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Eurasian dryland ecosystems consist mainly of cropland and grassland, and their changes are driven by both natural factors and human activities. This study utilized the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), gross primary productivity (GPP) and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) to analyze the changing characteristics of vegetation activity in Eurasia over the past two decades. Additionally, we integrated the mean annual temperature (MAT), the mean annual precipitation (MAP), the soil moisture (SM), the vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and the terrestrial water storage (TWS) to analyze natural factors' influence on the vegetation activity from 2003 to 2022. Through partial correlation and residual analysis, we quantitatively described the contributions of both natural and human factors to changes in vegetation activity. The results indicated an overall increasing trend in vegetation activity in Eurasia; the growth rates of vegetation greenness, productivity and photosynthetic capacity were 1.00 × 10−3 yr−1 (p < 0.01), 1.30 g C m−2 yr−2 (p < 0.01) and 1.00 × 10−3 Wm−2μm−1sr−1yr−1 (p < 0.01), respectively. Furthermore, we found that soil moisture was the most important natural factor influencing vegetation activity. Human activities were identified as the main driving factors of vegetation activity in the Eurasian drylands. The relative contributions of human-induced changes to NDVI, GPP and SIF were 52.45%, 55.81% and 74.18%, respectively. These findings can deepen our understanding of the impacts of current natural change and intensified human activities on dryland vegetation coverage change in Eurasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

City populations grow due to natural change, migration, and areas that are reclassified as part of a city. Because a time series of city boundaries was not available, most analyses ignore reclassification. This paper measures reclassification in a harmonized and transparent manner by applying a new harmonized definition of cities, towns, and rural areas, called the degree of urbanization, to gridded population data between 1980 and 2020. Ignoring reclassification would attribute city population growth equally to natural change and migration. Including the effects of reclassification reveals that two‐thirds of the growth is due to natural change, followed by reclassification (29 percent), and the remainder to migration (4 percent). This demonstrates the importance of accounting for reclassification. It also underlines that discouraging migration to cities will not significantly reduce city population growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eurasian dryland ecosystems consist mainly of cropland and grassland, and their changes are driven by both natural factors and human activities. This study utilized the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), gross primary productivity (GPP) and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) to analyze the changing characteristics of vegetation activity in Eurasia over the past two decades. Additionally, we integrated the mean annual temperature (MAT), the mean annual precipitation (MAP), the soil moisture (SM), the vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and the terrestrial water storage (TWS) to analyze natural factors’ influence on the vegetation activity from 2003 to 2022. Through partial correlation and residual analysis, we quantitatively described the contributions of both natural and human factors to changes in vegetation activity. The results indicated an overall increasing trend in vegetation activity in Eurasia; the growth rates of vegetation greenness, productivity and photosynthetic capacity were 1.00 × 10−3 yr−1 (p < 0.01), 1.30 g C m−2 yr−2 (p < 0.01) and 1.00 × 10−3 Wm−2μm−1sr−1yr−1 (p < 0.01), respectively. Furthermore, we found that soil moisture was the most important natural factor influencing vegetation activity. Human activities were identified as the main driving factors of vegetation activity in the Eurasian drylands. The relative contributions of human-induced changes to NDVI, GPP and SIF were 52.45%, 55.81% and 74.18%, respectively. These findings can deepen our understanding of the impacts of current natural change and intensified human activities on dryland vegetation coverage change in Eurasia.

This paper analyses the statistical parameters that give a comprehensive overview of the socio-demographic state of the border areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it represents a novel attempt to examine the disparity and relationships between central and peripheral parts of national territory. The methodology is based on examining the differences between border and non-border municipalities/cities according to four groups of indicators, to obtain four indices: depopulation, natural change, ageing and education. Statistically significant differences were found primarily in the context of population age structure, and it can be concluded that the ageing process has affected bordering regions more than the rest of the country.

Many have argued that there is no room for experiments in Aristotle's natural science: experiments intervene in nature, but Aristotle holds that we must simply observe nature; if we intervened, the result would be something artificial or contrary to nature. Against this, I argue that Aristotle not only performed experiments, but also holds that there is much about nature that can be discovered experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population researchers have contributed to the debate on minority group distribution and disadvantage and social cohesion by providing objective analysis. A plethora of new distribution measurement techniques have been presented in recent years, but they have not provided sufficient explanatory power of underlying trajectories to inform ongoing political debate. Indeed, a focus on trying to summarise complex situations with readily understood measures may be misplaced. This paper takes an alternative approach and asks whether a more detailed analysis of individual and environmental characteristics is necessary if researchers are to continue to provide worthwhile input to policy development. Using England and Wales as a test bed, it looks at four small sub-populations (circa 250,000 at the turn of the century) – two based on ethnic grouping: Bangladeshi and Chinese; and two based on an under-researched area of cultural background, religion: Jews and Sikhs. Despite major differences in longevity of presence in the UK, age profile, socio-economic progress, and levels of inter-marriage, there are, at a national level, parallels in the distribution patterns and trajectories for three of the groups. However, heterogeneity between and within the groups mean that at a local level, these similarities are confounded. The paper concludes that complex interactions between natural change and migration, and between suburbanisation and a desire for group congregation, mean that explanations for the trajectory of distribution require examination of data at a detailed level, beyond the scope of index-based methods. Such analyses are necessary if researchers are to effectively contribute to future policy development.

A lot of scholarly attention has been given to Aristotle's account of how and why animals are capable of moving themselves. But no one has focused on the question, whether self-change is possible in plants on Aristotle's account. I first give some context and explain why this topic is worth exploring. I then turn to Aristotle's conditions for self-change given in Physics VIII.4, where he argues that the natural motion of the elements does not count as self-motion. I apply those conditions to natural change in plants. Then I explore the reasons for and consequences of Aristotle's argument that plants are incapable of sensation. I argue that for Aristotle plants cannot possess the directing faculties for self-change, namely, desire and phantasia. My goal is to show why growth, metabolism, and reproduction in plants would not count as self-change for Aristotle, despite many of these natural changes appearing as autonomous as the analogous changes in animals. This sheds light on how, for Aristotle, self-change differs from natural change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research presented in this paper is dealing with mortality and its impact on the natural increase, i.e. population dynamics in Serbia at the beginning of the 21st century. The aim is to draw attention to the potential of mortality as a natural component of changes in population when it comes to the possibility of mitigating the negative population trends. This paper will analyse changes in the age patterns of mortality of Serbian population from the mid 20th century, in order to point to the lack of progress in reducing age-specific mortality. The comparison with countries with low mortality rates (Slovenia and Sweden) will highlight the potential space for further mortality reduction in Serbia. The effect of a hypothetical fall of mortality by age on the level of natural increase will be measured on the basis of population projections for the period of half a century.

In the last half century, a significant warming trend occurred in summer over eastern China in the East Asian monsoon region. However, there were no consistent trends with respect to the intensity of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) or the amount of summer rainfall averaged over eastern China. Both of the EASM and summer rainfall exhibited clear decadal variations. Obvious decadal shifts of EASM occurred around the mid- and late 1970s, the late 1980s and the early 1990s, and the late 1990s and early 2000s, respectively. Summer rainfall over eastern China exhibited a change in spatial distribution in the decadal timescale, in response to the decadal shifts of EASM. From the mid- and late 1970s to the late 1980s and the early 1990s, there was a meridional tri-polar rainfall distribution anomaly with more rainfall over the Yangtze River valley and less rainfall in North and South China; but in the period from the early 1990s to the late 1990s and the early 2000s the tri-polar distribution changed to a dipolar one, with more rainfall appearing over southern China south to the Yangtze River valley and less rainfall in North China. However, from the early 2000s to the late 2000s, the Yangtze River valley received less rainfall. The decadal changes in EASM and summer rainfall over eastern China in the last half century are closely related to natural internal forcing factors such as Eurasian snow cover, Arctic sea ice, sea surface temperatures in tropical Pacific and Indian Ocean, ocean–atmospheric coupled systems of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and Asian–Pacific Oscillation (APO), and uneven thermal forcing over the Asian continent. Up to now, the roles of anthropogenic factors, such as greenhouse gases, aerosols, and land usage/cover changes, on existing decadal variations of EASM and summer rainfall in this region remain uncertain.

Population researchers have contributed to the debate on minority group distribution and disadvantage and social cohesion by providing objective analysis. A plethora of new distribution measurement techniques have been presented in recent years, but they have not provided sufficient explanatory power of underlying trajectories to inform ongoing political debate. Indeed, a focus on trying to summarise complex situations with readily understood measures may be misplaced. This paper takes an alternative approach and asks whether a more detailed analysis of individual and environmental characteristics is necessary if researchers are to continue to provide worthwhile input to policy development. Using England and Wales as a test bed, it looks at four small sub-populations (circa 250,000 at the turn of the century) - two based on ethnic grouping: Bangladeshi and Chinese; and two based on an under-researched area of cultural background, religion: Jews and Sikhs. Despite major differences in longevity of presence in the UK, age profile, socio-economic progress, and levels of inter-marriage, there are, at a national level, parallels in the distribution patterns and trajectories for three of the groups. However, heterogeneity between and within the groups mean that at a local level, these similarities are confounded. The paper concludes that complex interactions between natural change and migration, and between suburbanisation and a desire for group congregation, mean that explanations for the trajectory of distribution require examination of data at a detailed level, beyond the scope of index-based methods. Such analyses are necessary if researchers are to effectively contribute to future policy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural change and migration are important determinants of the economy and environment. In the EU strategic documents the socio-economic developmental priorities have a territorial aspect, referring to all the regions of the member states. Achievement of the Union’s sustainable growth policy objectives could be limited due to unfavourable demographic trends in rural areas. The paper, using the Eurostat data and selected measures of population reproduction, describes the changes in number of rural inhabitants in 2007-2010 and their main determinants. In the analysed period the rural population size increased. However, contrary to the urban and intermediate regions, since 2009 as a result of a surplus number of deaths over births, in the rural areas the negative values of population increase were observed.

This paper analyzes population trends northeast of Montenegro in the second half of the twentieth and early twenty-first century. The population has increased in the period 1948-2003 to 2.16%, but with a tendency to decline from 1981. The population in are period 1981-2003, decreased by 14,674, or 21.16%. Parameters of natural population indicate a negative trend. So the natural increase in 2003 in the municipality was Andrijevica - 4.6%º, in the municipality of Plav 4.21%º, and Berane 9.29%º, significantly lower than in the beginning of the seventies. Population migration indicates uneven density and population concentration. The existence of a large number of settlements up to 500 populations (81) is not suitable for modern flow to vital economic development of the region.

The paper analyses Central Dalmatian territory in the 2nd half of the 20th century as one of demographically more progressive parts of the Republic of Croatia. Analyses of overall population trends and the dynamic components of overall trends (natural change and migration balance) have been made for the 1961 to 2001 period. The space has been analysed through its three components: the hinterland, the coastal area and the islands. The results have shown that all three components of Central Dalmatia have not been equally characterized by the cited demographic progression. Namely, by the analysis (dissection) of the dynamic components of the overall population trends, it was established that two out of the three spatial components of the Central Dalmatian territory were in a regressive, and only the smallest one of them in a progressive demographic phase throughout the entire analysed period. In this way, Central Dalmatia proved to be a space of differentiated demographic development with an unfavourable developmental structure, where population is concentrated in the narrow longitudinal coastal zone.

Research is steadily progressing on human responses to natural changes such as climate change, both with regard to such changes in historical as in prehistoric periods. We are, moreover, coming to a better understanding about the role of vulnerability and of institutional structures in relation to appropriate coping behaviours in the face of such environmental changes. The question concerning the cultural factors in vulnerability due to such natural changes has been little considered to date. Specifically, it is imperative to clarify how beliefs, values, practices and habits interact with the behaviour of individuals and collectivities that have to confront drastic natural changes. Ultimately, it is necessary to come to a better understanding of those values that have inter-cultural validity and may be useful in generating the necessary conditions to so that marginalised groups in our own and other societies my obtain the support which they need to adapt to such changes. In the following I discuss a case of particular cultural responses to natural changes drawn from the experience of the Alaska Tlingit and the Yukon First Nations.

Rab Island is a part of Kvarner island group. Its surface equals 86.16 sq km and according to the 2011 Population Census it had 9,328 inhabitants. In view of its surface, Rab is the tenth largest Croatian island, and in view of its population size, it is the fifth most populated Croatian island. Additionally, it is the second most populated Kvarner island (after Krk Island) and approximately a quarter of total population of Kvarner Islands lives on Rab. The paper discusses the role of natural population change and migration in total population change on Rab Island. Since 1920s, Croatian islands have been characterized by depopulation, and in that respect, Rab Island differs from most Croatian islands. The analysis has shown that from mid-19th century until 2001, Rab had constant population growth, with the exception of the short period from 1890 to 1900. The population growth was mostly caused by natural increase, while the net migration was negative in most intercensal periods. The most intensive immigration on the island was recorded in the period from 1981 to 2001, in which the island also had high positive net migration. On the other hand, until mid-1990s, Rab was characterized by natural increase, but since then it turned into natural decrease due to birth rate transition and increased mortality brought by population ageing. In the last intercensal period, from 2001 to 2011, Rab recorded population decrease (-152) for the second time, since mid-19th century due to natural decrease and negative net migration. Despite such population trends, Rab has much more favorable demographic indicators than most of Croatian islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Quality of Life (1018-0389) / Calitatea Vieţii is the property of Romanian Academy Publishing House / Editura Academiei Romane and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Migration & Ethnic Themes: MET / Migracijske i Etničke Teme is the property of Institut za istrazivanje migracija / Institute for Migration Research (IMIN) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: This paper investigates the patterns of demographic development specific to populations of certain countries during the past few decades of liberalization and globalization. The time period ranges from 1961 to 2011, examined on the whole and on ten-year intervals. The analysis relies on cross-country comparisons between natural change and net migration, which are the factors responsible for shaping a country''s total population. According to our analysis some countries benefit from international migration flows while in others the exchange of populations takes the dominant form of one- way outflow, generating a substantial worsening of the demographic situation, with all the negative consequences on development prospects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper builds on an emerging literature that focuses on processes of population change as a means of understanding geographies of ethnicity. It argues that persistent assumptions of segregation being the result of divisive separation of ethnic groups are mistaken. The paper takes a demographic approach, presenting analyses of original estimates of natural change and net migration for eight ethnic groups in Britain over the period 1991-2001, at national and district levels. Major results are the greater significance of natural change than migration for minority ethnic population change, and the accordance of population dynamics with theories of counter-urbanisation and dispersal from areas of minority ethnic concentration. The importance of natural change is illustrated through the presentation of its effects on the index of isolation. The paper concludes that ethnic group population change in Britain can to a large extent be explained by benign and unexceptional demographic processes and ethnically undifferentiated migration patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the reanalysis data throughout 19482002 as derived from the United States National Centers for Environmental Prediction and National Center for Atmospheric Research, it is revealed that East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) intensity weakens on an interdecadal timescale since the mid-1960s, and twice interdecadal jumps are recorded in the EASM intensity index series in the late 20th century, respectively occurring in the mid-1960s and mid- to late 1970s. Six globally coupled atmosphere-ocean models' outputs under the SRES A2 greenhouse gas and aerosol emission scenario, provided by the IPCC Data Distribution Center and the Hadley Center for Climate Prediction and Research, are then systematically examined. It follows that the above EASM weakening is not closely related to synchronizing anthropogenic global warming, and, therefore, it should be qualitatively natural change process. Over the 21st century, the EASM intensity is likely increased slightly by continually intensified greenhouse effect relative to the late 20th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade of the 20th century Zagreb agglomeration entered a more mature phase of metropolitan evolution, with absolute decentralization as primary feature of the population development. Net migration loss in the city and gain in the suburban area, caused by residential suburbanization, are the key determinants of their population change. Population of the entire agglomeration is still growing, with a tendency of slowing down. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work analyses the demographic development of Istria after the Second World War. The emphasis is on the spatial differences of population. Temporal and spatial intensity of depopulation has been defined, as well as its consequences. Demographically handicapped settlements were determined by means of demographic criteria at the end of the work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A basin-wide change from an older homogeneous bioturbated to a younger laminated facies occurs in sediments from the 26-m-deep, permanently anoxic Store Lungegårdsvannet fjord. The younger facies consists of alternating packages of light and dark layers, each containing millimetre-scale laminae. The composition of the dark layers differs from that of the light layers in the occurrence of predominantly marine benthic diatoms, larger grain size, lower loss-on-ignition (LOI) and lower trace metal (Cu, Pb, Zn) concentrations. Total trace metal concentrations correlate with the redox-sensitive trace elements Mo and V (r>0.8) and with LOI (r=0.6). The correlation of the minerogenic matter and the grain-size related elements Al and Li is poor (r=0.2). The shoaling of the sill depth and reduction of the fjord area resulting in the reduction of bottom water exchange accounted for the shift from bioturbated to laminated sediments during the end of the last century. The alternating changes within the laminated facies are the result of alternating wind forces. During years of calm wind conditions (1908–1919 and 1945–1961), undisturbed sedimentation of organic matter from primary production and an associated accumulation of trace metals prevail. Years of high wind force (1919–1945 and 1961–1991) trigger shore erosion and an increased influx of minerogenic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]