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Given the exponentially growing rate of technological innovations, changing landscape of market competition, and evolving sources of competitive advantages, the current commentary – on the foundations of resource-based research streams and resource-advantage (R-A) theory of competition – aims to facilitate the scholarly dialogue on pursuing competitive advantages in the interactive digital marketplace. We position our commentary within the broader body of research to refine the current understanding of the relationships among resources, capabilities, and performance in the interactive digital marketplace. This assessment uncovered five research directions that we posit will shape the future of resource-based research addressing competitive advantages in the interactive digital marketplace. We close with a corresponding research agenda to guide scholars across disciplines looking to extend our understanding of organisational competitive advantage for the years to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estate planning cases show a changing landscape in how courts will impact future estate planning law. Planners should review the three cases that are discussed and prepare for more court interference in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teacher librarians (TLs) play a central role in developing students' information literacy capabilities, which are vital for effective participation in formal education and active engagement in society. This research enhances insights into information literacy instruction in Australian secondary schools, by investigating the perceptions of practicing TLs regarding the information literacy needs of teachers and students. This article presents the groundwork for this investigation, employing a phenomenological approach and discussing findings from an initial survey. The study will inform TL education and improve current information literacy education practices, addressing the demand for nurturing 21st century skills embedded in the Australian Curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variable sampling plans incorporating process capability indices (PCIs) have been introduced to adapt to the changing landscape of modern manufacturing, where the occurrence of defective goods has significantly decreased. Skip-lot sampling plans (SkSP) are particularly effective for batches characterized by consistent and high product quality. Additionally, manufacturers with a strong track record of producing high-quality goods or possessing empirical knowledge about their production processes can benefit from resampling. It has been demonstrated that resubmitted sampling plans outperform traditional single sampling plans. In this study, a novel variant of skip-lot sampling, referred to as SkSP-SR, is proposed. SkSP-SR utilizes two reference plans: one for normal inspection (utilizing SSP) and the other for skip inspection (utilizing RSP). The approach also considers the loss of information associated with deviations from the target by incorporating the Taguchi capability index. Compared to traditional sampling plans, the suggested approach not only reduces sample sizes but also enhances discriminating power. Comprehensive tables presenting plan parameters for commonly used quality and risk criteria are provided, enabling practitioners to readily implement the recommended plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arctic permafrost is undergoing rapid changes due to climate warming in high latitudes. Retrogressive thaw slumps (RTS) are one of the most abrupt and impactful thermal-denudation events that change Arctic landscapes and accelerate carbon feedbacks. Their spatial distribution remains poorly characterised due to time-intensive conventional mapping methods. While numerous RTS studies have published standalone digitisation datasets, the lack of a centralised, unified database has limited their utilisation, affecting the scale of RTS studies and the generalisation ability of deep learning models. To address this, we established the Arctic Retrogressive Thaw Slumps (ARTS) dataset containing 23,529 RTS-present and 20,434 RTS-absent digitisations from 20 standalone datasets. We also proposed a Data Curation Framework as a working standard for RTS digitisations. This dataset is designed to be comprehensive, accessible, contributable, and adaptable for various RTS-related studies. This dataset and its accompanying curation framework establish a foundation for enhanced collaboration in RTS research, facilitating standardised data sharing and comprehensive analyses across the Arctic permafrost research community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global efforts to highlight cancer and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as a growing burden were first raised in 2005 World Health Assembly Resolution 58.22 and reinforced with Resolution 70.12 and the Global NCD action plan in 2017. One common thread for addressing cancer burden was the need to articulate cancer priorities within a comprehensive national cancer control plan (NCCP). Since 2012, the International Cancer Control Partnership provided guidance on cancer policy and planning, with the goal that every country should have an implementable plan. The purpose of the global review of NCCPs was to update global knowledge of the status and content of NCCPs. The global review included 16 new questions related to cancer equity, pandemic preparedness, global WHO initiatives, evidence-based recommendations, and other emerging trends. The findings can guide country-level decision makers on improvements to deliver person-centred cancer services to reduce the cancer burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The profound landscape modification produced by agriculture is considered one of the main threats to biodiversity worldwide. Although the main ecological impacts are likely due to agricultural expansion into natural areas, changes in crop types and production intensification also induce significant ecological changes. We studied the land cover change process in four agricultural valleys (Lluta, Azapa, Vítor and Camarones) in the Atacama Desert of Chile between 2003 and 2019, divided into four equal periods. Using spatial data and logistic regression, we assessed the driving factors of land cover change. The Azapa valley showed the highest rate of land cover change, reaching 36.4% of netting and greenhouses landscape cover by the end of the study, and 50.4% annual rate of increase during the 2007–2011 period. Intensification was observed as the anti-aphid netting cover expanded mainly in Azapa and in the last four years in Vítor and Lluta valleys. Most land cover change was related to low slopes and elevation or sites closer to roads or surrounded by already cultivated land, like agriculture expansion on barren soil or native shrubland loss. High population density was significantly correlated with land cover change (p < 0.01). If land cover change into netting continues as observed, it is possible that landscape homogenization occurs in the short term in almost all valleys. Anyway, disentangling how landscape change works and the involved drivers, could be useful to understand landscape simplification in arid lands that are under an agricultural intensification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the changing landscape of consanguineous marriages among Germany's ar-Rashidiyya community, originally from Turkey's Mardin province. The study employs ethnographic methods to understand how younger members are questioning entrenched marital norms, influenced by factors like migration, education, familial conflicts, individualism, and health concerns. Challenging misconceptions linking these practices to 'clan crime,' the article delves into the nuanced relationship between cultural tradition and individual agency. It concludes that consanguineous marriages within the community are no longer rigid practices, but are becoming increasingly adaptable due to both internal community dynamics and wider societal influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates how heat and humidity—as lived experiences in the summer—were negotiated through an analysis of various sites of coolness and heat, focusing on the period between the American occupation and high economic growth in postwar Tokyo. As the population of Tokyo grew from eight to eleven million between 1955 and 1965 and major infrastructure projects changed the urban landscape, the study shows how coping mechanisms for dealing with the heat and humidity were characterized, on one hand, by heat avoidance strategies that manifested themselves in a search for coolness in nonurban environments, in the home, and in shades created by new urban assemblages. Yet the article also demonstrates that the dictates of employment bore witness to paradoxical heat-inducing practices embodied in the not-so-cool clothes men and women wore, revealing the extent to which social and sexual norms inhibited the realization of individual corporeal coolness. As mechanical cooling made inroads into urban life, a shift from a passive to an active strategy of combating the summer emerged, resulting in inhabitants increasingly choosing not to leave the capital but to stay in it. Despite resistance to artificial coolness at home, where heat avoidance strategies had been largely successful, the article finds that the air conditioner managed to establish itself first in the workplace, and then eventually in the home, as the needs of middle-class urban families living in more western-style apartment blocks made themselves felt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood storage lesion induces cytosolic and membrane changes driven in part by hemoglobin (Hb) oxidation reactions within red blood cells (RBCs). A novel gel formulation containing the antioxidant curcuminoids in a biocompatible solvent system was used to deliver curcumin into RBCs. Incubation of peroxide treated RBCs stored in PBS with curcumin gel led to a reduction in prooxidant ferrylHb and recovery in ATP. Curcumin treatment prevented band 3 tyrosine (Y359 and Y21) phosphorylation. RBCs stored in AS-3 solutions for 28, 35, 42 and 49 days, following a single-dose of 100µM curcuminoids at each time points, caused reduction in protein carbonylation and considerable recovery in ATP levels. Proteomic analysis revealed minimal changes in the proteomic landscape in 35 days. However, a downregulation in fibrinogen was observed in the treated samples which may reduce RBC aggregation. Additionally, we used a guinea pig model where the circulation of infused aged RBCs can be extended (approximately 10%) when treated with curcumin gel at the start of storage. Our data therefore provide mechanistic insights and supportive animal data into benefits of treating stored RBCs with a novel curcuminoid formulation based on the biopreservation of RBC membrane integrity, redox balance, and increased longevity in circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pannexin 1 (Panx1) constitutes a large pore channel responsible for the release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from apoptotic cells. Strong evidence indicates that caspase-mediated cleavage of the C-terminus promotes the opening of the Panx1 channel by unplugging the pore. However, this simple pore-plugging mechanism alone cannot account for the observation that a Panx1 construct ending before the caspase cleavage site remains closed. Here, we show that a helical region located immediately before the caspase cleavage site, referred to as the "C-terminal activating domain (CAD)", plays a pivotal role in facilitating Panx1 activation. Electrophysiology and mutagenesis studies uncovered that two conserved leucine residues within the CAD play a pivotal role. Cryoelectron microscopy (Cryo-EM) analysis of the construct ending before reaching the CAD demonstrated that the N terminus extends into an intracellular pocket. In contrast, the construct including the CAD revealed that this domain occupies the intracellular pocket, causing the N terminus to flip upward within the pore. Analysis of electrostatic free energy landscape in the closed conformation indicated that the intracellular side of the ion permeation pore may be occupied by anions like ATP, creating an electrostatic barrier for anions attempting to permeate the pore. When the N terminus flips up, it diminishes the positively charged surface, thereby reducing the drive to accumulate anions inside the pore. This dynamic change in the electrostatic landscape likely contributes to the selection of permeant ions. Collectively, these experiments put forth a mechanism in which C-terminal cleavage liberates the CAD, causing the repositioning of the N terminus to promote Panx1 channel opening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over 90% of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may not receive a timely diagnosis. Understanding community-based practice patterns, where most individuals are seen, is critical to improving patient care. Objective: To understand how patients with MCI and mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) are diagnosed and managed in community-based settings, including the use of clinical and cognitive assessments, referrals to dementia-related specialties, and receipt of treatment. Methods: This observational study recruited community-based primary care physicians (PCPs) (N = 177) and neurologists (N = 147) in August-September 2023, through a verified physician panel with broad geographic representation across the US. Physicians abstracted medical chart data from patients diagnosed with MCI or mild AD within the previous two years. Data collected included use of neurocognitive assessments, biomarker and structural imagine tests, referrals, and treatments. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: Medical records for 817 MCI and 467 mild AD patients were abstracted. The mean age was 70.2 years, 56.4% were female, and 67.2% were White. Symptoms were commonly reported by a family member (67.2%). Nearly 1 in 6 patients did not receive any neurocognitive assessments (16.1%), and nearly 1 in 4 did not receive a structural imaging or AD-specific biomarker test (23.7%). AD-specific biomarker tests were more common among patients aged ≥65 (87.1% versus 75.3%; p < 0.05). Less than 1 in 4 patients were referred for cognitive/behavioral concerns. Conclusions: As the diagnostic and treatment landscape changes, education on symptom recognition, and physician training on new technologies may facilitate timely diagnoses and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) population rebounds in the western United States, conflicts with humans, including livestock depredation, have also increased. What grizzly bear conflict means, for whom, and what it implies for the viability of conflict‐reduction tools on the ground can vary widely. Multiple perspectives on the causes of—and solutions to—grizzly bear conflict present serious challenges for conservation practice. To better understand perceptions of human conflict with grizzly bears, we used a combination of in‐depth interviews (n = 29) followed by a Q‐sort activity with key stakeholders (n = 21; i.e., ranchers, ranch managers, conservation organization members, agency scientists) in ranching communities in southwest Montana, USA, situated between the 2 largest grizzly bear recovery zones. Stakeholders interpreted conflict with grizzly bears as directly and indirectly connected to broader social changes on the landscape, and these changes influence how they make sense of and act on conflict reduction. Specifically, 3 distinct (but not mutually exclusive) perspectives on grizzly–livestock conflict and conflict‐reduction tools emerged: 1) that grizzly–livestock conflict is a symptom of the social divide within ranching communities, 2) that conflict can be attributed to governance structures that currently limit the use of potentially effective tools (e.g., hunting, lethal removal), and 3) there are multiple paths for reducing conflict and holistic, ecosystem‐based management is needed. We provide managers with new insights on grizzly–livestock conflict and conflict reduction, and hope this work helps increase collaboration among ranchers, managers, and other stakeholders engaged in this complex social and ecological challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article scrutinizes the dynamic interplay between theory and practice in EU competition policy. Through an in-depth analysis of theoretical and empirical insights, the article evaluates the impact of antitrust measures, merger control, and sector-specific regulations on EU flagship initiatives and economic growth. Emphasizing the pivotal role of competition policy in the single market, it calls for heightened theoretical underpinnings to enhance policy efficacy. As the article unfolds against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, it underscores the policy's adaptability to new strategic priorities, advocating for innovation, resilience, and sustainable development. The analysis reveals that while the European Union's competition policy has contributed to market efficiency and economic growth, challenges persist, particularly in addressing weak competition in certain sectors and adapting to evolving global economic dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions The development of anti‐amyloid monoclonal antibodies has changed the landscape of care for patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The potential for financial conflicts of interest (COIs) for physicians related to these medications is unknown.A cross‐sectional analysis of open payments from industry to physicians working in memory clinics was conducted. The US News Best Hospitals for Neurology and Neurosurgery was used to identify the top 50 ranked hospitals. For each hospital, a google search was performed to identify any affiliated memory clinic. A list of physicians practicing in the memory clinic was identified from public websites. Physician specialty (neurology, geriatrics, psychiatry, or other) was abstracted. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services Open Payments database was used to search for general industry payments to each physician for the years 2020–2023. Mean and median yearly payments and number of payments were calculated. Payments from all pharmaceutical companies as well as the pharmaceutical companies responsible for lecanemab (Biogen and Eisai) and donanemab (Eli Lilly and Company/Lilly USA) were abstracted.Thirty‐one memory clinics with 244 total physicians were identified; 173 were neurologists, 37 psychiatrists, 30 geriatricians, and 4 other specialists. Mean one‐year payment was $1562 (SD 4021) for neurologists, $974 (SD 5153) for geriatricians, and $460 (SD 1932) for psychiatrists. Forty neurologists (40/173, 23%) received mean yearly payments of ≥$1000, compared with one geriatrician (1/30, 3.3%) and two psychiatrists (2/37, 5.4%). Payments from Biogen, Eisai, and Eli Lilly and Company/Lilly USA comprised 51% of general payments.Most physicians working in a sample of memory clinics received no or low amounts of general payments. Neurologists were more likely to receive general payments from industry. Payments from Biogen, Eisai, and Eli Lilly and Company/Lilly USA were substantial. Future work should evaluate the relationship between industry payments and anti‐amyloid prescribing patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In coastal Bangladesh, ‘affective assemblages of kinship’ produce differential abilities for landless single mothers to migrate to brick kilns, the garment industry, and the Gulf. This group of women who return to their natal homes as a response to violence or abandonment is neglected by anthropologists of kinship and migration. Thinking of assemblages of kinship as open‐ended gatherings enables us to move away from fixed genealogical constructs of patrilineal and virilocal households and to theorize how different people may join or leave a kinship assemblage based on the fluctuations of emotional bonds over time. A rapidly changing socioeconomic landscape has contributed towards the unkinning of returning sisters from failed marriages, shifting filial duties, and matrifocal living. Such ‘divorced’ women make new kin through unofficial romantic partners, with whom they may choose to migrate together as a means to exert emotional agency. Thinking through ‘affective assemblages of kinship’ via single mothers reveals the gendered complexities of rural labour migration – of economic and affective‐sexual‐moral considerations – and how it is contingent on social reproductive support. Such an ethnographic corrective towards reductive explanations of climate‐induced migration and the vulnerability of ‘female‐headed households’ shows the importance of anthropology in understanding complex phenomena in a world undergoing rapid socioenvironmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscapes are shaped by tectonic, climatic, and surface processes over geological timescales, but we rarely witness the events of marked landscape change. The moment magnitude 7.5 Noto Peninsula earthquake in central Japan was caused by a large thrust faulting, up to nearly 10 meters of slip, that expanded more than 150 kilometers along the fault zone. The deformation field reconstructed from satellite data and field surveys reveals up to 4.4 meters of uplift and associated coastal advance along the entire northern coast of the peninsula, meter-scale systematic movement of the mountain slopes consistent with slip on flexural faults, and activation of secondary inland faults, suggesting synchronized ruptures. The findings show excellent consistency between the coseismic deformation and geomorphic features and provide a vivid example of the role of a major earthquake in landscape formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extrapolating microevolutionary models does not always provide satisfactory explanations for phenotypic diversification on million-year time scales. For example, short-term evolutionary change is often modelled assuming a fixed adaptive landscape, but macroevolutionary changes are likely to involve changes in the adaptive landscape itself. A better understanding of how the adaptive landscape changes across different time intervals and how these changes cause populations to evolve has the potential to narrow the gap between micro- and macroevolution. Here, we analyze two fossil diatom time series of exceptional quality and resolution covering time intervals of a few hundred thousand years using models that account for different behaviours of the adaptive landscape. We find that one of the lineages evolves on a randomly and continuously changing landscape, whereas the other lineage evolves on a landscape that shows a rapid shift in the position of the adaptive peak of a magnitude that is typically associated with species-level differentiation. This suggests phenotypic evolution beyond generational timescales may be a consequence of both gradual and sudden repositioning of adaptive peaks. Both lineages show rapid and erratic evolutionary change and are constantly readapting towards the optimal trait state, observations that align with evolutionary dynamics commonly observed in contemporary populations. The inferred trait evolution over a span of a few hundred thousand years in these two lineages is, therefore, chimeric in the sense that it combines components of trait evolution typically observed on both short and long timescales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Insect decline is a global environmental issue. Its causes are not yet fully understood due to the complexity of contributing factors, and a lack of historical data. Here, we investigate a set of 92 potential drivers and their development over the past decades, in connection with a dataset on insect biomass decline in Western Germany over 33 years. Among potential drivers, factors related to landscape structure and land management changes were most significant. Besides increasing urbanization, grassland management intensification, shifts in arable land use towards bioenergy and feed crop cultivation, and dairy farming intensification are among the likely key factors linked to insect decline in the region. Conversely, no obvious links were found to climate and weather, or to crop protection. Our results suggest that land management intensification can be considered an important driver of insect decline in central Europe, rather than land-use change, which is largely restricted to urbanization. Consequently, improved landscape management, including an optimized balance between extensively and intensively managed areas and natural habitats, and conservation of structural landscape diversity could offer solutions to counteract insect decline. Our results will help facilitate more targeted and focused action against insect decline by highlighting likely causative factors. The decline of insects is a global concern, yet identifying the factors behind it remains challenging due to the complexity of potential drivers and underlying processes, and the lack of quantitative historical data on insect populations. This study assesses 92 potential drivers of insect decline in West Germany, where significant declines have been observed. Using data from federal statistical offices and market surveys, the study traces changes in landscape structure and agricultural practices over 33 years. Over the years, the region underwent major landscape changes, including reduced cropland and grassland and increased urbanization and forest areas. Potential detected drivers of insect decline include: (1) urban expansion, reducing insect habitats as urban areas increased by 25%; (2) intensified grassland management; (3) shifts in arable land use towards bioenergy and feed crop cultivation, particularly corn, driven by dairy farming intensification and renewable energy policies. While the toxic load of pesticide application has decreased, land-use changes, most likely driven by market demands and shifts in national and EU policies, have reduced habitat availability and suitability for insects. This study highlights how these landscape and land management changes over the past 33 years align with the observed decline in insect biomass in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining a resilient and sustainable agro-production system is replete with challenges, because management practices designed to enhance productivity can overlook the range of values derived from ecosystems and concerns about their future. Further complicating the decisions being made about agricultural settings is the variation in social-ecological stressors that shape how diverse community members interpret landscape change. We engaged residents of the Kaskaskia River Watershed in Illinois, USA in discussions about agroecosystems through participatory mapping exercises and focus groups. The spatially explicit data that were derived from this process were then modeled in relation to changes in watershed hydrology simulated using a Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. We observed that the four most salient 'values' associated with the watershed were recreation, erosion protection, crop production, and flood control. Erosion, siltation and sedimentation, increased flooding, and invasive species were considered the most relevant 'disvalues' because they represented the social-ecological stressors of greatest concern. Respondents believed that the values from ecosystems were more spatially clustered than disvalues, and the main river corridor was at greater risk of degradation than the associated tributaries despite these second order streams being more biologically diverse. The use of participatory mapping data coupled with SWAT to simulate changes in systemic responses of the watershed provided a social-ecological basis for identifying high and low-priority locations at a regional scale. Our results therefore aim to spatial prioritize and guide evidence-based decisions anchored in the social and ecological complexities of a Midwestern watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mozambican cities face structural challenges resulting from disorganized occupation and a lack of respect for environmental characteristics. This research analyzes the territorial transition of Ndambine 2000 in the city of Xai-Xai, over the period from 2000 to 2022, with a focus on changes in land use and occupation patterns in scenarios of inadequate territorial planning. Consequently, this has led to the consolidation of socio-environmental conflicts, contributing to its unsustainability. This is a mixed-methods study combining bibliographic and documentary review, and it also involved cartography, observation, and interviews as methods. The study included 21 individuals, among them residents and members of the Urbanization Council. Ndambine has undergone a profound territorial transition, with the area expanding over conservationist and agricultural lands, and a shift in administrative classification from neighborhood to administrative post. This situation has been accompanied by increased erosion and uncontrolled waste disposal. Therefore, a multisectoral intervention is needed to address current and future issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wars that ravaged the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 17th century were among the most destructive events in the history of that part of Europe at the time. It is said that from this point on, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth transitioned from a subject to an object state. Through interdisciplinary research involving the analysis of written, cartographic, and paleoecological data, we aim to demonstrate how the exit from this major crisis looked over a nearly 150-year perspective. In this article, we present observations describing economic, social, and demographic transformations, while also focusing on landscape and ecological issues. By analyzing the surroundings of the village of Kazuń (located today in central Poland), we highlight the emergence of a new type of settlement (the so-called olędrzy) in river valleys, which in the 18th century became an important element of a new wave of settlement and restoration. • Examines the transformation of the Medieval and Early Modern environment and landscape using various data. • Analyses the long-term social, economic and landscape changes that resulted from the wars occurred in the 17th and 18th centuries. • Discusses the transformation of the landscape in connection with the new wave of settlement during the 18th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The replacement of grasses by shrubs or bare ground (xerification) is a primary form of landscape change in drylands globally with consequences for ecosystem services. The potential for wild herbivores to trigger or reinforce shrubland states may be underappreciated, however, and comparative analyses across herbivore taxa are sparse. We sought to clarify the relative effects of domestic cattle, native rodents, native lagomorphs, and exotic African oryx (Oryx gazella) on a Chihuahuan Desert grassland undergoing shrub encroachment. We then asked whether drought periods, wet season precipitation, or interspecific grass–shrub competition modified herbivore effects to alter plant cover, species diversity, or community composition. We established a long‐term experiment with hierarchical herbivore exclosure treatments and surveyed plant foliar cover over 25 years. Cover of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) proliferated, responding primarily to climate, and was unaffected by herbivore treatments. Surprisingly, cattle and African oryx exclusion had only marginal effects on perennial grass cover at their current densities. Native lagomorphs interacted with climate to limit perennial grass cover during wet periods. Native rodents strongly decreased plant diversity, decreased evenness, and altered community composition. Overall, we found no evidence of mammalian herbivores facilitating or inhibiting shrub encroachment, but native small mammals interacting with climate drove dynamics of herbaceous plant communities. Ongoing monitoring will determine whether increased perennial grass cover from exclusion of native lagomorphs and rodents slows the transition to a dense shrubland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many landscapes are on the edge literally, particularly here on the Atlantic Coast of Canada. But landscapes everywhere are on the edge metaphorically: on the edge of change. Tackling the collective challenges we face, and redefining a "good life" in these new circumstances, will likely transform the places and landscapes that we care about. Yet change is hard and it is felt unevenly across space and social strata. We often instinctively feel that the landscapes of the present should dominate the future—an idea I've been calling "climax thinking"—but in many cases, those current landscape settings solve old problems and cause new ones. Drawing on recent empirical Atlantic research about renewable energy and coastal adaptation, this lecture explores some of the cultural shifts required to reimagine our landscapes and to meet the challenges ahead, identifying key roles for geographers along the way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Changes in landscape configuration significantly impact ecosystems and the services they provide, including disease regulation for both humans and wildlife. Land use conversion usually favors disturbed‐adapted species, which are often known reservoirs of zoonotic parasites, thereby potentially escalating spillover events (i.e., the transmission of parasites to new hosts, including humans). Here we aimed to investigate how alterations in landscape use and configuration influence the distribution and co‐occurrence of potential hosts of zoonotic and epizootic parasites. Location: Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Time Period: Data collection spanned from 1997 to 2019. Major taxa studied small mammals. Methods: We integrated ecological network metrics and joint distribution models while accounting for phylogenetic relationships and functional traits to answer two main questions: (1) do small mammal species considered central hosts in the transmission of parasites exhibit a higher probability of occurrence in landscapes with reduced native vegetation areas? (2) Do small mammal hosts that share a higher number of parasites have higher co‐occurrence probabilities? Results: Our results demonstrated that species identified as significant hosts in our centrality network analysis displayed an increased probability of occurrence in landscapes that are both more fragmented and have a higher proportion of farming areas, hence fewer native vegetation areas. Regarding the relationship between species co‐occurrence and parasite sharing, our findings indicated that most strong co‐occurrences were prevalent within groups with higher parasite fauna similarity, but not all species sharing parasites had a higher probability of co‐occurring. Conclusions: Here we highlight the effects of landscape conversion on small mammal species, including how different configurations of land use can influence both central and non‐central host occurrences. Besides, our results also indicate that parasite transmission may be overestimated when the co‐occurrence probability of potential host species is not considered. We highly recommend incorporating co‐occurrence data to estimate zoonotic risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employer review platforms have changed the recruitment landscape by allowing current and former employees to post messages about an employer outside of direct company control. Therefore, they have emerged as an important form of third‐party employer branding. However, we know little about how such open‐ended comments relate to the key variable in employer reviews: employers' favorability rating. Therefore, we start by situating this variable among other constructs in the employer branding space. Next, we build theory on how content in the open‐ended comments of an employer review relates to the positivity or negativity of the reviews' favorability rating. We test our hypotheses via a text‐mining analysis of approximately half a million employer reviews. The results reveal an intriguing discrepancy. Although instrumental, impersonal, and cognitive content is more prevalent in employer reviews, symbolic, personal, and emotional content dominates employer reviews' favorability rating. In terms of practical implications, this result shows that merely inspecting the frequency of attributes mentioned in employer review text comments as a basis for changing company policies of employer branding efforts might be misguided. We discuss implications for theory and future research, and provide our dictionary for further scholarly and practical use. Practitioners Points: Employer review platforms offer insights into employee perceptions beyond an organization's control.Symbolic, personal, and emotional content, though less frequent, significantly impacts favorability ratings and should be prioritized in branding.Relying solely on attribute frequency in reviews can be misleading.Companies should analyze reviews to uncover key drivers of favorability ratings, improving recruitment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the geomorphological point of view, urbanization changes fluvial systems more drastically than any other single human activity. Its impact on rivers is of interest as it results in serious issues concerning geomorphic instability, ecosystem service reduction, and geo-hydrological risk increase. The present study provides a quantitative and qualitative assessment of landscape changes driven by urbanization, which occurred from the mid-19th century to the present day along the lower reaches of the Bisagno and Polcevera rivers and their tributaries in the Mediterranean coastal city of Genova (NW Italy). The bankfull channel morphological adjustments, the minor hydrographic network disappearance, the land use and land cover changes, and the current physical accessibility of river margins were investigated. This work is based on collection and review of historical data, photograph interpretation, GIS analysis, and field surveys. Urbanization essentially occurred between the mid-19th century and the late 1930s. The bankfull channel of the Bisagno and Polcevera rivers experienced large narrowing associated with widespread establishment of channelization structures. The minor hydrographic network essentially disappeared underground. After the 1930s, further minor anthropogenic interventions were implemented to accommodate urban expansion and consolidate channelization works; however, the overall geomorphological setting remained unchanged. The geomorphological evolution of the Bisagno and Polcevera rivers followed three different phases associated with the urban expansion process. Nowadays, the study area is completely urbanized, the fluvial stems flowing through the valley floor are totally disconnected from their adjacent areas, the main rivers show a relevant geomorphological stability induced by anthropogenic pressures, and the accessibility of river margins for people is rather limited. The outcomes from this study represent an essential knowledge base for technicians and policymakers to plan urban development and inform effective and sustainable management measures. Moreover, they provide insights into the medium- and short-term morphological evolution of urban rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phase 1 oncology trials provide access to new therapies and may improve cancer outcomes. Phase 1 trials conducted in the Asian‐Pacific region are increasing at a faster rate than the global trend. This study aimed to describe the changing landscape of phase 1 oncology trials in Australia in the last decade. Methods: This cross‐sectional study reviewed phase 1 oncology trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov conducted in Australia. Phase 1 trials were included for analysis if they enrolled adults with solid organ malignancies, used at least one systemic agent, and were first registered between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2022. The number of trials, site locations, sponsor type, and drug class were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Over the 10‐year period, ClinicalTrials.gov included 493 phase 1 clinical trials across 71 Australian sites. Most sites were in metropolitan locations; in Melbourne, trials were concentrated within selected sites, while in Sydney, trials were spread across a larger number of sites. The number of phase 1 trials per annum increased from 18 in 2012 to 75 in 2022. Since 2020, emerging biopharmaceutical companies have become the predominant sponsor type, a trend that is also seen globally. While most trial sponsors were North American (42%), there was increasing representation from Asian sponsors over the 10‐year period (6% in 2012 to 39% in 2022). Immunomodulatory (45%) and targeted approaches (44%) accounted for most drug classes used alone or in combination. Conclusions: There are an increasing number of phase 1 trials conducted within Australia. Sponsors of phase 1 trials are increasingly from Asian countries and are more likely to be emerging biopharmaceutical companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The policy landscape is changing; Because artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly integrated into policy-making processes. This article first analyzes the modernization of policymaking by artificial intelligence and then examines the challenges and opportunities presented by these changes, with the aim of providing insight on how artificial intelligence can increase the efficiency, accuracy and responsiveness of policy evaluations. The main question of the article is what challenges do policy makers face when integrating artificial intelligence technologies into the public policy cycle. Our hypothesis is that the integration of artificial intelligence in public policymaking will lead to more accurate policymaking and policy evaluation, faster feedback loops, and ultimately more effective policy outcomes compared to traditional evaluation methods. The final conclusion shows that our hypothesis is strengthened and data processing through the proposed algorithm along with artificial intelligence techniques creates valuable information for decision makers in the field of public policy. The current research is of a descriptive-analytical type and the researchers have summarized this article using the library method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of external shocks from urbanization and the inherent needs of economic development, it is essential for urban and rural heritage to adapt timely to achieve sustainability in development. Employing Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) methodologies for change management holds significant implications for the sustainable preservation and utilization of heritage. This study used Dongxi Ancient Town as a case study, characterized by a distinct evolutionary trajectory and diverse layers of accumulation throughout its historical progression, making it an exemplary instance for change analysis. This paper analyzed the processes and outcomes of historic urban landscape changes through a layered historical approach. Combining historical data translation methods with ArcGIS spatial analysis, we documented and mapped the cultural and natural characteristics of Dongxi Ancient Town. The layered process of the town's historical landscape was categorized into four stages: the primary formative period from the Western Han to the Ming dynasties, the rapid development during the Qing dynasty, the prosperous period of the Republic of China, and the transitional expansion period following the establishment of the People's Republic of China. The study analyzed the morphological changes and values of the historical landscape throughout these periods. Based on the analysis results, we suggest three transformation management strategies for historical landscapes oriented towards economic development: (1) converting cultural heritage into cultural assets, (2) implementing moderate and controlled quantitative changes, and (3) enhancing operational feasibility through collaborative efforts among multiple stakeholders. These strategies aim to establish a sustainable model that balances heritage conservation with economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The increasing extent and severity of uncharacteristic wildfire has prompted numerous policies and programs promoting landscape-scale fuels reduction. Aims: We used novel data sources to measure how recreation was influenced by fuels reduction efforts under the US Forest Service Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) Program. Methods: We used posts to four social media platforms to estimate the number of social media user-days within CFLR landscapes and asked: (1) did visitation within CFLR Program landscapes between 2012 and 2020 change in a manner consistent with the pattern on nearby lands, and (2) was there a relationship between the magnitudes of specific fuel treatment activities within CFLR landscapes and visitation to that landscape? Key results: In aggregate, visitation to the CFLR landscapes changed at a rate mirroring the trend observed elsewhere. Within CFLR landscapes, pre-commercial thinning and pruning had slight positive influences on visitation whereas prescribed burning and managed wildfire had slight negative influences. Conclusions: Fuel treatments can have a modest influence on visitation, but we didnot find any wholesale changes in visitation within CFLR landscapes. Implications: Social media and other novel data sources offer an opportunity to fill in gaps in empirical data on recreation to better understand social-ecological system linkages. Novel data sources were used to measure how recreation was influenced by fuels reduction efforts under the US Forest Service Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) Program. Visitation to the CFLR landscapes changed at a rate mirroring the trend observed elsewhere. Pre-commercial thinning and pruning had slight positive influences on visitation, whereas prescribed burning and managed wildfire had slight negative influences. We did not find any wholesale changes by fuel treatments within CFLR landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Markov chain transition probability matrices (TPMs) have traditionally been used to characterize land use and land cover (LULC) changes and species succession. However, previous studies relied solely on TPMs or transition area matrices to describe overall class area/proportion changes, overlooking important time correlation features. This study introduces the concept of idealized time-lag transiograms and demonstrates how they can be computed from temporal TPMs, using illustrative examples. The primary objective is to explore the potential value and utility of idealized time-lag transiograms in revealing additional characteristics of landscape change. Specifically, we focus on computing idealized time-lag transiograms with a fixed starting point and highlighting their fundamental features, such as sills, practical correlation ranges, and curve shapes, along with peak positions and peak height ratios of peaked cross-transiograms. These features are identified and discussed in terms of their potential implications for characterizing LULC changes. While idealized time-lag transiograms with a fixed starting point may not precisely predict future LULC changes due to the assumptions of the Markov property and time homogeneity (i.e., stationarity), they provide new insights into future LULC dynamics, revealing aspects that traditional Markov chain analysis has overlooked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Melanoma is a highly aggressive type of skin cancer. Metastatic melanoma tumors have historically featured a particularly poor prognosis and have often been considered incurable. Recent advances in targeted therapeutic interventions have radically changed the landscape in metastatic melanoma management, significantly increasing the overall survival of patients. Hyperactive BRAF is the most common mutational event found in metastatic melanoma and its inhibition has proven to be a successful approach in a number of patients. Unfortunately, initial tumor retreat is followed by relapse in most cases, highlighting the elusiveness of finding a widely effective treatment. Melanoma tumors often carry a particularly high number of mutations in what is known as a high level of inter- and intra-patient tumor heterogeneity, driving resistance to treatment. The various mutations that are present in these tumors, in addition to impacting the root cause of the malignancy and the potential for therapeutic interventions, have also been known to arise during tumor clonal evolution leading to the establishment of drug resistance, a major issue in melanoma management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assuming that settlement morphologies and landscape structures are the result of economic transformations, the present study illustrates a statistical framework investigating metropolitan growth due to the inherent changes in landscape configurations vis à vis socio-demographic functions. Focusing on the evolution of their spatial drivers over time, metropolitan development was studied by adopting land parcels (or 'patches', as they are referred to in the ecological literature) as the elementary analysis unit—with the individual surface area and a specific shape indicator as the dependent variables and background socioeconomic attributes as predictors of landscape change over time. We specifically ran a Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) testing the spatial dependence of the size and shape of landscape parcels on a vast ensemble of socioeconomic factors in a dense region (metropolitan Athens, Greece) with natural landscapes exposed to increasing human pressure. To investigate the spatial direction and intensity of the settlement expansion and landscape change, local regressions using the parcel area and fractal index (perimeter-to-area ratio) as the dependent variables and the elevation, distance from selected economic nodes, transport infrastructures, and natural amenities as the predictors were run separately for 1990 and 2018, representative of, respectively, a mono-centric configuration and a moderately polycentric organization of economic spaces. In a strictly mono-centric setting (1990), the parcel size showed a linear dependence on the distance from business districts, elevation, and wealth. Changes in the relationship between the parcel size and spatial (economic and non-economic) drivers may suggest a latent process of settlement de-concentration, and a possible shift toward polycentric development (2018), as documented in earlier studies. By integrating socioeconomic and ecological dimensions of landscape analysis and land evaluation, the empirical results of this study outline the increased complexity of dispersed landscape structures within dense metropolitan regions and along urban–rural gradients in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platform work in the tourism sector has grown exponentially since 2014. Airbnb was a driving force for the Portuguese economy after the 2008 crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism was cancelled, and most workers did not have access to social benefits, causing a potential disruption in their careers. There is a gap in research regarding the analysis of the occupational trajectories of Airbnb workers and the effects of the 2008 crisis and the pandemic on their lives. Between 2020 and 2021, in-depth interviews were conducted with Airbnb workers and activists in order to analyse their occupational trajectories, collective voice and business models. The article concludes that, while Airbnb changed the tourism landscape, those who work for it remain precarious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responding to the changing landscape of health care is a critical responsibility of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). Aligned with its mission of extending the frontiers of clinical pharmacy, ACCP is committed to embracing diversity and inclusion as a core value. Creating a comprehensive organizational strategy reflecting the College's authentic endeavors to embrace the tasks required is an ongoing effort. ACCP is embracing an inclusive vision whereby all members can feel welcomed, valued, respected, and heard. Belief that the journey will bring diverse voices, leadership, and understanding for all clinical pharmacists sustains the College's motivation toward this goal. In this commentary, we, as past presidents of ACCP, are learning the challenges related to this endeavor and systematically addressing each issue. Each ACCP member is an essential partner as the College strives toward being an inclusive organizational home for all clinical pharmacists. This commentary summarizes the rationale for this work and the alignment of ACCP's efforts with its core values. We must remain firm in our belief that inclusive clinical pharmacy leaders can recognize diversity and equity gaps, mobilize as advocates to amplify underrepresented voices, and transform hope into action for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the development of a universal method for the appraisal of values of a natural landscape in administrative division units. The Dobre Miasto municipality serves as a case study. The municipality lies in the heart of Warmia, a region with centuries-long historical tradition. This paper also mentions solutions adopted in Poland in the consequence of the ratification of the European Landscape Convention. Following many years of research, changes in the natural landscape and directions in the measures taken to protect it were traced. In the face of current transformations in space, efforts to protect and conserve natural wealth are difficult. Compromises are unavoidable for the sake of saving the region's valuable natural assets while allowing its development. The aim of this study was to identify the natural values in the chosen research area, and to develop a method for their appraisal. The identification of the natural elements deserving protection substantiated rational location decisions in space. This is particularly important in the case of a natural landscape, which is difficult to evaluate and whose estimated value is often a result of a subjective assessment. The valorisation of the natural landscape in the chosen municipality allowed us to identify new areas, which at present are outside the boundaries of legally protected areas but which deserve protection owing to their highly valuable natural properties. The proposed method for the appraisal of natural values can be used in shaping a spatial policy, in spatial planning and development, and, above all, in the preparation of landscape audits. The proposed method fills the gap in the legal regulations adopted in Poland in the field of strengthening the protection of natural and cultural values since no comprehensive guidelines for the evaluation of landscape attributes for the purposes of landscape protection and development have been elaborated thus far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue features essays by prominent scholars in school psychology discussing how shifts in research can reshape the future training and practice of the field. A profession that evolves and adapts indicates a robust and dynamic discipline. However, staying current with these changes poses a significant challenge. Given the pivotal role of evidence-based practices in school psychology, the type and quality of research directly influence how psychological services are delivered and practiced. Reforming research practices in psychology can serve as a catalyst for enhancing our field. This issue presents a variety of viewpoints on how research and clinical practice intersect in a rapidly changing landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a multi-source, integrated remote sensing approach to characterize the geomorphological features of the alluvial and coastal lowlands around the ancient Abdera (coastal Thrace, Gr.). By combining multi-temporal composites of satellite imagery, DEM-derived products, orthophotography, and different cartographic resources, more than 1000 linear km of ancient landforms have been identified and mapped. When crossed with archaeological and historical data, our results allowed to propose a reconstruction of the palaeogeographic evolution and geomorphological dynamics in the eastern lobe of the Nestos Delta, the Kosynthos plain, Lake Vistonida and the Porto Lagos coast since the Antiquity. Our results suggest that the delta developed mainly between Hellenistic times and the Late Antiquity, when it had reached a shape similar to the current. Most of the large palaeochannels visible in the delta seem to be Nestos' short-lived avulsions occurring in late Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Eastwards progradation of the Kosynthos plain, especially during Byzantine and Ottoman periods and accelerating in the 20th c. due to river channelization, was the main cause of the silting and a significant size reduction of Lake Vistonida since the Antiquity. Lake Lafra was also partially silted in late Byzantine and Ottoman times, likely due to the sedimentary discharge of the Kosynthos after a change in its course. By contrast, other lagoons and wetlands in the coast of Porto Lagos seem relatively stable in the last millennia with only minor silting and coastline progradation. Further geomorphological and geoarchaeological research in the area will allow to draw more precisely long-term interaction of past societies with environmental dynamics and resulting landscape change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global megatrends (GMTs) reshape landscapes worldwide, posing challenges for sustainability. This study delves into the complex interplay between GMTs and landscape changes in the Danube Lowland region of Slovakia, a microcosm of broader trends. Leveraging the concept of representative potential geoecosystems (REPGES), we assess historical landscape transformations and correlate them with key GMT drivers. Results reveal significant urban expansion linked to GMT2, primarily impacting the Bratislava area. Simultaneously, GMT5-driven economic growth manifests in agricultural land expansion and the total loss of one REPGES type. Notably, these changes coincide with a decrease in ecological stability across the region. Spatial analysis further unravels the interplay of GMTs, highlighting areas under intense urban and agricultural pressure. Our findings not only shed light on specific GMT impacts in the Danube Lowland but also offer valuable insights for landscape management across diverse regions facing similar megatrends. By understanding these complex interactions, we can develop informed strategies to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by a globalized world, promoting sustainable landscapes for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological impacts of landscape changes resulting in significant simplification of natural systems have been extensively studied worldwide. Yet, few studies have examined how such biophysical changes affect the value local communities place on nature and their relationships with it.In this study, we delve into the case of Guinea‐Bissau, where woodland cover has been increasingly replaced by commercial cashew plantations. Using a sociocultural valuation approach, our empirical research provides a comprehensive assessment of the woodlands' contributions to local communities as well as the potential disruptions caused by the ongoing biophysical changes on the woodlands. We focused on 20 villages of four different ethnic groups—Manjack, Balanta, Mandinka and Fulani—and used a combination of focus group discussions and walks‐in‐the‐woods.The study's participants identified 19 nature's contributions to people from the woodlands, which revealed a combination of instrumental, relational and intrinsic values in ways that reflect their subsistence needs and social–cultural contexts. We also found that these values are being impacted, mostly negatively, by the ongoing biophysical changes in the 'natural' landscapes tied to regional and global dynamics.Moreover, our study reveals that local communities are aware of ongoing biophysical changes in their woodlands and perceive them as having negative ecological and psychological consequences for them.Synthesis and applications: Our study highlights the significance of using a sociocultural perspective to investigate how changes in the landscape affect local peoples' values of nature and their relationships with it. This information can help shape policies and management decisions towards creating better futures that are meaningful for both humans and non‐humans. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunotherapy has changed the treatment landscape of cancer in the past decade. Amongst various forms of immunotherapy, manipulating the T cell has shown promise in past few years. T cell manipulation can be done by CAR-T cell therapy or bispecific antibodies. These 2 therapeutic modalities have been studied and shown efficacy in hematologic malignancies in relapsed refractory setting. They have not been compared to each other in randomized control trials; hence, the adequate sequencing is not known. Although cross-trial comparison is not ideal, available evidence indicates toward similar efficacy and better tolerability of BiTEs compared to CAR-T cell therapy. Bispecific antibodies, though, have an advantage of being able to be used in an "off the shelf" manner considering these are not MHC specific and can be administered to all patients regardless of HLA type. There has been an explosive growth in the indications for bispecific antibodies in the recent past. In this article, we have reviewed recent approvals, indication and literature regarding efficacy and adverse effects of bispecific antibodies in all available indications. This will be a useful read for clinical practitioners to understand the mechanism of action and place of all available bispecific antibodies in the current oncology landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for evidence syntheses to inform urgent decision-making surged during the pandemic. The challenging circumstances of the pandemic created significant hurdles for both those requesting and creating evidence syntheses, leading to the refinement and adjustment of evidence synthesis practices. This research sought to capture and explore how the field of evidence synthesis evolved and adapted during the pandemic from the perspective of those who produced evidence syntheses in Canada. In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were carried out between October 2022 to January 2023. Twenty-two participants from 19 different organizations across seven provinces and one territory were interviewed. This included producers of evidence syntheses from academic institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and provincial and federal government. Data analysis was conducted thematically using a phenomenological approach. Results indicated the evidence synthesis landscape drastically changed during the pandemic including short timelines to produce syntheses and changes in the volume, types, and quality of literature included in them. Due to the changing landscape and different needs of requestors, evidence synthesis methodologies evolved, synthesis products were tailored, and quality assessment tools were adapted. In addition, the use of artificial intelligence, processes for engaging subject matter experts and patient-citizen partners, and the coordination of the evidence synthesis community changed. The findings of this study contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding evidence synthesis to inform decision-making, and highlights the importance of flexibility and necessity of continuously evolving methodologies to meet the demands of frequently changing landscapes. The lessons learned from this study can help inform future strategies for improving evidence synthesis practices not only in the face of public health emergencies, but also in everyday practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political parties often adjust their policy agendas in response to changing electoral landscapes, balancing the need to appeal to new voters against the importance of retaining loyal supporters. While these patterns are generally well‐documented in the literature, the specific impact of voter availability on the electoral market remains underexamined. This article investigates how electoral opportunities – i.e., potential to mobilize new voters – and loyalty – i.e., likelihood of retaining current supporters – influence parties' decisions to expand or narrow their policy focus. To analyze this, the study integrates three decades of population data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems and European Election Studies with data on parties' issue focus obtained from the Manifesto Project. The analysis shows that parties strategically balance their focus between core and peripheral issues based on the anticipated utility of each approach. This strategy, however, depends on the stability of voter loyalty: expansion into new issues occurs primarily when voter loyalty is robust, although strong opportunities alone can also encourage agenda broadening. These findings contribute to understanding the calculated risks parties take in adjusting their issue attention and highlight why policy adjustments often backfire; namely, when misaligned with voters' availability on the market. This study speaks to the literature on party competition and representation in Europe, illuminating how electoral dynamics shape parties' policy focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid emergence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Asia in the last two decades is anticipated to pose significant challenges to the healthcare systems of developing countries including India. Several epidemiological factors in the Asia Pacific region have been explored as risk factors for the development of IBD. In this narrative review, we discuss the evolution of adult-onset and paediatric IBD in South Asia and India, in relation to the current global epidemiology, over the last decade. The focus lies on the changing epidemiological landscape of IBD in Asia which signals a paradigm shift in the disease trajectory of a chronic, relapsing, complex disease. We enumerate the disease burden of IBD in India and Asia, analyse the risk factors for its recent rise in incidence and briefly discuss the unique entity of very early-onset IBD. We also list the locoregional challenges in diagnosis and management along with suggestions to overcome them. We highlight the lacunae in data which warrants further research. The anticipated infrastructural challenges and disease evolution are likely to be similar in most newly industrialized countries across South Asia. A combined effort led by IBD experts in the region to understand the true disease burden is important. A strong collaborative network on research and formulation of preventive strategies relevant to the region will help reduce the burden in the future. Plain language summary: The evolution of inflammatory bowel disease in South-Asia and India over the last decade The rapid rise of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Asia in the last two decades is expected to pose significant challenges to healthcare systems of developing countries including India. Several risk factors have been investigated for the development of IBD in the Asia Pacific region. In this article, we discuss evolution of adult onset and childhood onset IBD in South Asia and India and compare it to the current global situation. We focus on the changing landscape of IBD in Asia which indicates a dramatic shift in the disease. We list the burden of IBD in India and Asia, analyse the risk factors for its recent rise, and briefly discuss the unique entity of IBD in infants and toddlers. We also list the challenges in diagnosis and management specific to the region, along with suggestions to overcome them. We highlight the gaps in data which need further research. We anticipate that the disease evolution and challenges are likely to be similar in most newly industrialised countries across South Asia. A combined effort led by IBD experts in the region will be necessary to understand the true burden of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic landscape change due to urbanization, agriculture, and resource extraction results in barriers within the landscape. Artificial structures such as roads, fences, levees, and dams limit the movement of some species and further fragment residual habitat. In this study, we investigated the ability of Eastern long‐necked turtles (Chelodina longicollis) to cross various terrestrial obstacles commonly encountered throughout their habitat. We tested two types of fences (chicken wire and hinged joint exclusion fencing) commonly used in agricultural systems and three sizes of rocks (gravel, cobbles, and boulders) often used for road construction, erosion control, and waterway stabilization. We examined the success rates of turtles in crossing obstacles, the effect of fatigue on crossing attempts, and the impact of individual boldness on movement behaviour. Turtles had high success rates in crossing gravel (85.4%), cobbles (86%), boulders (73.3%) and hinged joint exclusion fencing (94.7%). Turtles did not successfully cross chicken wire fencing (0%) despite 276 attempts. A significant fatigue effect occurred throughout the experiment, with turtles making an average of 3.94 (±1.42 SE) fewer attempts at the end of the experiment (day 18) than on day 1. Bolder turtles were faster at crossing obstacles, but boldness had no influence on obstacle‐crossing success. Our results highlight the need for thoughtful selection of waterway, wetland, and riparian bordering infrastructure and the fatiguing impact of constant exposure to anthropogenic barriers for wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization has significantly altered landscape environments in both urban and rural regions, and these landscapes have been demonstrated to play a pivotal role in human well-being. This study develops a coherent framework that integrates landscape change, landscape ecological indicators, and landscape preferences within the context of the evolving landscape environments of rural communities in Taiwan. Four distinct types of rural communities were selected, and a quantitative methodology was employed to investigate the variations and transformations in landscape preferences among rural residents in the context of landscape change. A qualitative methodology was employed to investigate the relationship between landscape ecological indicators and landscape preferences. The study's findings indicate significant temporal variations in residents' landscape preferences, with landscape beauty, stewardship, and coherence emerging as key determinants in the evaluation of these preferences. Landscape ecological indicators were found to be significantly correlated with variables such as landscape complexity, landscape beauty, openness, naturalness, and comprehensive landscape assessment. The findings of this study indicate that design planners, land managers, and public sector organizations can employ multidimensional thinking in the management of rural landscapes to align with the visual aesthetic preferences of rural residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damaging hydrological events can profoundly impact societies. This study reconstructs the longest flood history to date for the Orba River Basin (ORB) in northwestern Italy, from 1511 to 2021 CE. Using the Annual Flood Damage Index, we establish a continuous annual hydrological time-series. Our analysis, incorporating a seasonally-weighted function for interannual storm effects, uncovers anthropogenic influences on the ORB's fluvial landscape and flood characteristics. Specifically, a change-point emerged around the end of the Little Ice Age and the subsequent warming period (c. 1816), after which more intense storms prevailed. Remarkably, recent flood peaks align with heightened climate hazards, proving more extreme and unpredictable on a small scale in disaster-prone areas. Additionally, this study acknowledges competitive forcing factors on a larger scale, including landscape changes due to peasant civilisation expansion and 19th-century deforestation. Broader-scale factors, exemplified by the global impact of the 1815 eruption of Tambora in Indonesia, may have influenced the post-1816 climate conditions. These results emphasise the importance of considering both human-induced disturbances and precipitation occurrences in comprehending a territory's environmental history. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environment-species relationships can be mediated by functional traits. In this study we investigated how the functional traits of periphytic community respond to environmental variation in streams along a gradient of anthropically modified landscapes in the Brazilian Cerrado. We expect the association of traits with flow gradients, turbidity, productivity, and nutrients directly impacted by changes in land cover around streams. We use the RLQ analysis to test this hypothesis. The first RLQ axis revealed a gradient associated with variation in the local physical and chemical characteristics, nutrients and productivity of the streams, while the second axis was associated with a gradient of impact on land use and nutrients related to the trophic state. The main traits associated with the first axis of RLQ (physical and chemical, and productivity gradient) were life form, substrate adherence, and active mobility, while size, life form, and substrate adhesion were associated with the second axis of RLQ (land use, primary productivity, and orthophosphate gradient). Our results highlight the importance of the trait-environment approach to predict community composition. Furthermore, they suggest that functional traits can be used to predict the responses of periphytic communities to environmental changes at local and landscape scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]