Characterizing drought prediction with deep learning: A literature review.

Drought prediction is a complex phenomenon that impacts human activities and the environment. For this reason, predicting its behavior is crucial to mitigating such effects. Deep learning techniques are emerging as a powerful tool for this task. The main goal of this work is to review the state-of-the-art for characterizing the deep learning techniques used in the drought prediction task. The results suggest that the most widely used climate indexes were the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Regarding the multispectral index, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is the indicator most utilized. On the other hand, countries with a higher production of scientific knowledge in this area are located in Asia and Oceania; meanwhile, America and Africa are the regions with few publications. Concerning deep learning methods, the Long-Short Term Memory network (LSTM) is the algorithm most implemented for this task, either implemented canonically or together with other deep learning techniques (hybrid methods). In conclusion, this review reveals a need for more scientific knowledge about drought prediction using multispectral indices and deep learning techniques in America and Africa; therefore, it is an opportunity to characterize the phenomenon in developing countries.

A scoping review of early childhood support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living with a disability in regional, rural and remote settings.

INTRODUCTION: Many experts and communities have concerns about how National Disability Insurance Scheme services are provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait children. This study was undertaken at the request of the NPY Women's Council in partnership with the researchers, to explore supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living with a disability in their remote areas. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aims to (a) explore the barriers and enablers to accessing disability support services for families of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (0-8 years) living in regional, rural and remote settings, and (b) summarise best practice approaches for accessing support for young children in these settings. DESIGN: The search was run in three electronic databases, as well as grey literature sources. We assessed the quality of included publications using the Centre of Research Excellence in Aboriginal Chronic Disease Knowledge Translation and Exchange tool. A narrative synthesis was supported by thematic analysis. FINDINGS: From an initial search (557 citations), we identified 13 eligible documents. Most documents were peer-reviewed articles of qualitative studies. Key themes identified included the following: (1) Holistic approach, (2) Understanding disability, (3) Consistent relationships, (4), Flexibility, (5) Simplify system and (6) Enhance communication. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: This scoping review has revealed gaps in the provision of quality, culturally responsive disability services for families of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia. A family-centred, flexible approach will help address their needs. Future research is required to design and evaluate models of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Comparison between Remotely Supported Nurse-led Electro-Anatomic Mapping and Standard Onsite Engineer Support for Electrophysiological Procedures.

AIMS: Catheter ablations of complex cardiac arrhythmias are currently guided by electro-anatomic mapping systems. The aim of this study was to compare two different approaches: remotely supported nurse-led electro-anatomic mapping with standard onsite engineer support. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this retrospective observational study, 166 patients with complex and non-complex procedures were included. 82 patients benefited from electro-anatomic mapping with remotely supported nurse-led mapping (mean age: 62±16years), while the approach for 84 patients was with standard onsite engineer support (mean age: 56±19 years). Procedural characteristics, acute results and complication rates were compared between both groups and showed similar results.Complex and non-complex procedures were conducted in both groups, including left atrial and ventricular procedures. As ventricular tachycardia and accessory pathway ablations were more frequently conducted with standard onsite engineer support, we separately analyzed the largest subgroup, 105 patients with atrial fibrillation, left atrial flutter and left atrial tachycardia. Patients in this subgroup had comparable baseline characteristics, procedure times and procedural success. Nevertheless, there were longer ablation times and more utilization of fluoroscopy in the onsite group, most likely due to more complex procedures. CONCLUSION: Our results underline the practicality of remotely supported nurse-led electro-anatomic mapping. The latter approach proved to be a safe alternative to onsite engineer support. Due to its advantages, particularly for insular settings, it will likely play a greater role in the future.

Impact of Remote Patient Monitoring Systems on Nursing Time, Healthcare Providers, and Patient Satisfaction in General Wards.

INTRODUCTION: Remote patient monitoring systems (RPMS) are increasingly integrated into hospital wards to improve patient safety and reduce the workload on healthcare professionals (HCPs). This study evaluates the efficacy of RPMS in general wards, focusing on their impact on nursing efficiency, patient care, HCPs, and patient satisfaction. METHODS: A comprehensive time-motion study was conducted along with surveys targeting HCPs and patients in M.S. Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, Bangalore, India, which has implemented RPMS in general wards. The study involved observing and comparing nursing activities in RPMS-equipped wards versus control wards without RPMS across various shifts. In addition, feedback on the system's impact on patient safety, overall care quality, and usability was gathered through a survey form. RESULTS: RPMS decreases the amount of time nurses spend on routine monitoring, communication, and coordination, enabling a 43.11% increase in time available for patient care. More than 89% of HCPs noted improvements in the level of care and overall patient safety. More than 80% of the HCPs also noted improvement in the patient's experience. More than 50% of HCPs find RPMS easy to use and user-friendly. More than 60% of the patients noted an overall improvement in care quality. CONCLUSION: RPMS has proven to be a valuable asset in hospital wards, enhancing patient monitoring and safety while reducing the workload on staff. In addition, significant time savings on routine tasks and high satisfaction levels from both staff and patients underscore the system's benefits.

Research progress on the mechanism of action and clinical application of remote ischemic post-conditioning for acute ischemic stroke.

Remote ischemic post-conditioning (RIPostC) can reduce cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) by inducing endogenous protective effects, the distal limb ischemia post-treatment and in situ ischemia post-treatment were classified according to the site of intervention. And in the process of clinical application distal limb ischemia post-treatment is more widely used and more conducive to clinical translation. Therefore, in this paper, we review the mechanism of action and clinical application of RIPostC in cerebral ischemia, hoping to provide reference help for future experimental directions and clinical translation.

Satellite observations reveal anthropogenic pressure significantly affects the suspended particulate matter concentrations in coastal waters of Hainan Island.

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) plays a crucial role in assessing the health status of coastal ecosystems. Satellite remote sensing offers an effective approach to investigate the variations and distribution patterns of SPM, with the performance of various satellite retrieval models exhibiting significant spatial heterogeneity. However, there is still limited information on precise remote sensing retrieval algorithms specifically designed for estimating SPM in tropical areas, hindering our ability to monitor the health status of valuable tropical ecological resources. A relatively accurate empirical algorithm (root mean square error = 2.241 mg L-1, mean absolute percentage error = 42.527%) was first developed for the coastal SPM of Hainan Island based on MODIS images and over a decade of field SPM data, which conducted comprehensive comparisons among empirical models, semi-analytical models, and machine learning models. Long-term monitoring from 2003 to 2022 revealed that the average SPM concentration along the coastal wetlands of Hainan Island was 6.848 mg L-1, which displayed a decreasing trend due to government environmental protection regulations (average rate of change of -0.009 mg L-1/year). The seasonal variations in coastal SPM were primarily influenced by sea surface temperature (SST). Spatially, the concentrations of SPM along the southwest coast of Hainan Island were higher in comparison to other waters, which was attributable to sediment types and ocean currents. Further, anthropogenic pressure (e.g., agricultural waste input, vegetation cover) was the main influence on the long-term changes of coastal SPM in Hainan Island, particularly evident in typical tropical ecosystems affected by aquaculture, coastal engineering, and changes in coastal green vegetation. Compared to other typical ecosystems around the globe, the overall health status of SPM along the coast wetlands of Hainan is considered satisfactory. These findings not only establish a robust remote sensing model for long-term SPM monitoring along the coast of Hainan Island, but also provide comprehensive insights into SPM dynamics, thereby contributing to the formulation of future coastal zone management policies.

Digital competences of university students after face-to-face and remote teaching: Video-animations digital create content.

In today's digitally advanced society, there is a need to focus on collaborative educational approaches of a socio-community nature that incorporate technology. From this perspective, the FEJYLEN and FEJYLENVAL programs were conceived and implemented for both remote (online) and face-to-face teaching. These programs are based on an E-Learning-Service methodology, enabling the training of university students in digital skills, and facilitating the transfer of their interactive educational video-animations to early childhood education centers. The study sample consisted of 221 students enrolled in Early Childhood Education and Speech Therapy Degrees. The study had two objectives: first, to compare digital competences before and after participating in the mentioned programs; and second, to evaluate the impact of the type of teaching and university training on the acquisition of digital competences. The findings indicate that students receiving face-to-face teaching demonstrated significant improvement across all digital competences' factors with a medium-high effect size. Conversely, for students receiving remote instruction, improvements were limited to only certain skill factors. Our study reveals that face-to-face teaching is associated with higher scores in digital competencies and more efficient digital content creation. In conclusion, this research highlights the advantages of face-to-face teaching in comparison to remote instruction. This has facilitated a closer connection between the university and the realities faced by educational centers, fostering the exchange of knowledge between learning communities.

Quantifying lumbar mobility using a single tri-axial accelerometer.

Background: Lumbar mobility is regarded as important for assessing and managing low back pain (LBP). Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) are currently the most feasible technology for quantifying lumbar mobility in clinical and research settings. However, their gyroscopes are susceptible to drift errors, limiting their use for long-term remote monitoring. Research question: Can a single tri-axial accelerometer provide an accurate and feasible alternative to a multi-sensor IMU for quantifying lumbar flexion mobility and velocity? Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 18 healthy adults performed nine repetitions of full spinal flexion movements. Lumbar flexion mobility and velocity were quantified using a multi-sensor IMU and just the tri-axial accelerometer within the IMU. Correlations between the two methods were assessed for each percentile of the lumbar flexion movement cycle, and differences in measurements were modelled using a Generalised Additive Model (GAM). Results: Very high correlations (r > 0.90) in flexion angles and velocities were found between the two methods for most of the movement cycle. However, the accelerometer overestimated lumbar flexion angle at the start (-4.7° [95 % CI -7.6° to -1.8°]) and end (-4.8° [95 % CI -7.7° to -1.9°]) of movement cycles, but underestimated angles (maximal difference of 4.3° [95 % CI 1.4° to 7.2°]) between 7 % and 92 % of the movement cycle. For flexion velocity, the accelerometer underestimated at the start (16.6°/s [95%CI 16.0 to 17.2°/s]) and overestimated (-12.3°/s [95%CI -12.9 to -11.7°/s]) at the end of the movement, compared to the IMU. Significance: Despite the observed differences, the study suggests that a single tri-axial accelerometer could be a feasible tool for continuous remote monitoring of lumbar mobility and velocity. This finding has potential implications for the management of LBP, enabling more accessible and cost-effective monitoring of lumbar mobility in both clinical and research settings.

A satellite-derived dataset on vegetation phenology across Central Asia from 2001 to 2023.

Satellite-observed land surface phenology (LSP) data have helped us better understand terrestrial ecosystem dynamics at large scales. However, uncertainties remain in comprehending LSP variations in Central Asian drylands. In this article, an LSP dataset covering Central Asia (45-100°E, 33-57°N) is introduced. This LSP dataset was produced based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 0.05-degree daily reflectance and land cover data. The phenological dynamics of drylands were tracked using the seasonal profiles of near-infrared reflectance of vegetation (NIRv). NIRv time series processing involved the following steps: identifying low-quality observations, smoothing the NIRv time series, and retrieving LSP metrics. In the smoothing step, a median filter was first applied to reduce spikes, after which the stationary wavelet transform (SWT) was used to smooth the NIRv time series. The SWT was performed using the Biorthogonal 1.1 wavelet at a decomposition level of 5. Seven LSP metrics were provided in this dataset, and they were categorized into the following three groups: (1) timing of key phenological events, (2) NIRv values essential for the detection of the phenological events throughout the growing season, and (3) NIRv value linked to vegetation growth state during the growing season. This LSP dataset is useful for investigating dryland ecosystem dynamics in response to climate variations and human activities across Central Asia.

Motor improvement of remote programming in patients with Parkinson's disease after deep brain stimulation: a 1-year follow-up.

Background: Remote programming (RP) is an emerging technology that enables the adjustment of implantable pulse generators (IPGs) via the Internet for people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) who have undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS). Previous studies have not comprehensively explored the effectiveness of RP in managing motor symptoms, often omitting assessments such as the rigidity and retropulsion tests during the follow-up. This study evaluates the comprehensive improvements in motor performance and the potential cost benefits of RP for PwPD with DBS. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on two groups of patients-those who received RP and those who received standard programming (SP). Clinical outcomes including motor improvement, quality of life, and daily levodopa dosage were compared between the groups during a 12 (± 3)-month in-clinic follow-up. Results: A total of 44 patients were included in the study, with 18 in the RP group and 26 in the SP group. No significant differences were observed in the frequency of programming sessions or clinical outcomes between the groups (p > 0.05). However, the RP group experienced significantly lower costs per programming session than the SP group (p < 0.05), despite patients in the former group living further from our center (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that RP could significantly reduce the costs of programming for PwPD with DBS, especially without compromising the effectiveness of treatment across all motor symptoms in the short term.

Virtual Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Training in the Pandemic Era: Feasibility, Satisfaction, and the Road Ahead.

INTRODUCTION: Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are essential assessments for evaluating the clinical competencies of medical students. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant disruption in medical education, prompting institutions to adopt virtual formats for academic activities. This study analyzes the feasibility, satisfaction, and experiences of pediatric board candidates and faculty during virtual or electronic OSCE (e-OSCE) training sessions using Zoom video communication (Zoom Video Communications, Inc., San Jose, USA). METHODS: This is a post-event survey assessing the perceptions of faculty and candidates and the perceived advantages and obstacles of e-OSCE. RESULTS: A total of 142 participants were invited to complete a post-event survey, and 105 (73.9%) completed the survey. There was equal gender representation. More than half of the participants were examiners. The overall satisfaction with the virtual e-OSCE was high, with a mean score of 4.7±0.67 out of 5. Most participants were likely to recommend e-OSCE to a friend or colleague (mean score 8.84±1.51/10). More faculty (66.1%) than candidates (40.8%) preferred e-OSCE (P=0.006). CONCLUSION: Transitioning to virtual OSCE training during the pandemic proved feasible, with high satisfaction rates. Further research on virtual training for OSCE in medical education is recommended to optimize its implementation and outcomes.

Temperature and ST-segment morphology remote monitoring: new perspectives for implantable cardiac monitors in Brugada syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) face an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Implantable cardiac monitors (ICMs) have emerged as effective tools for detecting arrhythmias in BrS. Technological advancements, including temperature sensors and improved subcutaneous electrocardiogram (subECG) signal quality, hold promise for further enhancing their utility in this population. METHODS AND RESULTS: We present a case of a 40-year-old man exhibiting a BrS type 2 pattern on 12-lead ECG, who underwent ICM insertion (BIOMONITOR IIIm, BIOTRONIK) due to drug-induced BrS type 1 pattern and a history of syncope, with a negative response to programmed ventricular stimulation. The device contains an integrated temperature sensor and can transmit daily vital data, such as mean heart rate and physical activity. Several months later, remote alerts indicated a temperature increase, along with transmitted subECGs suggesting a fever-induced BrS type 1 pattern. The patient was promptly advised to commence antipyretic therapy. Over the following days, remotely monitored parameters showed decreases in mean temperature, physical activity, and mean heart rate, without further recurrence of abnormal subECGs. CONCLUSION: ICMs offer valuable insights beyond arrhythmia detection in BrS. Early detection of fever using embedded temperature sensors may improve patient management, while continuous subECG morphological analysis has the potential to enhance risk stratification in BrS patients.

Telemedicine and Remote Management of Patients with Heart Failure: From Theory to Daily Practice.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is responsible for a high number of hospitalizations, caused by a progressive worsening quality of life. Telemedicine allows for better management of patients' complex conditions, improving the care released. However, the risk of remaining at a testing stage often limits the integration of remote care in daily pathways for HF patients. The aim of this study is to outline the steps needed to integrate telemedicine activities into ordinary HF clinic practices. This methodology is applied to observe activities and trend improvements over a 12-month routine phase. Method: Three steps have been defined for an efficient introduction of remote care services in ordinary activities, integrating them with traditional in-person care: (i) introduction of temporary telemedicine projects, (ii) systematization of telemedicine pathways, and (iii) evaluation of monitoring phase. Observational data have been collected from structured interviews to show the rate of telemedicine activities achieved in clinical practice over the last year. Results: The methodology has been proposed in the HF clinic of the Italian hospital ASST Bergamo Est. After an initial testing phase, in which usability and user experience have been tested, four different remote activities were added: (i) telemonitoring for patients with an implantable device, (ii) follow-up televisits, (iii) nursing telephone support, and (iv) high-intensity telesurveillance pathways for patients after an HF acute event. During the last year, 218 telemonitoring pathways, 75 televisits, 500 telephone calls, and nine telesurveillance pathways have been performed. Success rates were high, and patients gave positive feedback. Conclusion: By integrating multiple telemedicine activities, it has been possible to better manage complex patients, keep track of disease progression, and improve their participation in care.

Evaluating the effectiveness of Mangrove rehabilitation: A novel approach for sustainable coastal management.

We used UAV-LiDAR technology and other advanced remote sensing techniques to evaluate mangrove rehabilitation projects along the eroding shoreline of the Upper Gulf of Thailand. Our results delineate the necessary biophysical conditions for successfully rehabilitating mangroves, establishing optimal conditions under which mangroves can naturally re-establish and thrive. Furthermore, we investigated the effectiveness of different coastal defense structures in fostering mangrove recolonization. Our analysis shows that nearshore breakwaters markedly outperform submerged breakwaters and bamboo fences, with a success rate of over 65% by significantly reducing wave energy that aids sediment trapping. These findings suggest that refinements in the configuration of coastal structures, including the elevation of breakwater crests and selective deployment of bamboo fences, will enhance mangrove rehabilitation success. These insights affirm the role of UAV-LiDAR surveys for optimizing mangrove restoration initiatives, thereby facilitating sustainable development for coastlines plagued by erosion. The insights gleaned offer a blueprint for bolstering the success rate of mangrove rehabilitation projects, directing them toward sustainable coastal development.

Monitoring landfill volatile organic compounds emissions by an uncrewed aerial vehicle platform with infrared and visible-light cameras, remote monitoring, and sampling systems.

An uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) platform equipped with dual imaging cameras, a gas sampling system, and a remote synchronous monitoring system was developed to sample and analyze volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from landfills. The remote synchronous monitoring system provided real-time video to administrators with specific permissions to assist in identifying sampling sites within extensive landfill areas. The sampling system included four kits capable of collecting samples from different locations during a single flight mission. Each kit comprised a 1 L Tedlar bag for measuring landfill VOC concentrations according to the TO-15 method prescribed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The air sample was introduced into a Tedlar bag via pumping. A known volume of the sample was subsequently concentrated using a solid multisorbent concentrator. Following this, the sample underwent cold trap concentration and thermal desorption. The concentrated sample was then transferred to a chromatography-mass spectrometry system for separation and analysis. Since the anaerobic catabolism of organic waste is exothermic and emits VOCs, this study employed UAV thermal imaging to locate principal emission sources for sampling. Visible-light imaging helped identify newer or older landfill sections, aiding in the selection of appropriate sampling sites, particularly when surfaces were thermally disturbed by solar radiation. Field measurements were conducted under three meteorological conditions: sunny morning, cirrus morning, and thin cloud evening (2 h after sunset), identifying 119, 122, and 111 chemical species respectively. The sequence of total VOC concentrations measured correlated with the meteorological conditions as follows: cirrus morning > thin cloud evening > sunny morning. The results indicated that ambient temperature and global solar radiation significantly influenced daytime gas emissions from landfills. Evening thermal images, unaffected by solar heating, facilitated more accurate identification of major VOC emission points, resulting in higher VOC concentrations compared to those recorded in the sunny morning. VOCs from the landfill were categorized into nine organic groups: alkanes, alkenes, carbonyls, aromatics, alcohols, esters, ethers, organic oxides, and others. The classification was based on carbon-containing compounds (Cn, where the compound contains n carbon atoms). Alkanes were predominant in terms of Cn presence, followed by alcohols and carbonyls. Among the organic groups, organic oxides, particularly 2-heptyl-1,3-dioxolane, exhibited the highest concentrations, succeeded by alkenes. Sampling under cloudy conditions or in the evening is recommended to minimize the effects of surface temperature anomalies caused by solar radiation, which vary due to differences in land composition.

Too much ado about data: Continuous remote monitoring of water temperatures, circulation and throughput can assist in the reduction of hospital-associated waterborne infections.

BACKGROUND: National and international guidance provides advice on maintenance and management of water systems in healthcare buildings, however, healthcare-associated waterborne infections (HAWI) are increasing. This narrative review identifies parameters critical to water quality in healthcare buildings and assesses if remote sensor monitoring can deliver safe water systems thus reducing HAWI. METHOD: A narrative review was performed using the following search terms 1) consistent water temperature AND waterborne pathogen control OR nosocomial infection 2) water throughput AND waterborne pathogen control OR nosocomial infection 3) remote monitoring of in-premise water systems AND continuous surveillance for temperature OR throughput OR flow OR use. Databases employed were PubMed, CDSR (Clinical Study Data Request) and DARE (Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects) from Jan 2013 - Mar 2024. FINDINGS: Single ensuite-patient rooms, expansion of wash-hand basins, widespread glove use, alcohol gel and wipes have increased water system stagnancy resulting in amplification of waterborne pathogens and transmission risk of Legionella, Pseudomonas and Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria. Manual monitoring does not represent temperatures across large complex water systems. This review deems that multiple point continuous remote sensor monitoring is effective at identifying redundant and low use outlets, hydraulic imbalance and inconsistent temperature delivery across in-premise water systems. CONCLUSION: As remote monitoring becomes more common there will be greater recognition of failures in temperature control, hydraulics and balancing in water systems and there remains much to learn as we adopt this developing technology within our hospitals.

Applications of teleneuropsychology to the screening and monitoring of epilepsy.

Epilepsy is an inherently dynamic disease and neuropsychology plays a key role in the formulation, monitoring and management of the condition. Teleneuropsychology provides an opportunity for neuropsychology to increase its accessibility, reach and efficiency, using focussed assessments to target epilepsy relevant domains at critical timepoints in the disease trajectory. Neuropsychologists working with epilepsy have, however, been comparatively slow to adopt telehealth methods. Here we review recent developments in teleneuropsychology, with particular reference to applications and considerations in Late Onset Epilepsy. Three different approaches to remote assessment of cognition are discussed: unsupervised, computer-administered assessments; telephone-based assessments; and videoconference-based assessments. Uptake of unsupervised, computer-administered (browser or app-based) assessments has been strongest in aging research, where there is now evidence of feasibility, reliability, and validity, especially for measures of speed and working memory. Telephone-based assessments are well established in older aged cohorts and have recently been applied in epilepsy. Such assessments are widely accessible from a technology perspective, though reliance on a purely oral medium limits cognitive domain coverage. Videoconference based assessments have partially addressed this limitation, though continue to rely largely upon finding ways to administer legacy materials via the medium rather than intrinsically exploiting the technology. We argue that the future of neuropsychology requires development of integrated videoconference-based, computer-assisted cognitive testing, combining the benefits of computerised assessments with the advantages of human led assessments. Such an approach will be applicable across neuropsychological conditions, from childhood through to older adults.

Remotely sensed crown nutrient concentrations modulate forest reproduction across the contiguous United States.

Global forests are increasingly lost to climate change, disturbance, and human management. Evaluating forests' capacities to regenerate and colonize new habitats has to start with the seed production of individual trees and how it depends on nutrient access. Studies on the linkage between reproduction and foliar nutrients are limited to a few locations and few species, due to the large investment needed for field measurements on both variables. We synthesized tree fecundity estimates from the Masting Inference and Forecasting (MASTIF) network with foliar nutrient concentrations from hyperspectral remote sensing at the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) across the contiguous United States. We evaluated the relationships between seed production and foliar nutrients for 56,544 tree-years from 26 species at individual and community scales. We found a prevalent association between high foliar phosphorous (P) concentration and low individual seed production (ISP) across the continent. Within-species coefficients to nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) are related to species differences in nutrient demand, with distinct biogeographic patterns. Community seed production (CSP) decreased four orders of magnitude from the lowest to the highest foliar P. This first continental-scale study sheds light on the relationship between seed production and foliar nutrients, highlighting the potential of using combined Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) and hyperspectral remote sensing to evaluate forest regeneration. The fact that both ISP and CSP decline in the presence of high foliar P levels has immediate application in improving forest demographic and regeneration models by providing more realistic nutrient effects at multiple scales.

Environmental impacts of shifts in surface urban heat island, emissions, and nighttime light during the Russia-Ukraine war in Ukrainian cities.

As recent geopolitical conflicts and climate change escalate, the effects of war on the atmosphere remain uncertain, in particular in the context of the recent large-scale war between Russia and Ukraine. We use satellite remote sensing techniques to establish the effects that reduced human activities in urban centers of Ukraine (Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Mariupol) have on Land Surface Temperatures (LST), Urban Heat Islands (UHI), emissions, and nighttime light. A variety of climate indicators, such as hot spots, changes in the intensity and area of the UHI, and changes in LST thresholds during 2022, are differentiated with pre-war conditions as a reference period (i.e., 2012-2022). Findings show that nighttime hot spots in 2022 for all three cities cover a smaller area than during the reference period, with a maximum decrease of 3.9% recorded for Donetsk. The largest areal decrease of nighttime UHI is recorded for Kharkiv (- 12.86%). Our results for air quality changes show a significant decrease in carbon monoxide (- 2.7%, based on the average for the three cities investigated) and an increase in Absorbing Aerosol Index (27.2%, based on the average for the three cities investigated) during the war (2022), compared to the years before the war (2019-2021). The 27.2% reduction in nighttime urban light during the first year of the war, compared to the years before the war, provides another measure of conflict-impact in the socio-economic urban environment. This study demonstrates the innovative application of satellite remote sensing to provide unique insights into the local-scale atmospheric consequences of human-related disasters, such as war. The use of high-resolution satellite data allows for the detection of subtle changes in urban climates and air quality, which are crucial for understanding the broader environmental impacts of geopolitical conflicts. Our approach not only enhances the understanding of war-related impacts on urban environments but also underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and assessment to inform policy and mitigation strategies.