Benchmarking and monitoring of urban design and transport features is crucial to achieving local and international health and sustainability goals. However, most urban indicator frameworks use coarse spatial scales that either only allow between-city comparisons, or require expensive, technical, local spatial analyses for within-city comparisons. This study developed a reusable, open-source urban indicator computational framework using open data to enable consistent local and global comparative analyses. We show this framework by calculating spatial indicators-for 25 diverse cities in 19 countries-of urban design and transport features that support health and sustainability. We link these indicators to cities' policy contexts, and identify populations living above and below critical thresholds for physical activity through walking. Efforts to broaden participation in crowdsourcing data and to calculate globally consistent indicators are essential for planning evidence-informed urban interventions, monitoring policy effects, and learning lessons from peer cities to achieve health, equity, and sustainability goals.

• MeSH
• Global Health * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Spatial Analysis MeSH
• Software MeSH
• Cities MeSH
• Health Status * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. MeSH
• Geographicals
• Cities MeSH

The author discusses the beginning of the systematic collection of data on nationalities and linguistic groups in Czechoslovakia during the eighteenth century. The collection of this type of data was a result of two factors: the need for topographic data by secular and ecclesiastic authorities and the general growth of scientific research. The different types of data collected are also examined. Topographic materials generally dealt with the ethnicity of individual places, while scientific studies focused on global data on nationalities.

• Keywords
• Communication, Cultural Background, Czechoslovakia, Data Collection *, Demographic Factors, Developed Countries, Eastern Europe, Ethnic Groups *, Europe, Geographic Factors, Historical Survey *, Language *, Population, Population Characteristics, Research Methodology,
• MeSH
• Demography MeSH
• Ethnicity * MeSH
• Language * MeSH
• Communication MeSH
• Culture MeSH
• Population MeSH
• Population Characteristics MeSH
• Data Collection * MeSH
• Developed Countries MeSH
• Research MeSH
• Geography MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czechoslovakia MeSH
• Europe MeSH
• Europe, Eastern MeSH

Understanding animal movement is essential to elucidate how animals interact, survive, and thrive in a changing world. Recent technological advances in data collection and management have transformed our understanding of animal "movement ecology" (the integrated study of organismal movement), creating a big-data discipline that benefits from rapid, cost-effective generation of large amounts of data on movements of animals in the wild. These high-throughput wildlife tracking systems now allow more thorough investigation of variation among individuals and species across space and time, the nature of biological interactions, and behavioral responses to the environment. Movement ecology is rapidly expanding scientific frontiers through large interdisciplinary and collaborative frameworks, providing improved opportunities for conservation and insights into the movements of wild animals, and their causes and consequences.

• MeSH
• Big Data * MeSH
• Spatio-Temporal Analysis MeSH
• Behavior, Animal * MeSH
• Animals, Wild physiology   MeSH
• Ecology * MeSH
• Ecosystem MeSH
• Animal Migration MeSH
• Movement * MeSH
• Data Collection MeSH
• Environment * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH

Spatial conservation prioritization (SCP) is a planning framework used to identify new conservation areas on the basis of the spatial distribution of species, ecosystems, and their services to human societies. The ongoing accumulation of intraspecific genetic data on a variety of species offers a way to gain knowledge of intraspecific genetic diversity and to estimate several population characteristics useful in conservation, such as dispersal and population size. Here, we review how intraspecific genetic data have been integrated into SCP and highlight their potential for identifying conservation area networks that represent intraspecific genetic diversity comprehensively and that ensure the long-term persistence of biodiversity in the face of global change.

• Keywords
• adaptive genetic diversity, biodiversity features, evolutionarily significant units, reserve design, systematic conservation planning,
• MeSH
• Biodiversity MeSH
• Ecosystem * MeSH
• Population Density MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Conservation of Natural Resources * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

• Keywords
• Czechoslovakia, Demographic Factors, Developed Countries, Eastern Europe, Europe, Government Publication *, Population, Population Dynamics, Population Growth--changes *, Population Statistics *, Research Methodology, Sampling Studies, Studies, Surveys *,
• MeSH
• Demography MeSH
• Population MeSH
• Population Characteristics * MeSH
• Population Dynamics MeSH
• Population Growth * MeSH
• Data Collection * MeSH
• Government Publications as Topic * MeSH
• Developed Countries MeSH
• Research MeSH
• Sampling Studies MeSH
• Publication type
• English Abstract MeSH
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czechoslovakia MeSH
• Europe MeSH
• Europe, Eastern MeSH

Animals are faced with a range of ecological constraints that shape their behavioural decisions. Habitat features that affect resource abundance will also have an impact, especially as regards spatial distribution, which will in turn affect associations between the animals. Here we utilised a network approach, using spatial and genetic data, to describe patterns in use of space (foraging sites) by free-ranging Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) at the Dakhla Oasis in Egypt. We observed a decrease in home range size during spring, when food availability was lowest, which was reflected by differences in space sharing networks. Our data showed that when food was abundant, space sharing networks were less connected and more related individuals shared more foraging sites. In comparison, when food was scarce the bats had few possibilities to decide where and with whom to forage. Overall, both networks had high mean degree, suggesting communal knowledge of predictable food distribution.

• MeSH
• Chiroptera physiology   MeSH
• Ecosystem MeSH
• Animal Communication * MeSH
• Spatial Analysis MeSH
• Seasons MeSH
• Animal Distribution physiology   MeSH
• Information Dissemination MeSH
• Feeding Behavior physiology   MeSH
• Food Supply statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Egypt MeSH

In 2011 and 2012, the COPHES/DEMOCOPHES twin projects performed the first ever harmonized human biomonitoring survey in 17 European countries. In more than 1800 mother-child pairs, individual lifestyle data were collected and cadmium, cotinine and certain phthalate metabolites were measured in urine. Total mercury was determined in hair samples. While the main goal of the COPHES/DEMOCOPHES twin projects was to develop and test harmonized protocols and procedures, the goal of the current paper is to investigate whether the observed differences in biomarker values among the countries implementing DEMOCOPHES can be interpreted using information from external databases on environmental quality and lifestyle. In general, 13 countries having implemented DEMOCOPHES provided high-quality data from external sources that were relevant for interpretation purposes. However, some data were not available for reporting or were not in line with predefined specifications. Therefore, only part of the external information could be included in the statistical analyses. Nonetheless, there was a highly significant correlation between national levels of fish consumption and mercury in hair, the strength of antismoking legislation was significantly related to urinary cotinine levels, and we were able to show indications that also urinary cadmium levels were associated with environmental quality and food quality. These results again show the potential of biomonitoring data to provide added value for (the evaluation of) evidence-informed policy making.

• Keywords
• COPHES, DEMOCOPHES, External exposure data, Human biomonitoring, Interpretation,
• MeSH
• Biomarkers analysis   urine   MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Data Interpretation, Statistical MeSH
• Cadmium analysis   urine   MeSH
• Cotinine urine   MeSH
• Smoking legislation & jurisprudence   urine   MeSH
• Environmental Pollutants analysis   urine   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Urban Population statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring methods   statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Seafood statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Surveys and Questionnaires standards   MeSH
• Mercury analysis   urine   MeSH
• Rural Population statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Government Regulation MeSH
• Hair chemistry   MeSH
• Environmental Exposure analysis   statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Europe MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Biomarkers MeSH
• Cadmium MeSH
• Cotinine MeSH
• Environmental Pollutants MeSH
• Mercury MeSH

The bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia has been used to control insect pests owing to its ability to manipulate their life history and suppress infectious diseases. Therefore, knowledge on Wolbachia dynamics in natural populations is fundamental. The European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi, is infected with the Wolbachia strain wCer2, mainly present in southern and central European populations, and is currently spreading into wCer2-uninfected populations driven by high unidirectional cytoplasmic incompatibility. Here, we describe the distribution of wCer2 along two transition zones where the infection is spreading into wCer2-uninfected R. cerasi populations. Fine-scale sampling of 19 populations in the Czech Republic showed a smooth decrease of wCer2 frequency from south to north within a distance of less than 20 km. Sampling of 12 Hungarian populations, however, showed a sharp decline of wCer2 infection frequency within a few kilometres. We fitted a standard wave equation to our empirical data and estimated a Wolbachia wave speed of 1.9 km yr-1 in the Czech Republic and 1.0 km yr-1 in Hungary. Considering the univoltine life cycle and limited dispersal ability of R. cerasi, our study highlights a rapid Wolbachia spread in natural host populations.

• Keywords
• European cherry fruit fly, cytoplasmic incompatibility, endosymbiont, modelling,
• MeSH
• Spatial Analysis * MeSH
• Tephritidae microbiology   MeSH
• Wolbachia physiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Hungary MeSH

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between alcohol-related mortality in Slovak regions, as represented by Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) III level. METHODS: We used data from mortality reports spanning 1996-2017 in the Slovak Republic. Data was provided by the National Health Information Centre in Slovakia. We applied two-dimensional correspondence analysis where the dimensions are regions and selected alcohol-related deaths diagnoses are classified by the International Classification of Diseases. RESULTS: Analysis revealed a relationship between the Prešov region and diagnoses I42 - Cardiomyopathy and K29 - Alcoholic gastritis. Furthermore, the Banská Bystrica and Žilina regions correspond to G31 - Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol and K86 - Alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis. In the case of K70 - Alcoholic liver disease - the Banská Bystrica, Trenčín and Nitra regions are identified as regions which have an intermediate relationship with this diagnosis. The Trnava region corresponds to F10 - Acute alcohol intoxication. The Trenčín and Nitra regions correspond closely to G62 - Alcoholic polyneuropathy. Perfect correspondence can be seen between the Košice region and K73 - Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified. K74 - Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver diagnosis also corresponds with the Košice region. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this analysis provide valuable insights for national and regional health policymakers in the process of preparing high-quality health regional plans, as well as retrospectively assessing the success of existing health policies and interventions in this area. Facts presented in the study justify the need for specialised health care, which is part of the process of building an Integrated Health Care Centre in Slovakia.

• Keywords
• Slovakia, alcohol-related deaths, correspondence analysis, region,
• MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mortality trends   MeSH
• Alcohol-Related Disorders mortality   MeSH
• Spatial Analysis MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Slovakia epidemiology   MeSH

Wavelet transformation is one of the most frequent procedures for data denoising, smoothing, decomposition, features extraction, and further related tasks. In order to perform such tasks, we need to select appropriate wavelet settings, including particular wavelet, decomposition level and other parameters, which form the wavelet transformation outputs. Selection of such parameters is a challenging area due to absence of versatile recommendation tools for suitable wavelet settings. In this paper, we propose a versatile recommendation system for prediction of suitable wavelet selection for data smoothing. The proposed system is aimed to generate spatial response matrix for selected wavelets and the decomposition levels. Such response enables the mapping of selected evaluation parameters, determining the efficacy of wavelet settings. The proposed system also enables tracking the dynamical noise influence in the context of Wavelet efficacy by using volumetric response. We provide testing on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) image data and EMG signals mostly of musculoskeletal system to objectivise system usability for clinical data processing. The experimental testing is done by using evaluation parameters such is MSE (Mean Squared Error), ED (Euclidean distance) and Corr (Correlation index). We also provide the statistical analysis of the results based on Mann-Whitney test, which points out on statistically significant differences for individual Wavelets for the data corrupted with Salt and Pepper and Gaussian noise.

• Keywords
• Coiflet wavelet, Daubechies wavelet, Symlet wavelet, spatial and volumetric modeling, wavelet transformation,
• MeSH
• Algorithms * MeSH
• Electromyography * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging * MeSH
• Normal Distribution MeSH
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed * MeSH
• Wavelet Analysis * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH