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Introduction. Today, there is no unified approach to understanding the main areas of digitalisation in education, its types, and elements. It is relevant to explore approaches to assess the state of digitalisation, reducing the subjectivity of assessments, and relying on objective data. Aim. The present research aimed to systematise and expand the areas subject to digitalisation in universities and to describe an algorithm for assessing the level of digitalisation using public information posted on university websites. Methodology and research methods. The main research methods involved morphological analysis, index, and matrix and score-rating methods. On the basis of the morphological matrix, the rating of a higher education institution was formed as an integral assessment, taking into account the weight values of its spheres. Results. The results of the research include the developed methodology for scoring and rating the assessment of the state of digitalisation in higher education institutions. This methodology encompasses four spheres of digitalisation: management and information security, organisation of the educational process, organisation of extracurricular activities, and profiling. Within these spheres, various types of digitalisation are identified, and elements are defined for each type. Higher education institutions in the Novosibirsk Region are ranked and grouped into clusters (six levels) based on the calculated integral assessment of their digitalisation level. Scientific novelty. The current research contributes to the development of a scientifically based approach to assessing the state of digitalisation in higher education institutions for comparative analysis using public information. The data obtained confirmed the necessity for further digital development to establish a comprehensive profile of a digital university. Practical significance. The practical significance of the results lies in the possibility of different groups of stakeholders (applicants, students, university management, and authorities) using the developed methodology to assess the state of university digitalisation and make various decisions, including managerial decisions.

Abstract Selecting appropriate global climate models (GCMs) is crucial for minimizing uncertainty in regional climate projections under future scenarios. Previous studies have predominantly assessed the modeling capability of GCMs for regional precipitation climatology and its long-term patterns based on annual and seasonal precipitation data. Building upon these, we primally evaluated the performance of five GCMs from phase 3b of the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP3b) in simulating precipitation concentration and its variations in the Southwest River Basin (SWRB) of China using the precipitation concentration index (PCI). The results indicate that: (1) The 5 GCMs generally capture the spatial distribution of annual average precipitation in the SWRB but significantly overestimate its magnitude, with a maximum regional average deviation of 207.80 mm. Furthermore, all models tend to overestimate the overall drying trend in the SWRB and show limited capability in simulating interdecadal variations of annual precipitation. (2) While the 5 GCMs reasonably simulate the spatial distribution of annual average PCI in the SWRB, they tend to overestimate its values, with a maximum regional average deviation of 1.54. Additionally, their simulation performance in capturing PCI trends and interdecadal variations is also limited. (3) The 5 GCMs tend to overestimate seasonal precipitation in the SWRB, with the best simulation performance for the distribution of autumn precipitation, followed by spring and summer, and the poorest for winter. Significant differences exist in the simulation performance of the models for seasonal precipitation proportions, which result in discrepancies in the models’ representation of PCI. Moreover, the models’ poor simulation performance of PCI trends is partly due to their inadequate modeling of trends in seasonal precipitation proportions. The findings will contribute to laying the foundation for meteorological hydrological research and water resource management in the SWRB.

Objective: to develop and test the method of estimating a tourism potential of regions, the method of comparing them with public ratings of regions; to diagnose problem areas of management when forming the regional market of tourist services and justify recommendations for its development. Methods: general scientific and general logical methods, analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization; statistical and correlation analysis. Results: the paper presents the author’s method of constructing summary estimates of the regions’ tourism potential, integrating official statistical indicators. Due to the introduction of dimensionless relative values, the difficulties of accounting for different-sized indicators were resolved. The obtained estimates were used to form an objective idea of the strength of the regions’ tourism potential, to compare them, to assess the opportunities and determine the prospects for tourism development in the region. Since one of the obstacles in solving this task is low public ratings, it is important to be able to compare them with objective assessments. For this purpose, we have developed and tested a method of comparing the summary estimates of the regions’ tourism potential with their ratings, in particular, with the values of the National Tourism Rating – 2022. As a result, by the example of Orel region, the disproportions were revealed that indicate the inefficient use of the region’s tourism potential. Based on the analysis of the regional strategies implementation, programs and practices of tourism organization and problem areas of management, recommendations are formulated, the implementation of which guarantees the economic development of the region and tourism sphere. Scientific novelty: the method of constructing summary estimates of the regions’ tourism potential is developed; the method of comparing the summary estimates of tourism potential with public ratings of regions is proposed and tested. The disproportions in assessments and ratings are substantiated quantitatively. The problem areas of management in the formation of the regional tourist services market are diagnosed; recommendations for its development are given. Practical significance: the study results can be used by business entities and authorities to formulate strategies and programs of regional development; the presented method of comparing the tourism potential and ratings of regions can be used in scientific, pedagogical and research activities.

Selecting appropriate global climate models (GCMs) is crucial for minimizing uncertainty in regional climate projections under future scenarios. Previous studies have predominantly assessed the modeling capability of GCMs for regional precipitation climatology and its long-term patterns based on annual and seasonal precipitation data. Building upon these, we primally evaluated the performance of five GCMs from phase 3b of the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP3b) in simulating precipitation concentration and its variations in the Southwest River Basin (SWRB) of China using the precipitation concentration index (PCI). The results indicate that: (1) The 5 GCMs generally capture the spatial distribution of annual average precipitation in the SWRB but significantly overestimate its magnitude, with a maximum regional average deviation of 207.80 mm. Furthermore, all models tend to overestimate the overall drying trend in the SWRB and show limited capability in simulating interdecadal variations of annual precipitation. (2) While the 5 GCMs reasonably simulate the spatial distribution of annual average PCI in the SWRB, they tend to overestimate its values, with a maximum regional average deviation of 1.54. Additionally, their simulation performance in capturing PCI trends and interdecadal variations is also limited. (3) The 5 GCMs tend to overestimate seasonal precipitation in the SWRB, with the best simulation performance for the distribution of autumn precipitation, followed by spring and summer, and the poorest for winter. Significant differences exist in the simulation performance of the models for seasonal precipitation proportions, which result in discrepancies in the models' representation of PCI. Moreover, the models' poor simulation performance of PCI trends is partly due to their inadequate modeling of trends in seasonal precipitation proportions. The findings will contribute to laying the foundation for meteorological hydrological research and water resource management in the SWRB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an emphasis on the effects of climate change, this study offers a thorough GIS-based assessment of land use favorability in the Apuseni Mountains. The Apuseni Mountains, a region characterized by its biodiversity and complex terrain, are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which threaten both natural ecosystems and human activities. The territory of 11 territorial administrative units was selected for the investigation because it shows more of an anthropogenic influence due to the migration of people to mountainous areas following the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased the amount of anthropogenic pressure in this area. Factors that describe the climate of the study area, the soil characteristics, and the morphometric characteristics of the relief were used to create a classification for the present on classes of favorability and restrictiveness for the plots of land, using a quantitative GIS model to determine the favorability of the land for the main crops and agricultural uses. The current land favorability was thus initially obtained, taking into account current temperature and precipitation values and using the SSP1-1.9, SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios for the 2020–2099 time frame. The results indicate a variation in the statistical classification of the land for different favorability classes, a decrease of 4.7% for the high favorability class for pastures, an estimated decrease of 4.4% for grassland, and in the case of orchards, the situation reflects a fluctuating variation. There is a decrease of 6.4% in the case of the very low favorability class according to SSP2-4.5 (in the case of reaching an average temperature of 12.7 °C and an annual precipitation of 895 mm), and in case of high and very high favorability, there is an increase in plots falling into better high favorability classes of up to 0.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global increase in extreme weather and climate events may dramatically impact agriculture, food safety, and socioeconomic dynamics. The Mediterranean basin is already exposed to extreme climatic events, severely challenging viticulture, a pivotal Mediterranean agro–industry. This study aims to understand better how climate is expected to evolve in six viticulturally important Mediterranean regions in Portugal, Italy, Turkey and Morocco, using a 4–member ensemble of climatic model projections under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 for 2041–2070, and using the 1981–2010 period as a baseline. By comparing the main specific challenges these locations will face, we comparatively define the best strategies to reduce the impacts of climate change at the national and regional levels. Projections show increases in overall temperatures, up to + 3.6°C than the historical baseline, whilst precipitation projections indicate decreases that could reach 36% of the overall annual precipitation. Biological effective degree days, consecutive dry days, growing season length, tropical nights, or very heavy precipitation days, also show challenging prospects for viticulture in these countries. A screening of the adaptative strategies already undertaken in the studied countries suggests that growers are taking reactive rather than preventive strategies. Moreover, the discussion of the most suitable strategies in this study is region–specific, i.e., prioritised by the specific needs of each location. The conclusions drawn herein may support local growers, improving their decision–making based on the most adequate adaptive strategies to their conditions, thus optimising their sustainable production under changing climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Written medicine information (WMI) is important for ensuring patients understand and use their medicines optimally, but relatively little research has assessed the quality of available WMI. This study assessed the quality of WMI using a sample of leaflets for ibuprofen in the UK and Thailand. Methods Leaflets were obtained by purchasing a product from retail outlets or community pharmacies, 18 from each country. In the UK, these were patient information leaflets (PILs); in Thailand, they were package inserts PIs not specifically designed for patients. Leaflets were assessed for content, layout, and readability using standard methods and compared to relevant guidelines. Key findings The UK PILs were uniform and conformed to EU regulatory requirements for content, whereas Thai PIs varied considerably, many failing to include important information required by Thai regulations. Several forms of Thai PIs were found, including some very short leaflets, containing minimal information. The readability of both was rated as poor, all used small font size and had less than desirable white space. Fewer Thai PIs than UK PILs met the Keystone Criteria for ibuprofen. Conclusions The extent of variation in format and content of Thai WMI could potentially cause confusion and reduce willingness to read it. PILs, conforming to Thai regulatory guidelines, should be provided with medicines instead. Leaflets in both countries would benefit from improved readability and layout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prospects are substantiated of using the air data system with one fixed flush-mounted receiver, built-in sensors of incoming flow parameters, and calculator on ultralight and small aircraft. Based on the previously developed analytical models for determining the output signals of this promising system, the study of the instrumental and methodic errors of its measurement channels was carried out. Analytical models are obtained for the instrumental and methodic errors of measurement channels of the air data system with one fixed flush-mounted receiver of incoming air flow parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Reliability studies serve as valuable tools for assessing and optimizing system performance. Utilities with higher reliability indices are more likely to achieve break-even points due to significantly reduced downtime. This paper explores a comparative assessment of two 11 kV feeders supplying electricity to residential and commercial customers, addressing concerns about distribution system reliability in Nigeria and its impact on the country's GDP. The study involves a comprehensive reliability analysis, utilizing a flowchart to outline procedural steps and employing the ETAP Software program for data analysis collected over a one-month period from a power utility company. The data encompass operational parameters such as day-hourly consumption, outage records, and network equipment data. Results indicate higher reliability indices in the commercial feeder compared to the residential feeder, with the Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI) being lower in the commercial feeder. The research underscores the significance of reliability assessment in improving operational efficiency, facilitating maintenance planning, and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Dry and humid-heat extremes are two types of heat extremes, each exhibiting unique climatological characteristics and impacts on different sectors of society. Using historical simulations and projections produced under two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) by models from the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6), we show a comparative assessment of the future changes in dry- and humid-heat extremes over global land. Relative to 1995–2014, projections for the mid-term future (2041–2060) and long-term future (2081–2100) periods suggest that most global regions will experience an increase in frequency and intensity of both dry- and humid-heat extremes, especially the tropical regions. In these future periods, the peak occurrences of dry- and humid-heat extremes in mid-to high-latitude regions often occur within the same month. However, there will be a one-to two-month gap between the peak occurrences of dry- and humid-heat extremes in tropical regions, primarily due to monsoonal circulations that introduce variability by causing dry-heat extremes before the onset of monsoons and humid-heat extremes as the monsoons commence. This suggests the need for sector-specific adaptation strategies during different periods of the year for tropical regions. Under both future scenarios, whether considering individual exposure or land area, the average level of exposure to extreme humid-heat days is projected to increase more significantly compared to dry-heat days. The above results highlight the risks associated with the intensification of humid heat in future climate scenarios and warrant the development of effective strategies to mitigate the adverse effects.

Effective decision-making in tourism destinations relies significantly on employing suitable indicators for policy design and impact evaluation. However, the adoption of sustainability-focused indicators remains constrained in the field of cultural tourism. The purpose of this research is to provide decision-makers with an extensive array of criteria and indicators, enabling informed decision-making, policy formulation, and impact assessment tailored to the distinctive attributes encountered in European destinations. Based on the synthesis of existing approaches, and in co-creation with 21 European tourism destinations, an indicator-based framework is proposed, structured around the environmental, economic, social, cultural, resilience, and characterization domains. The results are particularly novel in the resilience and cultural domains, related to the recovery from crisis impacts, but also to the enhancement of digital approaches, as well as the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage towards a more hospitable destination. Moreover, the involvement of stakeholders incorporating real-case scenarios allows this research to bridge the gap between theoretical constructs and practical application. The indicator-based framework resulting from this research will provide stakeholders with assistance in assessing and comparing the impacts of cultural tourism on their destinations and, thence, help them acquire knowledge on cultural resource management, contributing to a more sustainable, responsible, and balanced impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creative industries, by their nature of innovation through creativity, add value to any territory by giving it spatial functionality, and at the same time, they favour sustainable development through the sustainability of the urban centres in which they operate. This paper develops a GIS methodology based on the implementation of a spatial analysis model that captures, in a comparative way, the spatial functionality of two different urban centres—(Cluj-Napoca (Romania) and Pécs (Hungary))—in terms of spatial extent based on the impact of the spatial distribution of creative industries. The spatial analysis model is based on the management of alpha-numeric databases representing the addresses of the creative industries, based on geolocation, for the development of spatial analyses of pedestrian accessibility. The main aim is to identify the specific areas of 15 and 5 min model cities. The comparative analysis was carried out by implementing a deterministic methodology through which the areas with certain degrees of accessibility were analysed in relation to the total analysed area, with the main aim of standardising the scale of analysis due to the difference between the two urban centres, thus facilitating the use of qualitative boning in the final comparison process. The results obtained highlight the local behaviour, at the same time making it possible to conduct a realistic deterministic comparative analysis of the two urban centres, which are also identifiable from the point of view of local territorial functionality, thereby validating the GIS model implemented in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Demand for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) is already high and increasing in the construction and building sectors. The overall purpose of EPDs is comparability of product environmental performance, and they are thus developed in accordance with product category rules (PCRs): requirements and guidelines for how to make EPDs for one or more product groups. Since several organisations publish PCRs, there is a risk of creating conflicting rules leading to inconsistencies and jeopardising the objective of comparability. Methods: This study analyses the causes for inconsistency and the consequences in terms of difference in the results across the life cycle assessment (LCA) models underlying the EPDs. Taking four EPD programmes and their actors as cases, first a document analysis was conducted to identify qualitative and quantitative differences in their guidelines. Further focusing on selected quantitative differences, a series of LCA models were designed for the same triple-glazed window product by adhering to the PCRs of each operator, to highlight the differences in results that occur when performing the same assessment via different but all formally selectable operators and compliant EPDs. Results and discussion: Results show that the EPD of a specific product can return very different impact scores if one or the other guideline is followed. Results can vary more than 10% from the base scenarios, what we consider a significant variation. This is observed across all impact categories. Focusing specifically on the climate change impact, the results show that differences are due to the choice of energy mix, reference service life and other parameters. It is thus the combination of several modelling differences that leads to a overall divergence in results, rather than one single methodological choice. Conclusions: Numerous different but at the same time compliant EPDs can be obtained for the same product, highlighting a serious harmonisation issue within the EPD system. EPDs are thus not necessarily accurate, and it remains doubtful whether EPD comparability can be achieved. This weakness of the EPD system can in the worst case be exploited by producers to obtain lower results and undermines the system. Recommendations: Besides recommending using LCA for learning and process improvement rather than just for external communication and compliance, to increase harmonisation in the EPD system, we recommend limiting the number of product-specific PCRs (e.g. complementary PCRs), align default values, learn from verification, use just one background database, increase transparency and move towards one centralized operator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low carbon transition of the energy sector towards a greater penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) is one of the most impressive examples of political and economic change in the European Union. For nearly two decades, the European Union was rightly considered to be a frontrunner in RES development and deployment around the world. This culminated in March 2007 when the 20-20-20-targets were agreed under the European Council Conclusions. They aimed at creating a carbon neutral society by 2050 and replacing fossil fuels with renewables. This target requires huge transformations of energy systems and transformative shifts in economics and society. Even as renewables can provide numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits, their fast penetration may cause various societal challenges and encounter many barriers. Therefore, this paper aims to analyse the achievements of select EU countries in renewable energy development. For this purpose, an indicators framework is applied to monitor the RES drivers and achievements, RES penetration, and attained benefits of low carbon transformations. The case study focuses on Nordic and Baltic countries that are EU member states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an emphasis on the effects of climate change, this study offers a thorough GIS-based assessment of land use favorability in the Apuseni Mountains. The Apuseni Mountains, a region characterized by its biodiversity and complex terrain, are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which threaten both natural ecosystems and human activities. The territory of 11 territorial administrative units was selected for the investigation because it shows more of an anthropogenic influence due to the migration of people to mountainous areas following the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased the amount of anthropogenic pressure in this area. Factors that describe the climate of the study area, the soil characteristics, and the morphometric characteristics of the relief were used to create a classification for the present on classes of favorability and restrictiveness for the plots of land, using a quantitative GIS model to determine the favorability of the land for the main crops and agricultural uses. The current land favorability was thus initially obtained, taking into account current temperature and precipitation values and using the SSP1-1.9, SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios for the 2020–2099 time frame. The results indicate a variation in the statistical classification of the land for different favorability classes, a decrease of 4.7% for the high favorability class for pastures, an estimated decrease of 4.4% for grassland, and in the case of orchards, the situation reflects a fluctuating variation. There is a decrease of 6.4% in the case of the very low favorability class according to SSP2-4.5 (in the case of reaching an average temperature of 12.7 °C and an annual precipitation of 895 mm), and in case of high and very high favorability, there is an increase in plots falling into better high favorability classes of up to 0.7%.

This study conducts a comparative assessment of two dumpsites (abandoned and active dumpsite) around Osogbo metropolis Osun State Nigeria. Ten selected heavy metals (HMs) such as arsenic, copper, cobalt, cadmium, chromium, iron, nickel, manganese, lead and zinc were determined. The soil samples were collected, at strategic points to revealed variation in samples. The concentrations of HMs were quantitatively determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results indicated that all the HMs determined were found between below detection limit (bdl) to 0.611 mg/kg and bdl –0.880 mg/kg for abandoned and active dumpsites, respectively. The concentration factor and geo-accumulation intensity revealed no contamination to strong contamination and from uncontaminated to strong contamination intensity, respectively. The concentrations for some of the HMs were below the tolerable recommendation level by National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency and Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization in soil samples. This study recommends periodic monitoring and that possible decontamination of the dumpsite are crucial because these dumpsites were currently in use for crops cultivation such as maize, vegetable bananas, and some other arable plants. Also, HM concentrations in crops should be investigated and monitored at these dumpsites regularly in order to avert detrimental effects of HM pollution, which could manifest many years after exposure, as they are recalcitrant in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comparative assessment carried out in this paper aims to investigate the results driven from our 2D and 3D CFD modeling of H-Darrieus, based on the URANS approach. It describes the aerodynamic operation of H-Darrieus that has been used for several numerical investigations since 2010. The k- ω SST has been used to reproduce the flow structures developing in the wake. The maximal 2D and 3D power coefficients that have been achieved are C p = 0.4016 and C p = 0.5734 , respectively for λ = 3.0976 . The maximal 2D and 3D absolute error, which is corresponding to the power coefficient assessment were equal respectively to 14.9714% and 29.1582%. They were calculated at λ = 2.5183 and λ = 3.0976 . Our parametric study showed that the increase range of the power coefficient, while taking into account the 3D aerodynamic effects becomes larger than that obtained by 2D calculations. This range is defined in 3D modeling between λ = 1.85 and λ = 3.10 , while it is defined in 2D modeling by the interval having the bounds λ = 2.05 and λ = 3.10 . The necessary contours to conduct our confrontation between the 2D and 3D approach and to describe the flow structures developing around H-Darrieus were constructed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Food and Agriculture Organization recommends that the Penman–Monteith Method contains Equation 56 (PMF) as a widely accepted standard for reference evapotranspiration (ETo) calculation. Despite this, the PMF cannot be employed when meteorological variables are constrained; therefore, alternative models for ETo estimation requiring fewer variables must be chosen, which means that they perform at least as well as, if not better than, the PMF in terms of accuracy and efficiency. This study evaluated five machine learning (ML) algorithms to estimate ETo and compared their results with the standardized PMF. For this purpose, ML models were trained using monthly time series climatic data. The created ML models underwent testing to determine ETo under varying meteorological input combinations. The results of ML models were compared to assess their accuracy and validate their performance using several statistical indicators, errors (root-mean-square (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE)), model efficiency (NSE), and determination coefficient (R2). The process of evaluating ML models involved the utilization of radar charts, Smith graphs, heatmaps, and bullet charts. Based on our findings, satisfactory results have been obtained using RBFFNN based on M12 input combinations (mean temperature (Tmean), mean relative humidity (RHmean), sunshine hours (Sh)) for ETo estimation. The RBFFNN model exhibited the most precise estimation as RMSE obtained values of 0.30 and 0.22 during the training and testing phases, respectively. In addition, during training and testing, the MAE values for this model were recorded as 0.15 and 0.17, respectively. The highest R2 and NSE values were noted as 0.98 and 0.99 for the RBFNN during performance analysis, respectively. The scatter plots and spatial variations of the RBFNN and PMF in the studied region indicated that the RBFNN had the highest efficacy (R2, NSE) and lowest errors (RMSE, MAE) as compared with the other four ML models. Overall, our study highlights the potential of ML models for ETo estimation in the arid region (Jacobabad), providing vital insights for improving water resource management, helping climate change research, and optimizing irrigation scheduling for optimal agricultural water usage in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central government of China encourages enthusiasm for biodiversity conservation by implementing a transfer payment policy targeted at Biodiversity National Key Ecological Functional Areas at the county scale. Biodiversity National Key Ecological Functional Areas are types of PAs that were designated by the State Council of China for the implementation of biodiversity conservation. However, regional comparative assessment results of biodiversity conservation effectiveness in different county-level administrative units are still lacking. In this study, we developed a reference condition index to represent the ecological background, and we then constructed a conservation effectiveness index to compare the conservation efforts among 131 counties in seven Biodiversity National Key Ecological Functional Areas. The results showed the following: (1) The biological background could be well reflected by the reference condition index. The Tropical Rainforest Ecological Function Area in Mountain Areas in the Middle of Hainan Island had the best biological background, while the Desert Ecological Function Area on the Northwest Qiangtang Plateau had the worst. (2) The biodiversity conservation effectiveness of the Desert Ecological Function Area on the Northwest Qiangtang Plateau was the best, and that of the Wetland Ecological Function Area of the Three River Plain was worst. (3) Among the 131 counties, Taibai County in the Biodiversity Ecological Function Area of Qinba Mountain performed best, while Fujin City in the Wetland Ecological Function Area of the Three River Plain performed worst. Our study could provide valuable insights for the transfer payment. Meanwhile, it can also supply a scientific reference for the management of Biodiversity National Key Ecological Functional Areas to enhance biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic improvement mainly depends on the level of genetic variability present in the population, and the degree of genetic diversity in a population largely determines the rate of genetic advancement. For analyzing genetic diversity and determining cultivar identities, a molecular marker is a useful tool. Using 30 SSR (simple sequence repeat) and 30 RAPD (randomly amplified polymorphic DNA) markers, this study evaluated the genetic divergence of 17 mango cultivars. The effectiveness of the two marker systems was evaluated using their genetic diversity characteristics. Additionally, the effects of SM (simple matching) and Dice similarity coefficients and their effects on mango clustering were evaluated. The findings showed that SSR markers generated 192 alleles, all of which were polymorphic (100%). With RAPD markers, 434 bands were obtained, 361 of which were polymorphic (83%). The average polymorphic information content (PIC) for RAPD and SSR was 0.378 and 0.735, respectively. Using SSR markers resulted in much higher values for other genetic diversity parameters compared to RAPD markers. Furthermore, grouping the genotypes according to the two similarity coefficients without detailed consideration of these coefficients could not influence the study results. The RAPD markers OPA_01, OPM_12 followed by OPO_12 and SSR markers MIAC_4, MIAC_5 followed by mMiCIR_21 were the most informative in terms of describing genetic variability among the cultivars under study; they can be used in further investigations such as genetic mapping or marker-assisted selection. Overall, 'Zebda' cultivar was the most diverse of the studied cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although wildfires are a common disturbance factor to the environment, some of them can cause significant environmental and socioeconomic losses, affecting ecosystems and people worldwide. The wildfire identification and assessment of their effects on damaged forest areas is of great importance for provision of effective actions on their management and preservation. Forest regrowth after a fire is a continuously evolving and dynamic process, and the accuracy assessment of different remote sensing indices for its evaluation is a complicated task. The implementation of this task cannot rely on the standard procedures. Therefore, we suggested a method involving delineation of dynamic boundaries between conditional categories within burnt forest areas by application of spectral reflectance characteristics (SRC). This study compared the performance of firmly established for fire monitoring differenced vegetation indices—Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (dNDVI) and Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) and tested the capabilities of tasseled cap-derived differenced Disturbance Index (dDI) for post-fire monitoring purposes in different forest environments (Boreal Mountain Forest (BMF), Mediterranean Mountain Forest (MMF), Mediterranean Hill Forest (MHF)). The accuracy assessment of the tree indices was performed using Very High Resolution (VHR) aerial and satellite data. The results show that dDI has an optimal performance in monitoring post-fire disturbances in more difficult-to-be-differentiated classes, whereas, for post-fire regrowth, the more appropriate is dNDVI. In the first case, dDI has an overall accuracy of 50%, whereas the accuracy of dNBR and dNDVI is barely 35% and 36%. Moreover, dDI shows better performance in 16 accuracy metrics (from 17). In the second case, dNDVI has an overall accuracy of 59%, whereas those of dNBR and dDI are 55% and 52%, and the accuracy metrics in which dNDVI shows better performance than the other two indices are 11 (from 13). Generally, the studied indices showed higher accuracy in assessment of post-fire disturbance rather than of the post-fire forest regrowth, implicitly at test areas—BMF and MMF, and contrary opposite result in the accuracy at MHF. This indicates the relation of the indices' accuracy to the heterogeneity of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of manufacturing process optimization is one of the most addressed issues across literature concerning the manufacturing field. Until now, this optimization has been based on indirect description of manufacturing, through prefabricated algorithmic models (be they analytical or numerical), as well as on information processing, by composing this kind of models. This is why the optimization is difficult and complicated, even in the case of the simplest processes. This paper presents a new approach of the manufacturing optimization concept, having as main defining aspects: i) The manufacturing process is regarded as decisional instead of physical process, ii) The optimization object is the manufacturing task, defined as product transition from current state up to final state, iii) The manufacturing model consists in a dataset, and, iv) The optimization problem solution consists in task configuring, task accomplishment, and task modeling. According to the new approach, the optimization result consists in the ensemble formed by an optimal structure (optimal configuration of the given task), an optimal process (optimal values of the process variables), and an optimal model (obtained by iterative rebuilding of the manufacturing model). The application of the proposed approach is sampled through a comparative illustration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of animal health improvement and disease prevention activities with respect to bovine leukosis involves a need for timely detection of cattle infected with bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) on livestock farms. That is why early diagnosis using more sensitive and highly accurate methods is of particular importance. The paper presents the results of cattle serum tests for bovine leukosis with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunodiffusion (ID), as well as the comparative assessment of their effectiveness. A total of 440 cattle blood samples were subjected to serological testing with immunodiffusion; 37 (8.4%) of them tested positive for bovine leukaemia virus. The cattle blood samples were submitted from the Kumtorkalinsky (127), Karabudakhkentsky (122), Buynaksky (89) Raions, from Makhachkala (56) and Kaspiysk (46). Seropositivity was 17 (13.4%), 8 (6.6%), 5 (5.6%), 4 (7.1%) and 3 (6.5%), respectively. For the comparative assessment of the diagnostic tests, 100 (5 ID-positive and 95 ID-negative) serum samples were taken and tested with ELISA. As a result, specific antibodies against BLV gp51 antigen were detected in 4 ID-negative serum samples. All ID-positive serum samples also tested positive with ELISA. All in all 9 virus carriers were detected with ELISA, that is 44.4% more than with immunodiffusion. Thus, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is characterized by a higher sensitivity, as compared with immunodiffusion, and allows for improved detection of infected animals. However, alongside the advantages, this technique has certain disadvantages, one of which is the high price of the diagnostic test kit for anti-BLV antibody detection and the equipment required.

Precipitation is crucial for managing water resources in the Three River Headwaters (TRH) region of the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Gridded precipitation datasets across the TRH region exhibit significant discrepancies in their results. Previous studies have primarily focused on assessing average or extreme precipitation for a single dataset or several datasets. In this study, based on the observed gridded precipitation dataset (CN05.1), a comprehensive evaluation of the climatic features and extreme precipitation across the TRH region from 1983 to 2014 is performed by employing two gauge-based gridded datasets (GPCC and CRU), two satellite-derived precipitation datasets (P-CDR and IMERG), and two reanalysis precipitation datasets (ERA5 and CRA40). The results show that all datasets are consistent in reproducing the climatology, interannual variability, and annual cycle of precipitation in the TRH region. However, the different datasets exhibit significant discrepancies in characterizing the long-term trends and extreme precipitation events. P-CDR and GPCC provide a good representation of the spatial variability of the annual mean climatology. ERA5 and CRU are more reliable in capturing interannual variabilities. The long-term trends can be closely described by employing CRU. P-CDR and GPCC exhibit higher skills in terms of the annual cycle. P-CDR performs better than IMERG for daily precipitation in terms of probability distributions and other assessment metrics. P-CDR and IMERG have advantages and disadvantages in characterizing the nine extreme precipitation indices. This study demonstrates a comprehensive comparison method using multiple precipitation datasets to gain essential insight into the strengths and weaknesses of various datasets across the TRH region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, utilization of a bio-based fuel in a turbojet engine is comprehensively monitored with adapting various useful indicators for the scope of the study based on thermodynamic principles. In this regard, extensive energy and exergy, thermoecologic, environmental, enviroeconomic and sustainability analyses are performed for both the turbojet engines fueled by jet kerosene and fueled by a bio-based fuel. As per the main findings, the mass stream of combustion emissions is measured to be 4.547 kg s−1, when the engine is powered by biofuel. The specific fuel consumption and specific thrust are determined as 0.13 kg kN−1 s−1 and 147.81 kNs kg−1 for jet kerosene-powered case, while they are calculated as 0.15 kg kN−1 s−1 and 148.23 kNs kg−1 for biofuel-powered case. If biofuel is selected over jet-kerosene fuel, it is observed that the engine has better energy efficiency performance by 18.18%. The engine's environmental effect factor value is found as 4.88 for jet-kerosene usage condition, while it is found to be 4.93 for biofuel utilization case. The overall emitted CO2 emissions is measured as 336,672 kg-CO2 year−1 for jet-kerosene usage condition, while it is estimated as 222,012 kg-CO2 year−1 for the biofuel utilization case. Also, as far as biofuel is chosen as alternative to jet-kerosene, the environmental damage cost stream, namely the enviroeconomic parameter of the engine, falls from 59,254.27 US$ year−1 to 39,074.11 US$ year−1. It is observed that sustainable efficiency factor and exergetic sustainability index outputs of the components of air compressor are the same for jet-kerosene and biofuel utilization cases, which are 8.31 and 7.31, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic improvement mainly depends on the level of genetic variability present in the population, and the degree of genetic diversity in a population largely determines the rate of genetic advancement. For analyzing genetic diversity and determining cultivar identities, a molecular marker is a useful tool. Using 30 SSR (simple sequence repeat) and 30 RAPD (randomly amplified polymorphic DNA) markers, this study evaluated the genetic divergence of 17 mango cultivars. The effectiveness of the two marker systems was evaluated using their genetic diversity characteristics. Additionally, the effects of SM (simple matching) and Dice similarity coefficients and their effects on mango clustering were evaluated. The findings showed that SSR markers generated 192 alleles, all of which were polymorphic (100%). With RAPD markers, 434 bands were obtained, 361 of which were polymorphic (83%). The average polymorphic information content (PIC) for RAPD and SSR was 0.378 and 0.735, respectively. Using SSR markers resulted in much higher values for other genetic diversity parameters compared to RAPD markers. Furthermore, grouping the genotypes according to the two similarity coefficients without detailed consideration of these coefficients could not influence the study results. The RAPD markers OPA_01, OPM_12 followed by OPO_12 and SSR markers MIAC_4, MIAC_5 followed by mMiCIR_21 were the most informative in terms of describing genetic variability among the cultivars under study; they can be used in further investigations such as genetic mapping or marker-assisted selection. Overall, ‘Zebda’ cultivar was the most diverse of the studied cultivars.

Creative industries, by their nature of innovation through creativity, add value to any territory by giving it spatial functionality, and at the same time, they favour sustainable development through the sustainability of the urban centres in which they operate. This paper develops a GIS methodology based on the implementation of a spatial analysis model that captures, in a comparative way, the spatial functionality of two different urban centres—(Cluj-Napoca (Romania) and Pécs (Hungary))—in terms of spatial extent based on the impact of the spatial distribution of creative industries. The spatial analysis model is based on the management of alpha-numeric databases representing the addresses of the creative industries, based on geolocation, for the development of spatial analyses of pedestrian accessibility. The main aim is to identify the specific areas of 15 and 5 min model cities. The comparative analysis was carried out by implementing a deterministic methodology through which the areas with certain degrees of accessibility were analysed in relation to the total analysed area, with the main aim of standardising the scale of analysis due to the difference between the two urban centres, thus facilitating the use of qualitative boning in the final comparison process. The results obtained highlight the local behaviour, at the same time making it possible to conduct a realistic deterministic comparative analysis of the two urban centres, which are also identifiable from the point of view of local territorial functionality, thereby validating the GIS model implemented in the present study.

Introduction: All people are responsible for environmental protection. This means that any person obliges to compensate for any damages which is called legal responsibility. In this paper, the relation between civil liability and social responsibility in the context of environmental responsibility is explored.Material and methods: This research is conducted qualitatively by context analysis approach. National as well as international documents related to civil liability, corporate social responsibility and environmental responsibility of people and their interconnections were defined and evaluated by library studies. To explore the relationship between environmental civil liability and social responsibility, their parameters were analyzed separately, and their districts, objectives and principals were analyzed comparatively. To understand the relationship between environmental civil liability and social responsibility, first they were analyzed separately; then, in terms of territory, goals, customary practice and pillars, an analytical comparison was made between these two responsibilities and in each section, it is stated which of the logical relations is established between them.Results and discussion: Results showed that there is a logical relation between civil liability and social responsibility in which there are some common features between them in term of considering social values. However, there are differences between these two responsibilities in which civil liability is merely considering present needs and values, while social responsibility considers present and future generations simultaneously.Conclusion: There is a structural difference between civil liability and social responsibility in the context of environmental protection in which civil liability as a branch of legal responsibility is going to improve social life, while social responsibility is seeking to upgrade human-environment relation to protect the environment. In civil liability, the main objective is to compensate damages to people and assets, while social responsibility emphasizes to prevent environmental damage.

The study aims to indirectly determine the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks). The applicability of recently-published pedotransfer functions (PTFs) based on a machine learning approach has been tested, and their performance has been compared with well-known hierarchical PTFs (computer software Rosetta) for 126 soil data sets in the Czech Republic. The quality of estimates has been statistically evaluated in comparison with the measured Ks values; the root mean squared error (RMSE), the mean error (ME) and the coefficient of determination (R2) were considered. The eight tested models of PTFs were ranked according to the RMSE values. The measured results reflected high Ks variability between and within the study areas, especially for those areas where preferential flow occurred. In most cases, the tested PTFs overestimated the measured Ks values, which is documented by positive ME values. The RMSE values of the Ks estimate ranged on average from 0.5 (coarse-textured soils) to 1.3 (medium to fine-textured soils) for log-transformed Ks in cm/day. Generally, the models based on Random Forest performed better than those based on Boosted Regression Trees. However, the best estimates were obtained by Neural Network analysis PTFs in Rosetta, which scored for four best rankings out of five.

Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) has been widely applied on the European Union (EU) mainland, whereas the EU Overseas entities still bear potential for implementation. This paper presents novel applications of the MAES procedure in the EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories (\"EU Overseas\"). Eight case studies from different geographical areas were analysed through a comparative assessment by applying an established framework following key steps in the MAES process, in order to stipulate lessons learned and recommendations for MAES in the EU Overseas. These key steps include the identification of policy questions, stakeholder networks and involvement, application of MAES methods, dissemination and communication and implementation. The case studies were conducted and analysed under the umbrella of the EU MOVE pilot project, including the Azores, the Canary Islands, Saint Martin, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion Island and the Falkland Islands. Each case study represented different governance, policy and decision-making frameworks towards biodiversity and environmental protection. Case studies predominantly addressed the policy domains of Nature and Biodiversity Conservation and Marine and Maritime Policy. Ecosystem Services (ES) were assessed across a wide range of themes, biomes and scales, focusing on terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems. Results show that the implementation of the case studies was accompanied by extensive communication and dissemination activities. First success stories were visible, where the MAES exercise led to meaningful uptake of the ES concept to policies and decision-making. Yet, there is still work to be done - major bottlenecks were identified related to the MAES implementation centring around financial resources, training and technical expertise. Addressing these aspects can contribute to an enhanced implementation of MAES in the EU Overseas in the future.

In the present study, a comparative assessment is conducted to evaluate the outcomes derived from two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models utilizing the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) approach. The focus lies on the aerodynamic performance of the H-Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine, which has been the subject of numerous numerical investigations since 2010. The k−ω shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model is employed to replicate the flow structures evolving in the turbine wake.The maximum power coefficients attained through 2D and 3D modeling are reported as Cp=0.4016 and Cp=0.5734, respectively, at a tip speed ratio (λ) of 3.0976. The maximum 2D and 3D absolute errors, corresponding to the evaluation of the power coefficients, are determined to be 14.9714% and 29.1582%, respectively. These errors are calculated at λ=2.5183 and λ=3.0976. The parametric study conducted herein reveals that the range of the power coefficient enhancement, considering 3D aerodynamic effects, surpasses that obtained from 2D calculations. In 3D modeling, this range is delineated between λ=1.85 and λ=3.10, whereas, in 2D modeling, it is defined by the interval bounded by λ=2.05 and λ=3.10. The essential contours for comparing the 2D and 3D approaches and for characterizing the flow structures developing around the H-Darrieus turbine are generated and analyzed.

In traditional teaching, the instructor provides information and lectures to the learners. This method does not consider the different learning styles and preferences of individuals. It assumes that all learners have similar learning styles and can learn by hearing or seeing. Didactic teaching refers to a teaching approach where the teacher is the primary source of information and directs the learning process. In this approach, the teacher assumes the role of an expert and imparts knowledge to the students in a one-way communication process, with little or no interaction or collaboration. Simulation didactic activities are an effective way to prepare students and professionals for realworld situations by providing a safe environment where they can practice and gain experience. However, the effectiveness of simulation activities depends on the quality of teaching and evaluation methods used. The aim is to make a comparative study of the teaching and evaluation methods used in the simulator training which will ensure quality learning. This study will assist the simulator training when they plan, conduct, and assess their teaching and learning activities in the maritime education and training institutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Crisis management, as one of the areas of consequence management, can increase crisis resilience and reduce the level of organizational vulnerability in times of crises. Therefore, this study was designed and conducted to assess the components of crisis management in private and public hospitals. Method: The present study was conducted in 10 hospitals, in 2020. The sample size was estimated to be 200. The components of crisis management in this questionnaire included: management commitment, taking the blame, learning, awareness, preparedness, flexibility and transparency. Data analysis was performed using Independent samples t-test and Chi-square/Fisher exact test. Results: The results showed that the two groups of public and private hospitals did not have significant differences in terms of individual variables (p

Taxpayers and operators worldwide have significant current liabilities associated with decommissioning of offshore Oil & Gas (O&G) assets. Consequently, decommissioning is at the forefront of industrial, governmental, and non-governmental agendas. Decommissioning is a highly complex activity with health, safety, environmental, social, economic, and technical implications. Increasing scientific evidence supports that manmade subsea structures create hard, artificial reef habitats that provide ecological and social benefits to society. Given the significant uncertainty regarding how subsea structures should be retired at the end of their operational lifetimes, it is necessary for governments, taxpayers, and operators to understand the risks and benefits associated with potential decommissioning options. Currently, the North Sea decommissioning process is based on the policies and direction of the Oslo and Paris Convention’s (OSPAR) Decision 98/3 and follow comparative assessment (CA) multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) guidelines to determine the best overall strategy for decommissioning subsea structures; however, CA MCDA processes can be biased, ambiguous, difficult to use, interpret, and replicate, and limited in their consideration of multigenerational benefits. Consequently, to assist decision-makers in understanding and evaluating options and associated benefits for decommissioning subsea structures, this study adapted the net environmental benefit analysis (NEBA) framework to supplement and strengthen the CA process for evaluating decommissioning options for offshore O&G facilities. The net environmental benefit analysis based comparative assessment (NEBA-CA) framework is presented that addresses the growing need for a practical, quantitative, scientifically robust, defendable, and transparent MCDA approach to determine optimized decommissioning strategies for subsea assets. Increased transparency in CAs will provide an additional layer of credibility with regulators and society. The approach is data driven and a desktop analysis mainly relying on existing data. Using a North Sea case study, this work demonstrates the ability of NEBA-CA to resolve inherent complexity in comparing decommissioning options, thereby supporting operators in working with regulators to decommission assets in a way that maximizes ecosystem service benefits to society while managing site-related risks and costs. The NEBA-CA framework supplements and strengthens the standard CA process by 1) incorporating quantified metrics including multigenerational ecosystem service benefits and risks, 2) excluding front ranking (scoring) or weighting of metrics, and 3) providing consistent graphical displays to support visual differentiation of options and metrics.

DesignUniversal voluntary HIV counselling and testing followed by prompt initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all those diagnosed HIV-infected (universal test and treat, UTT) is now a global health standard. However, its population-level impact, feasibility and cost remain unknown. Five community-based trials have been implemented in sub-Saharan Africa to measure the effects of various UTT strategies at population level: BCPP/YaTsie in Botswana, MaxART in Swaziland, HPTN 071 (PopART) in South Africa and Zambia, SEARCH in Uganda and Kenya and ANRS 12249 TasP in South Africa. This report describes and contrasts the contexts, research methodologies, intervention packages, themes explored, evolution of study designs and interventions related to each of these five UTT trials.MethodsWe conducted a comparative assessment of the five trials using data extracted from study protocols and collected during baseline studies, with additional input from study investigators. We organized differences and commonalities across the trials in five categories: trial contexts, research designs, intervention packages, trial themes and adaptations.ResultsAll performed in the context of generalized HIV epidemics, the trials highly differ in their social, demographic, economic, political and health systems settings. They share the common aim of assessing the impact of UTT on the HIV epidemic but differ in methodological aspects such as study design and eligibility criteria for trial populations. In addition to universal ART initiation, the trials deliver a wide range of biomedical, behavioural and structural interventions as part of their UTT strategies. The five studies explore common issues, including the uptake rates of the trial services and individual health outcomes. All trials have adapted since their initiation to the evolving political, economic and public health contexts, including adopting the successive national recommendations for ART initiation.ConclusionsWe found substantial commonalities but also differences between the five UTT trials in their design, conduct and multidisciplinary outputs. As empirical literature on how UTT may improve efficiency and quality of HIV care at population level is still scarce, this article provides a foundation for more collaborative research on UTT and supports evidence-based decision making for HIV care in country and internationally.

Background: Nimodipine (ND) is a vasodilator drug that is used for acute subarachnoid hemorrhage. It has a predominant hydrophobic property, causing low solubility and low bioavailability. Spanlastics are elastic nanovesicular systems based on non-ionic surfactants and edge activators as major components. The goal of this work is to formulate ND as spanlastic nanovesicles to improve the drug's bioavailability., Methods: Spanlastic formulations containing ND were prepared by using the ethanol injection method. The composition of the ND formulation includes Span60 as a nonionic surfactant and Tween 20 as edge activators in different ratios. Stabilizers like Soluplus are used in some formulations and then compared with other formulations without that stabilizer. The evaluation study involved Vesicle Size (VS), PolyDispersity Index (PDI), and Entrapment Efficiency (%EE). Then, the optimized formula was subjected to an in vitro release study and zeta potential, additionally comparing the optimized formula with the formula without soluplus in the same concentration in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), solubility study, Deformability Index (DI), and stability study., Results: The results indicated a significant shift in some evaluation criteria and a non-significant change in other characterizations, including the difference in polymer ratio, sonication time, and the existence of a stabilizer. The best formula, F27, was found to have VS, PDI, %EE, and zeta potential of 125.7±0.29 nm, 0.4744±0.002, and 85.43±0.17% and -20.01 ± 0.89 mV, respectively. The photomicrographs of the prepared spanlastic revealed a more uniform and spherical spanlastic, indicating a greater capacity for continuous release. With the addition of Soluplus, the formula became more stable in one month and had a higher deformability index., Discussion: A significant shift was observed in both VS and PDI. As the stabilizer concentration increases, VS and PDI will decrease. The non-significant shift was noted in the %EE with the presence of a stabilizer. Soluplus has the ability to spontaneously self-assemble into spherical particles. Additionally, PEG 6000, as a component of Soluplus's structure, has a tendency to form strong or tightly bound bilayers and prevent aggregation and formulation of large vesicles., Conclusion: This study explains the accessibility of the formulation of ND as spanlastic nanovesicles by using the ethanol injection method. This spanlastic formulation contains non-ionic surfactants and edge activators (Span 40 and Tween 20) in varying ratios. To get a stable formula, Soluplus is added to prevent the development of crystals and agglomeration., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objectives: Real-world evidence (RWE) is valuable in supporting regulatory and health technology assessment (HTA) decisions; however, the actual contribution to approvals remains elusive. This study aimed to review RWE approaches and use in oncology medicine approvals in Europe and understand cohesion and discrepancy in the acceptance of the RWE by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and European HTA bodies., Methods: This scoping review involved a search of the EMA database, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (G-BA), and Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) websites to identify final reports and appraisals for oncology medicines with references to RWE. The selection was guided by research terms associated with RWE study designs, data sources, and outcomes. Qualitative analysis was used to systemize the data. Case studies assessed by more than one agency were selected for comparative assessment of RWE approach, use, and acceptability., Results: RWE was mainly leveraged as an external control for indirect treatment comparisons or contextualization to support clinical trial results by the EMA, NICE, G-BA, and HAS. However, this approach was mostly rejected due to methodology biases. Comparative assessment of RWE acceptability for the same oncology medicines across agencies suggests discrepancies between EMA and European HTA bodies and among NICE, G-BA, and HAS., Conclusions: There is diverging acceptance of RWE in EMA and European HTA bodies with no clear consensus on the most effective way to leverage RWE in approvals. With the introduction of the joint European Union Joint Clinical Assessment in 2025, it is crucial for European HTA bodies and EMA to develop synergetic standards for the use of RWE to ensure equitable and timely access to medicines., Competing Interests: Author Disclosures Author disclosure forms can be accessed below in the Supplemental Material section., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The central government of China encourages enthusiasm for biodiversity conservation by implementing a transfer payment policy targeted at Biodiversity National Key Ecological Functional Areas at the county scale. Biodiversity National Key Ecological Functional Areas are types of PAs that were designated by the State Council of China for the implementation of biodiversity conservation. However, regional comparative assessment results of biodiversity conservation effectiveness in different county-level administrative units are still lacking. In this study, we developed a reference condition index to represent the ecological background, and we then constructed a conservation effectiveness index to compare the conservation efforts among 131 counties in seven Biodiversity National Key Ecological Functional Areas. The results showed the following: (1) The biological background could be well reflected by the reference condition index. The Tropical Rainforest Ecological Function Area in Mountain Areas in the Middle of Hainan Island had the best biological background, while the Desert Ecological Function Area on the Northwest Qiangtang Plateau had the worst. (2) The biodiversity conservation effectiveness of the Desert Ecological Function Area on the Northwest Qiangtang Plateau was the best, and that of the Wetland Ecological Function Area of the Three River Plain was worst. (3) Among the 131 counties, Taibai County in the Biodiversity Ecological Function Area of Qinba Mountain performed best, while Fujin City in the Wetland Ecological Function Area of the Three River Plain performed worst. Our study could provide valuable insights for the transfer payment. Meanwhile, it can also supply a scientific reference for the management of Biodiversity National Key Ecological Functional Areas to enhance biodiversity.

Although wildfires are a common disturbance factor to the environment, some of them can cause significant environmental and socioeconomic losses, affecting ecosystems and people worldwide. The wildfire identification and assessment of their effects on damaged forest areas is of great importance for provision of effective actions on their management and preservation. Forest regrowth after a fire is a continuously evolving and dynamic process, and the accuracy assessment of different remote sensing indices for its evaluation is a complicated task. The implementation of this task cannot rely on the standard procedures. Therefore, we suggested a method involving delineation of dynamic boundaries between conditional categories within burnt forest areas by application of spectral reflectance characteristics (SRC). This study compared the performance of firmly established for fire monitoring differenced vegetation indices—Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (dNDVI) and Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) and tested the capabilities of tasseled cap-derived differenced Disturbance Index (dDI) for post-fire monitoring purposes in different forest environments (Boreal Mountain Forest (BMF), Mediterranean Mountain Forest (MMF), Mediterranean Hill Forest (MHF)). The accuracy assessment of the tree indices was performed using Very High Resolution (VHR) aerial and satellite data. The results show that dDI has an optimal performance in monitoring post-fire disturbances in more difficult-to-be-differentiated classes, whereas, for post-fire regrowth, the more appropriate is dNDVI. In the first case, dDI has an overall accuracy of 50%, whereas the accuracy of dNBR and dNDVI is barely 35% and 36%. Moreover, dDI shows better performance in 16 accuracy metrics (from 17). In the second case, dNDVI has an overall accuracy of 59%, whereas those of dNBR and dDI are 55% and 52%, and the accuracy metrics in which dNDVI shows better performance than the other two indices are 11 (from 13). Generally, the studied indices showed higher accuracy in assessment of post-fire disturbance rather than of the post-fire forest regrowth, implicitly at test areas—BMF and MMF, and contrary opposite result in the accuracy at MHF. This indicates the relation of the indices’ accuracy to the heterogeneity of the environment.