Land-use change interacts with island biogeography to alter bird community assembly.

Anthropogenic activities have reshaped biodiversity on islands worldwide. However, it remains unclear how island attributes and land-use change interactively shape multiple facets of island biodiversity through community assembly processes. To answer this, we conducted bird surveys in various land-use types (mainly forest and farmland) using transects on 34 oceanic land-bridge islands in the largest archipelago of China. We found that bird species richness increased with island area and decreased with isolation, regardless of the intensity of land-use change. However, forest-dominated habitats exhibited lower richness than farmland-dominated habitats. Island bird assemblages generally comprised species that share more similar traits or evolutionary histories (i.e. functional and/or phylogenetic clustering) than expected if assemblages were randomly assembled. Contrary to our expectations, we observed that bird assemblages in forest-dominated habitats were more clustered on large and close islands, whereas assemblages in farmland-dominated habitats were more clustered on small islands. These contrasting results indicate that land-use change interacts with island biogeography to alter the community assembly of birds on inhabited islands. Our findings emphasize the importance of incorporating human-modified habitats when examining the community assembly of island biota, and further suggest that agricultural landscapes on large islands may play essential roles in protecting countryside island biodiversity.

Temporal dynamics in the composition of bird communities along a gradient of farmland restoration.

Revegetation plantings are a key activity in farmland restoration and are commonly assumed to support biotic communities that, with time, replicate those of reference habitats. Restoration outcomes, however, can be highly variable and difficult to predict; hence there is value in quantifying restoration success to improve future efforts. We test the expectation that, over time, revegetation will restore bird communities to match those in reference habitats; and assess whether specific planting attributes enhance restoration success. We surveyed birds in 255 sites in south-east Australia, arranged along a restoration gradient encompassing three habitat types: unrestored farmland (paddocks), revegetation plantings (comprising a chronosequence up to 52 years old) and reference habitats (remnant native vegetation). Surveys were undertaken in 2006/2007 and again in 2019, with data used to compare bird assemblages between habitat types. We also determined whether, in the intervening 12 years, bird communities in revegetation had shifted toward reference habitats on the restoration gradient. Our results showed that each habitat contained a unique bird community and that, over time, assemblages in revegetation diverged away from those in unrestored farmland and converged toward those in reference habitats. Two planting attributes influenced this transition: the bird assemblages of revegetation were more likely to have diverged away from those of unrestored farmland (with scattered mature trees) 12 years later if they were located in areas with more surrounding tree cover, and were mostly ungrazed by livestock (compared with grazed plantings). Our results highlight three key ways in which revegetation contributes to farmland restoration: (1) by supporting richer and more diverse bird assemblages than unrestored farmland, (2) by enhancing beta diversity in rural landscapes through the addition of a unique bird community, and (3) by shifting bird assemblages toward those found in reference habitats over time. However, revegetation plantings did not replicate reference habitats by ~40-50 years in our region, and complete convergence may take centuries. These findings have implications for environmental offset programs and mean that effective conservation in farmland environments depends on the retention and protection of natural and seminatural habitats as a parallel management strategy to complement restoration.

O causo dos cães de passagem na roça / El cuento de los perros que pasan por la granja / The tale of passing dogs in the small family farm

Resumo: Este artigo reflete sobre a singularidade das relações entre mulheres rurais e os cães que com elas constituem um relacionamento interespecífico. Objetiva contar sobre práticas que foram emergindo ao longo de uma pesquisa quando passamos a encarar seriamente a agência de animais a partir do cotidiano de uma agricultora pesquisadora alinhada à agroecologia familiar. Focalizamos os cães de passagem sem raça definida e que vão e vêm livremente entre as cercas que delimitam as propriedades rurais. Em diálogo com Donna Haraway, Anna Tsing e Vinciane Despret, apresentamos pistas para uma pesquisa multiespécie que opera por meio de causos. A pesquisa multiespécie nos convida a reflexões sobre práticas anticapitalistas que germinam na agroecologia, a nos determos no trabalho das mulheres agricultoras e dos cães na sua potência de autogoverno e de criarmos formas de cooperação multiespecíficas com alteridades significativas no projeto moderno-colonizador.

Resumen: Este artículo reflexiona sobre la singularidad de las relaciones entre las mujeres rurales y los perros que constituyen una relación interespecífica con ellas. El objetivo es relatar las prácticas que surgieron a lo largo de una investigación cuando empezamos a considerar seriamente la agencia animal basada en la vida diária de una agricultora investigadora alineada con la agroecología familiar. Centramonos en perros mestizos que van y vienen libremente entre las vallas que delimitan las propiedades rurales. En diálogo con Donna Haraway, Anna Tsing y Vinciane Despret, presentamos pistas para una investigación multiespecie que opera a través de historias. La investigación multiespecie nos invita a reflexionar sobre las prácticas anticapitalistas que germinan en la agroecología, a centrarnos en el trabajo de las campesinas y los perros en su poder de autogobierno y a crear formas de cooperación multiespecífica con alteridades significativas en el proyecto moderno-colonizador.

Abstract: This article reflects on the uniqueness of the relationships between rural women and the dogs that constitute an interspecific relationship with them. It aims to tell about practices that emerged throughout research when we began to seriously consider the animal agency based on the daily life of a farmer researcher aligned with family agroecology. We focus on mixed breed dogs that come and go freely between the fences that delimit rural properties. In dialogue with Donna Haraway, Anna Tsing and Vinciane Despret, we present clues for multispecies research that operates through stories. Multispecies research invites us to reflect on anti-capitalist practices that germinate in agroecology, to focus on the work of women farmers and dogs in their power of self-government and to create forms of multispecific cooperation with significant alterities in the modern-colonizing project.

Can Waist-to-Height Ratio and Health Literacy Be Used in Primary Care for Prioritizing Further Assessment of People at T2DM Risk?

BACKGROUND: To identify people at risk of type 2 diabetes. Primary health care needs efficient and noninvasive screening tools to detect individuals in need of follow-up to promote health and well-being. Previous research has shown people with lower levels of health literacy and/or well-being scores are vulnerable but may benefit from intervention and follow-up care. AIMS: This cross-sectional study, aimed to identify people at risk for type 2 diabetes by comparing the Finnish Diabetes Risk instrument with the waist-to-height ratio. Further, the difference was examined in health literacy and well-being scale scores in the countryside versus town areas, respectively. RESULTS: In total, 220, aged 18-75 years, participated. Thereof, 13.2% displayed biomarkers at prediabetes level of HbA1c (39-47 mmol/mol); none had undiagnosed diabetes. Of the participants, 73% were overweight or obese. Waist-to-height ratio demonstrated 93.1% of the prediabetes group at moderate to high health risk and 64.4% of the normal group, with an area under the curve of 0.759, sensitivity of 93.3%, and specificity of 63.1%. Residency did not influence prediabetes prevalence, health literacy, or well-being. CONCLUSION: Waist-to-height ratio and the Finnish Diabetes Risk instrument may be suitable for identifying who need further tests and follow-up care for health promotion in primary care.

The impact of rurality on child road traffic death in high-income countries.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the importance of child road traffic death, a limited number of studies have investigated rural child road traffic death in high income countries. OBJECTIVE: This review estimated the impact of rurality on child road traffic deaths and other potential risk factors in high-income countries. DESIGN: We searched Ovid, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Scopus databases and extracted studies focusing on the association between rurality and child road traffic death published between 2001 and 2021. Available data were extracted and analysed, to evaluate the impact of rurality on child road traffic death and explore other risk factors of child road traffic deaths. FINDINGS: We identified 13 studies for child road traffic death between 2001 and 2021. Eight studies reported the impact of rurality on child road traffic death, and all of them alleged that the mortality rate and injury rate of children was significantly higher on rural road than on urban road. The impact of rurality varied between studies, from 1.6 times to 15 times higher incidence of road traffic death in rural areas. Vehicle type, speeding cars, driver loss of control, alcohol and drug use road environment were identified as risk factors of child road traffic death. Conversely, ethnicity, seat belts, nondeployed airbag, child restraint, strict driver licence system, camera law and accessibility of trauma centres were considered protective factors. Other factors, including age, gender and teen passengers, appeared ambiguous for child road traffic death. DISCUSSION: Rurality is one of the most important risk factors of child road traffic death. Therefore, we should consider the impact that rurality has on child road death and resolve the gap between rural and urban areas in order to prevent child road traffic death effectively. CONCLUSION: The findings of this literature review will assist policy-makers to prevent child road traffic death by focusing on rural regions.

Energy Consumption Structure and Influencing Factors of Farmers in China from the Perspective of Labor Transfer.

Under the background of carbon peak and carbon neutralization, the transformation and upgrading of energy consumption structure is crucial to achieve sustainable environmental development. Based on the questionnaire data of 1080 farmers in Sichuan province in 2021, the IV-Probit model was used to explore the impact of labor from off-farm employment on farmers' energy consumption structure and its specific mechanism. The results show the following: (1) the overall proportion of off-farm employment is not high, only 23%; in cooking energy, the most farmers use high-quality energy, accounting for up to 94%; (2) in addition to high-quality energy, off-farm employment of labor force is positively and significantly correlated with the remaining six types of energy consumption structure. The results of a heterogeneity analysis show that the proportion of off-farm employment of farmers with a high education level and above has the greatest positive effect on the use of high-quality energy; (3) the results of the mediating effect show that the off-farm employment can affect the energy consumption structure of farmers through the two paths of annual cash income and population structure.

"Somos a terra lutando para sobreviver": histórias de vida de mulheres agroecologistas / "We are the earth struggling to survive": life stories of female agroecologists / "Somos la tierra luchando por sobrevivir": historias de vida de mujeres agroecólogas

A luta pela terra e seu uso incide na forma como as subjetividades têm sido produzidas no Brasil. No contexto capitalista, patriarcal e machista, vive-se um processo de exploração da mão de obra de mulheres e de recursos naturais da Terra. Este estudo objetivou conhecer histórias de vida de mulheres agricultoras rurais que participam de movimentos sociais agroecológicos no Rio Grande do Sul. Participaram do estudo três mulheres agricultoras, com idades entre 21 e 53 anos, residentes e trabalhadoras em zonas rurais das cidades de Viamão e Rolante, escolhidas por conveniência. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: questionário sociodemográfico, entrevista de história de vida e observação participante, os quais foram, posteriormente, submetidos à análise temática. Os resultados demonstram que as histórias de vida das mulheres relatadas são marcadas por lutas e formas de resistência. Para além das situações de conflitos e falta de recursos, avistam-se questões próprias de gênero, como a invisibilidade feminina e a desigualdade no acesso à terra por mulheres. A construção de base e o fortalecimento do papel político das mulheres nos movimentos sociais permite inferir que existem melhorias significativas nas desigualdades e injustiças no meio rural. Contudo, pontua-se a necessidade de se promover o diálogo entre os movimentos sociais, as mulheres e a sociedade política sobre os modelos atuais de políticas públicas existentes, possibilitando, assim, avançar nas discussões a respeito da promoção da equidade de gênero nos espaços rurais, bem como potencializar o avanço das práticas agroecológicas em direção à superação do capitalismo.(AU)

The struggle for land and its use affects the way subjectivities have been produced in Brazil. In the capitalist, patriarchal, and male-chauvinist context, women's labor and the Earth's natural resources are strongly exploited. This study aimed to know the life stories of female farmers who participate in agroecological social movements in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Three female farmers, aged from 21 to 53, residents and workers in rural areas of the municipalities of Viamão and Rolante, chosen by convenience, participated in the study. The instruments used were: sociodemographic questionnaire, a life story interview, and participant observation, which were later subjected to thematic analysis. The results show that the participants' life stories are marked by struggles and means of resistance. In addition to conflicts and lack of resources, there are specific gender issues, such as female invisibility and inequality in women's access to land. The grassroots construction and the strengthening of the political role of women in social movements allow us to infer that there are significant improvements in inequalities and injustices in rural areas. However, it is necessary to promote dialogue between social movements, women, and political society about the current models of existing public policies, thus making it possible to advance in discussions about gender equity in rural spaces, as well as to enhance the advancement of agroecological practices to overcoming capitalism.(AU)

La lucha por la tierra y su uso afecta a la forma en que se han producido las subjetividades en Brasil. En el contexto capitalista, patriarcal y machista, hay un proceso de explotación del trabajo de las mujeres y de los recursos naturales de la tierra. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo conocer las historias de vida de agricultoras rurales que participan en movimientos sociales agroecológicos en Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil). Participaron en el estudio tres agricultoras, de entre 21 y 53 años, residentes y trabajadoras en áreas rurales de las ciudades de Viamão y Rolante, elegidas por conveniencia. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron: cuestionario sociodemográfico, entrevista de historia de vida y observación participante, cuyos datos posteriormente se sometieron a análisis temático. Los resultados muestran que las historias de vida de las mujeres relatadas están marcadas por luchas y formas de resistencia. A las situaciones de conflicto y falta de recursos se suman cuestiones específicas de género, como la invisibilidad femenina y la desigualdad en el acceso de las mujeres a la tierra. La construcción popular y el fortalecimiento del papel político de las mujeres en los movimientos sociales permiten inferir que hay mejoras significativas en las desigualdades e injusticias en las zonas rurales. Sin embargo, es necesario promover el diálogo entre los movimientos sociales, las mujeres y la sociedad sobre los modelos actuales de las políticas públicas existentes, para posibilitar avances en las discusiones sobre la promoción de la equidad de género en los espacios rurales y potenciar el avance de las prácticas agroecológicas hacia la superación del capitalismo.(AU)

Gaps in the Utilization of Community Health Services for the Elderly Population in Rural Areas of Mainland China: A Systematic Review Based on Cross-Sectional Investigations.

Background: While the community health service system was initially established in rural areas of mainland China, the utilization of community health service resources by the rural elderly population is not clear. Methods: Cross-sectional studies on the utilization of community health services by the rural elderly population in mainland China published within the last 10 years were retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang, Medline and Web of Science (WOS) databases. The quality of the article was evaluated by the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP), and obstacles to the utilization of community health services by the rural elderly population were analyzed based on the Andersen model. Results: Twenty-four studies were analyzed, and 3 gaps were found. (i) The cognition of rural elderly residents does not match the current health security system. (ii) There is a gap between the supply of health service resources in rural communities and the health needs of the elderly residents in these areas. (iii) The health services provided by rural primary health service institutions are not targeted. Conclusions: In mainland China, the provision of community health services to the rural elderly population has improved significantly. However, several factors from the individual level to the system level lead to low levels of access and utilization. This finding means that under the leadership of the government, it is necessary to integrate the strength of multiple departments to cooperate in improving the welfare system, policy publicity, health education, financial support, system guarantees and resource exchange and sharing for the elderly population in rural areas and to jointly promote community health services for the elderly population in rural areas.

Formative experience and stock price crash risk: Evidence from China's "Down to the Countryside" movement.

This study explores the influence of chairpersons' early life experiences during the "Down to the Countryside" movement-a unique social phenomenon in China-on company stock price crash risk. This study uses 2007-2018 data from China's A-share listed companies and a multiple regression analysis model to assess the influence of chairpersons' Down to the Countryside experiences on the stock price crash risk of their corresponding companies. The empirical results demonstrate that chairpersons' "sent-down" experiences shaped their risk-aversion management style, reducing companies' risk-taking capacity. Consequently, this formative experience reduces stock price crash risks and increases company value. Heterogeneity tests on companies with different property rights reveal that chairpersons' sent-down experiences are more pronounced in non-state-owned companies, as against state-owned companies. To alleviate endogeneity issues (e.g., self-selection bias and omitted variables) various endogeneity controls (e.g., propensity score matching, placebo tests, and difference-in-differences (DID) tests) were conducted. The results also persisted in a series of robustness checks. This study provides a new perspective on the relationship between chairpersons' early life experiences and stock price crash risks. The empirical evidence has implications for the recruitment, incentivization, and supervision of chairpersons.

Internet use and land transfer in: empirical evidence from China's rural panel data.

In the context of the Internet power strategy, "Internet + agriculture" has gradually become a key force in realizing agricultural modernization. Based on the data of the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2012, 2014, and 2016, this paper uses conditional mixed process (CMP) to solve the endogeneity problem and tests the impact and mechanism of Internet use on farmers' land transfer in. The results showed that (1) from 2012 to 2016, the proportion of farmers using the Internet increased in turn, while the proportion of farmers transferring in land decreased in turn. (2) Farmers' Internet use is significantly negatively correlated with land transfer in. In 2012, 2014, and 2016, each unit increase in the proportion of farmers' Internet use reduces the probability of land transfer in by 2.6%, 10.7%, and 20.8%, respectively. (3) The analysis of mediating effects shows that the Internet can promote land transfer in by expanding social networks and inhibit land transfer in by improving the stability of non-agricultural employment, and both are partial mediating effects. From the micro-perspective of farmers' Internet use, this study can strengthen our understanding of Internet use and land transfer behavior decision-making and then provide a reference for rural digitalization construction and land transfer-related policy making.

Global Human Consumption Threatens Key Biodiversity Areas.

Key biodiversity areas (KBAs) are critical regions for preserving global biodiversity. KBAs are identified by their importance to biodiversity rather than their legal status. As such, KBAs are often under pressure from human activities. KBAs can encompass many different land-use types (e.g., cropland, pastures) and land-use intensities. Here, we combine a global economic model with spatial mapping to estimate the biodiversity impacts of human land use in KBAs. We find that global human land use within KBAs causes disproportionate biodiversity losses. While land use within KBAs accounts for only 7% of total land use, it causes 16% of the potential global plant loss and 12% of the potential global vertebrate loss. The consumption of animal products accounts for more than half of biodiversity loss within KBAs, with housing the second largest at around 10%. Bovine meat is the largest single contributor to this loss, at around 31% of total biodiversity loss. In terms of land use, lightly grazed pasture contributes the most, accounting for around half of all potential species loss. This loss is concentrated mainly in middle- and low-income regions with rich biodiversity. International trade is an important driver of loss, accounting for 22-29% of total potential plant and vertebrate loss. Our comprehensive global, trade-linked analysis provides insights into maintaining the integrity of KBAs and global biodiversity.

Correlation analysis between self-rated treatment effect and diagnosis and treatment of elderly poor cataract patientswith poor financial condition in rural areas of Ganzi Prefecture.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the correlation between self-rated treatment effect and diagnosis and treatment of elderly indigent cataract patients in rural areas of Ganzi Prefecture. METHODS: In this retrospective study, senior cataract patients admitted in the Ganzi region from March 2018 to November 2021 were included. 495 indigent patients were classified into the poor group, including 400 cases who received surgical treatment and 95 who did not. The 318 patients that were not indigent were classified as the non-poor group. The basic demographic characteristics, treatment, self-assessed treatment effect, and the cost of surgery, blindness rate, and disability rate were compared between the two groups. The correlation between self-assessed treatment effect and treatment condition of patients in the poor group was analyzed by multi-factor unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the basic demographic characteristics, self-assessed treatment effect, or postoperative blindness rate between the patients receiving surgery in both groups (P>0.05). The visual acuity of 400 patients after the operation was significantly higher than that before operation (P<0.05). The operation and other costs in the poor group were lower than those of the non-poor group (P<0.05). The elimination rate of disability in the non-poor group was significantly higher than in the poor group (P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the level of the hospital, the location of the treatment institution, living alone, education level, and the number of visits were factors affecting the self-rated treatment effect of patients (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The self-rated treatment effect of elderly indigent cataract in rural Ganzi Prefecture was closely related to the level of the hospital, the location of treatment institutions, living alone, education level, and the number of visits. Health poverty alleviation programs should be strengthened.

Violência contra a pessoa idosa no contexto rural em tempos de COVID-19: velhas e novas emergências / Violencia contra los adultos mayores en el contexto rural en tiempos de COVID-19: viejas y nuevas emergencias / Elder abuse in the rural context in times of COVID-19: old and new emergencies

RESUMO Objetivo ampliar o debate sobre os fatores presentes no cotidiano da população idosa rural do Brasil, que contribuem para o aumento da violência contra a pessoa idosa (VCPI) na pandemia. Método estudo teórico-reflexivo, que apresenta como referenciais a Política Nacional de Saúde Integral das Populações do Campo e da Floresta e a Teoria da Vulnerabilidade, proposta por Ayres, que buscam compreender a exposição dos indivíduos a desfechos agravantes à saúde. O desenvolvimento se pautou na literatura nacional e internacional, e foi organizado pelo eixo condutor "as vulnerabilidades, redes formais e informais de proteção contra VCPI: reflexões em tempos de pandemia de COVID-19 em contexto de ruralidades". Resultados o distanciamento social necessário para a mitigação da pandemia de COVID-19 pode estar impactando negativamente os idosos da zona rural a enfrentarem a VCPI. Acredita-se que o conjunto de estratégias das redes formais e informais não tem atingido adequadamente as necessidades dos idosos da área rural. Considerações finais e implicações para a prática é de fundamental importância que, em meio à pandemia do coronavírus, haja implantação de estratégias para a manutenção e ampliação dos equipamentos sociais da rede formal e informal de proteção contra VCPI, levando em consideração as necessidades da área rural.

RESUMEN Objetivo ampliar el debate sobre los factores presentes en el cotidiano de la población anciana rural en Brasil, que contribuyen al aumento de la violencia contra los ancianos (VCA) en la pandemia. Método estudio teórico-reflexivo que presenta como referencias la Política Nacional de Salud Integral de las Poblaciones Rurales y Forestales y la Teoría de la Vulnerabilidad, propuesta por Ayres, que buscan comprender la exposición de los individuos a resultados agravantes de salud. El desarrollo se basó en la literatura nacional e internacional, y fue organizado por el eje rector "las vulnerabilidades, redes formales e informales de protección a las VCA: reflexiones en tiempos de la pandemia del COVID-19 en el contexto de las ruralidades". Resultados el distanciamiento social necesario para mitigar la pandemia de COVID-19 puede estar impactando negativamente a las personas mayores rurales que enfrentan la VCA. Se cree que el conjunto de estrategias de las redes formales e informales no han atendido adecuadamente las necesidades de los adultos mayores en las zonas rurales. Consideraciones finales e implicaciones para la práctica es de fundamental importancia que, en medio de la pandemia del coronavirus, se implementen estrategias para el mantenimiento y ampliación de los equipamientos sociales en la red formal e informal de protección contra la VCA, teniendo en cuenta las necesidades de la zona rural.

ABSTRACT Objective to expand the debate on factors present in the daily life of rural older adults in Brazil, which contribute to the increase in elder abuse (EA) in the pandemic. Method a theoretical-reflective study, which presents the Brazilian National Comprehensive Health Policy for Rural and Forest Populations and the Vulnerability Theory as frameworks, proposed by Ayres, that seek to understand the exposure of individuals to aggravating health outcomes. The development was based on national and international literature, and was organized by the guiding axis "vulnerabilities, formal and informal networks of protection against EA: reflections in times of the COVID-19 pandemic in a context of rurality". Results the social distancing necessary for mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic may be negatively impacting rural older adults facing EA. It is believed that the set of strategies of formal and informal networks has not adequately met older adults' needs in rural areas. Final considerations and implications for practice it is of fundamental importance that, amidst the coronavirus pandemic, strategies are implemented for maintenance and expansion of the formal and informal network social equipment of protection against EA, taking into account rural people's needs.

Non-use of Digital Health Consultations Among Swedish Elderly Living in the Countryside.

Digital health consultations in primary care have the advantage of offering equal healthcare for people residing in the countryside. While it is gaining acceptance among young- and middle-aged people, the elderly are reluctant to use it. The aim of this study was hence to identify reasons for non-use among elderly in the countryside and describe perceived possible challenges and opportunities with digital health consultations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 persons over 65 years old residing in the Swedish countryside. There was a mistrust for services offered by private companies and their public funding, a lack of knowledge of available services, and a lack of perceived usefulness. Personal interaction and continuity was more important than time or travel conveniences, although these advantages were recognized. To prevent digital exclusion, caregivers need to offer information, encouragement, or tools for the elderly. Digital primary care also needs to offer familiarity, with continuity and personal connections.

Beyond Taxonomic Identification: Integration of Ecological Responses to a Soil Bacterial 16S rRNA Gene Database.

High-throughput sequencing 16S rRNA gene surveys have enabled new insights into the diversity of soil bacteria, and furthered understanding of the ecological drivers of abundances across landscapes. However, current analytical approaches are of limited use in formalizing syntheses of the ecological attributes of taxa discovered, because derived taxonomic units are typically unique to individual studies and sequence identification databases only characterize taxonomy. To address this, we used sequences obtained from a large nationwide soil survey (GB Countryside Survey, henceforth CS) to create a comprehensive soil specific 16S reference database, with coupled ecological information derived from survey metadata. Specifically, we modeled taxon responses to soil pH at the OTU level using hierarchical logistic regression (HOF) models, to provide information on both the shape of landscape scale pH-abundance responses, and pH optima (pH at which OTU abundance is maximal). We identify that most of the soil OTUs examined exhibited a non-flat relationship with soil pH. Further, the pH optima could not be generalized by broad taxonomy, highlighting the need for tools and databases synthesizing ecological traits at finer taxonomic resolution. We further demonstrate the utility of the database by testing against geographically dispersed query 16S datasets; evaluating efficacy by quantifying matches, and accuracy in predicting pH responses of query sequences from a separate large soil survey. We found that the CS database provided good coverage of dominant taxa; and that the taxa indicating soil pH in a query dataset corresponded with the pH classifications of top matches in the CS database. Furthermore we were able to predict query dataset community structure, using predicted abundances of dominant taxa based on query soil pH data and the HOF models of matched CS database taxa. The database with associated HOF model outputs is released as an online portal for querying single sequences of interest (https://shiny-apps.ceh.ac.uk/ID-TaxER/), and flat files are made available for use in bioinformatic pipelines. The further development of advanced informatics infrastructures incorporating modeled ecological attributes along with new functional genomic information will likely facilitate large scale exploration and prediction of soil microbial functional biodiversity under current and future environmental change scenarios.

Influence of family smoking on children’s exposure to second-hand smoke in rural Taizhou City / 上海预防医学

Objective:To analyze the household smoking behavior of smokers in rural Taizhou City of Zhejiang Province， and to provide the basis for the intervention measures to reduce children's second-hand smoke （SHS） exposure. Methods:The investigation started in May 2018. A total of 418 smoking families in Luqiao and Linhai were included. Field face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted and cotinine level in children's urine was measured. Kernel density estimation was used for curve fitting. The results were analyzed by Wilcoxon rank sum test and chi square test. Results:The age distribution of smokers in the family was bimodal. The younger smoker group was mainly the parents. The older group was mainly the other relatives such as grandfather. The age started smoking in the parent group was younger than that in relative group， but the average number of cigarettes smoked per day in relative group was higher than that in parent group （P<0.05）. The parent group had higher proportion than the relative group in having family smoking regulations or agreeing not to smoke in the room in the presence of children （P<0.001）.The proportion of the parent group who has heard about third hand smoke and electronic cigarette was higher than that of the relative group （P<0.001）.The detection rates of cotinine in urine of children were 91.05% and 86.96% in parent group and relative group， respectively. The urine cotinine level of the children in the parent group was higher than that in the grandfather group （P=0.049）. Conclusion:Children are more exposed to SHS when the smoker in the household are parents. In order to reduce children's SHS exposure， we should pay more attention to educate the parents with a family based tobacco control program.

Landscape Simplification Modifies Trap-Nesting Bee and Wasp Communities in the Subtropics.

(1) Background: Landscape simplification is a major threat to bee and wasp conservation in the tropics, but reliable, long-term population data are lacking. We investigated how community composition, diversity, and abundance of tropical solitary bees and wasps change with landscape simplification (plant diversity, plant richness, distance from forest, forest cover, and land use type) and season. (2) Methods: We installed 336 timber and cob trap nests in four complex forests and three simplified orchards within the subtropical biodiversity hotspot of south-east Queensland, Australia. Trap nests were replaced every season for 23 months and all emergents identified. (3) Results: We identified 28 wasp species and 13 bee species from 2251 brood cells. Bee and wasp community composition changed with landscape simplification such that large, ground-nesting, and spider-hunting species were present in all landscapes, while those with specialist resource requirements and (clepto) parasitoids were present only in complex landscapes. Abundance and diversity of bees and wasps were unaffected by landscape simplification but increased with rainfall. (4) Conclusions: This study highlights the need for multi-year studies incorporating nuanced measures such as composition with a focus on functional diversity to detect changes bee and wasp populations.

Iniciativas de organização comunitária e Covid-19: esboços para uma vigilância popular da saúde e do ambiente / Communitary organization initiatives and COVID-19: sketches for popular surveillance of health and environment / Iniciativas de organización comunitaria y COVID-19: esbozos para la vigilancia popular de la salud y del ambiente

Resumo O contexto da pandemia da Covid-19 está relacionado à interação dos seres humanos com a natureza, na medida em que invadimos e destruímos nichos ecológicos importantes, criando modelos de produção animal e de trocas comerciais não sustentáveis. Lavar as mãos é uma das ações mais eficazes de prevenção à Covid-19. Mas como seguir este procedimento onde a água não é garantida com a frequência necessária? Outro aspecto importante da vigilância é a exposição crônica à contaminação do ar, favorecendo as altas taxas de mortalidade pela Covid-19. As populações do campo, da floresta e das águas são também um dos grupos mais vulneráveis e, ao mesmo tempo, possuem modos de vida determinantes para a sustentabilidade socioambiental do planeta. Gabinetes de crise, comitês populares, articulações solidárias, plataformas, observatórios acadêmico-populares, barreiras sanitárias populares, portais na internet de monitoramento participativo são algumas das formas que, espontaneamente, têm surgido nas favelas e nos territórios de povos tradicionais para dar conta de enfrentar a Covid-19, dada a ausência de políticas efetivas, principalmente no âmbito federal. Temos que criar métodos, estratégias e iniciativas que possibilitem que a vigilância sobre a saúde e o ambiente possa contribuir para resolver problemas e necessidades de forma horizontal, participativa, democrática e cientificamente qualificada.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic context is related to the interaction of human beings with the environment, as we invade and destroy important ecological niches, creating unsustainable models of animal production and trade. Washing your hands is one of the most effective actions to prevent COVID-19. But how to follow this procedure where water is not guaranteed as often as necessary? Another important aspect of surveillance is chronic exposure to air contamination, favoring high mortality rates from COVID-19. The populations of the countryside, the forest and the waters are also one of the most vulnerable groups and, at the same time, have ways of life that are decisive for the socio-environmental sustainability of the planet. Crisis offices, popular committees, solidarity articulations, platforms, academic-popular observatories, popular health barriers, internet portals for participatory monitoring are some of the ways that, spontaneously, have emerged in the favelas and in the territories of traditional peoples to cope with facing COVID-19, given the absence of effective policies, mainly at the federal level. We have to create methods, strategies and initiatives that enable health and environmental surveillance to contribute to solving problems and needs in a horizontal, participatory, democratic and scientifically qualified way.

Resumen El contexto de la pandemia del COVID-19 está relacionado a la interacción de los seres humanos con la naturaleza, en la medida en que invadimos y destruimos nichos ecológicos importantes, creando modelos de producción animal y de intercambio comercial que no son sustentables. Lavarse las manos es una de las acciones más eficaces de prevención al COVID-19. Pero, ¿cómo seguir este procedimiento donde el agua no está garantizada con la frecuencia debida? Otro aspecto importante de la vigilancia es la exposición crónica a la contaminación del aire, que favorece a las altas tasas de mortalidad por COVID-19. Los pobladores del campo, de los bosques y de las orillas de las aguas también son de los grupos más vulnerables y, al mismo tiempo, tienen modos de vida determinantes para la sustentabilidad socioambiental del planeta. Gabinetes de crisis, comités populares, articulaciones solidarias, plataformas, observatorios académico populares, barreras sanitarias populares, portales en la internet de monitoramiento participativo son algunas de las formas que, espontáneamente, han surgido en las favelas y en los territorios de los pueblos tradicionales para intentar enfrentar al COVID-19, dada la ausencia de políticas efectivas, principalmente en el ámbito federal. Tenemos que crear métodos, estrategias e iniciativas que posibiliten que la vigilancia sobre la salud y el ambiente pueda contribuir para resolver problemas y necesidades de forma horizontal, participativa, democrática y científicamente calificada.

[The risk factors of health formation in urban and rural women].

The purpose of the study is the socio-hygienic characteristics of the lifestyle and living conditions of urban and rural women and the assessment of their importance in the formation of health. The materials of the study were: the number of newly registered chronic diseases for 5 years, the average number of complaints about diseases during the year, the results of the survey. A socio-hygienic study shows that among urban women there are more divorced women than among rural women, fewer widows, urban women have higher levels of education, more permanent jobs, low physical activity, etc. Rural women were distinguished from urban women by lower level of education, low medical activity, frequent alcohol consumption, lower income, etc. Among urban women, more than in the first health assessment group (18.4% of women), among rural women 14.6% and less than in the third health assessment group (30.2%). Among rural women, 36.0% were in the third health assessment group. It was found that the greatest impact on the health of urban women have irrational nutrition, low physical activity, low medical activity, harmful production factors, frequent stress at work and at home, on the health of rural women: low income, low medical activity, mainly physical labor, irrational nutrition, frequent alcohol consumption.

Effects of habitat area and spatial configuration on biodiversity in an experimental intertidal community.

Isolating the effects of fragmentation per se (i.e., spatial configuration of habitat patches) on species richness is an ongoing challenge as habitat configuration often covaries with the amount of habitat. Consequently, there is a lack of experimental evidence for configurational effects on species richness in the whole landscape. Here, we developed a novel experimental system for testing the independent and interactive effects of habitat area and configuration on tropical intertidal species richness. Our results confirmed the expectation that average species richness would increase monotonically with habitat area. More intriguingly, we found mixed evidence for a non-monotonic relationship between species richness and fragmentation per se, with the highest richness at intermediate fragmentation configuration, that is, when habitat tiles were placed in a "several-small" configuration. The effect of habitat configuration was not due to passive sampling (since area was controlled for), variation in total individual abundance, or niche specialization of species to different landscape configurations. We postulate that a combination of processes, including local negative density dependence and dispersal limitation, could give rise to the observed pattern. We emphasize the importance of considering configurational effects on biodiversity at broader spatial scales and for more experimental research to delve into the mechanisms driving the patterns seen here.