representation of motion and temporality in cartography. The book examines various attempts to visualize narratives, flows, and processes that were previously considered "unmappable" due to their subjectivity and complexity. It also discusses the connection between cartography and storytelling, highlighting the narrative potential of maps. The book includes case studies and analyses of different types of maps, providing a deeper understanding of their content and function. While the print quality of the illustrations could be improved, the book offers valuable theoretical insights and analytical methods for studying maps in relation to motion and time. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study published in Nature Communications generated global maps of floristic realms based on the native distributions of angiosperm genera. However, upon reassessing the data used in the study, the author found significant flaws. Many geographic units included a large number of non-native genera, while many native genera were not included. This compromises the validity of the maps and analyses reported in the study. The author highlights two major problems: the inclusion of non-native genera and the incompleteness of genus lists for certain geographic units. These issues could introduce biases and invalidate the study's conclusions. [Extracted from the article]

A response has been made to concerns raised about the data quality underlying a recent floristic map of the world. The concerns suggested that non-native distribution records and incomplete sampling may have biased the findings. However, after re-analyzing the data and updating the databases, it was found that these issues were not as serious as suggested. The proportion of non-native distributions in the database was lower than reported, and the regionalization map remained largely unchanged. The study used a wide range of data sources and addressed the issue of incomplete sampling. The authors conclude that non-native distributions did not bias the results of the study. [Extracted from the article]

Stress orientation information is invaluable to evaluate active tectonic forces within the Earth's crust. The global dataset provided by the World Stress Map offers a rich resource of stress indicators, facilitating the calibration of mechanical models to extract complete stress and displacement fields. However, traditional inversion processes are hampered by the manual tuning of geomechanical properties and boundary conditions to reconcile simulations with observations. In this study, we introduce ML-SEISMIC (machine learning for stress estimation integrating satellite image and computational modelling), a physics-informed deep neural network approach to autonomously align stress orientation data with an elastic model. It nearly completely bypasses the need for explicit boundary condition inputs and yields comprehensive distributions of material properties, displacements, and stress tensors. Application of this methodology to Australia, coupled with precise global navigation satellite systems observations, unveils a robust and scale-independent interpolation framework. Additionally, it pinpoints regions where stress orientation reinterpretation is warranted. Our results present a streamlined yet powerful process, offering a substantial leap forward in geodynamic investigations. This approach promises to unify velocity and stress orientation observations with physical models, ushering in a new era of insights into Earth's dynamic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of all the ways human beings have modified the planet over the last 10,000 years, habitat loss is the most important for other species. To address this most critical threat to biodiversity, governments, non-governmental actors, and the public need to know, in near real-time, where and when habitat loss is occurring. Here we present an integrated habitat modelling system at the range-wide scale for the tiger (Panthera tigris) to measure and monitor changes in tiger habitat at range-wide, national, biome, and landscape scales, as often as the underlying inputs change. We find that after nearly 150 years of decline, effective potential habitat for the tiger seems to have stabilized at around 16% of its indigenous extent (1.817 million km² ). As of the 1st of January 2020, there were 63 Tiger Conservation Landscapes in the world, covering 911,920 km² shared across ten of the 30 modern countries which once harbored tiger populations. Over the last 20 years, the total area of Tiger Conservation Landscapes (TCLs) declined from 1.025 million km² in 2001, a range-wide loss of 11%, with the greatest losses in Southeast Asia and southern China. Meanwhile, we documented expansions of modelled TCL area in India, Nepal, Bhutan, northern China, and southeastern Russia. We find significant potential for restoring tigers to existing habitats, identified here in 226 Restoration Landscapes. If these habitats had sufficient prey and were tigers able to find them, the occupied land base for tigers might increase by 50%. Our analytical system, incorporating Earth observations, in situ biological data, and a conservation-oriented modelling framework, provides the information the countries need to protect tigers and enhance habibig cats, data sharing, habitat trend, species monitoring, google earth engine, species conservation landscapes (SCL), sustainable development goals (SDG), convention on biological diversity (CBD)tat, including dynamic, spatially explicit maps and results, updated as often as the underlying data change. Our work builds on nearly 30 years of tiger conservation research and provides an accessible way for countries to measure progress and report outcomes. This work serves as a model for objective, range-wide, habitat monitoring as countries work to achieve the goals laid out in the Sustainable Development Goals, the 30×30 Agenda, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]