Search Results (850)

The Oriental Magpie Pica serica invaded Hokkaido, Japan, in the 1980s, but little is known about its current population status or potential for further range expansion. Here, we compile records on the distribution of magpies from 2012 to 2016 and estimate potential suitable habitats. Field surveys and citizen science reports revealed that breeding and individual birds occurred in 28 municipalities located in western Hokkaido. Although dozens or more birds have become established in three of these municipalities on the Pacific coast, populations in the other 25 appear not self-sustaining. Suitable habitats for magpies were almost exclusively limited to urban residential areas, presumably due to the availability of anthropogenic food resources. While these apparently suitable habitats occur throughout Hokkaido Island, no sightings have been recorded in eastern Hokkaido, suggesting that magpies have not crossed the forest area that runs north–south through the central part of the island. Suitable habitats, estimated based on the habitat selection by the largest population in Tomakomai, are concentrated near the centers of each municipality, separated by agricultural land, which may have slowed down the range expansion of the magpie through the Allee effect. The island-like fragmentation of suitable habitats is advantageous for comparative studies of magpie populations, food resources, predators, and competitors. Furthermore, the magpie has a distinctive black-and-white coloration and a unique, loud call, making it well-suited for citizen science surveys. Continuous monitoring of Hokkaido’s magpie population by experts and citizens will provide excellent opportunities to ask ecological questions involving bird distributions and the establishment of invasive species. Full article

Microseisms, as the most energetic component of the Earth’s background noise field, represent a forefront area of research where precise location of their sources is paramount. This study systematically investigates the spatiotemporal characteristics of 50 mHz Rayleigh wave microseisms using the dense Shandong array deployed in eastern China, through beamforming and a multi-array combined analysis. The results reveal that the incident direction of the Rayleigh waves exhibits distinct temporal and seasonal variations, primarily originating from four back-azimuth sectors. To further constrain the source regions, we integrate background noise data from the Alaska array and the Venezuela array (supplemented by the Indonesia array). The multi-array product back-projection, by cross-constraining back-azimuths from geographically separated arrays, mitigates the inherent ambiguity of single-array analyses and enables robust global source localization. This approach not only improves the reliability of source attribution but also demonstrates the potential of using microseismic noise as a passive tool for monitoring ocean wave activity and investigating solid-Earth structure. The combined analysis identifies four microseism source regions (M1–M4): the Bering Sea–Gulf of Alaska–Aleutian Islands, the central South Pacific, the southwestern Indian Ocean off southern Africa, and the northeastern North Atlantic–Northern Europe. These source regions fundamentally correspond to areas of elevated significant wave height, confirming the coupled ocean–solid Earth excitation mechanism. These findings provide a methodological basis for future applications of multi-array microseismic monitoring in ocean-climate studies and seismic imaging. Full article

This study examines how mothers raising children with disabilities in American Samoa experience the processes of seeking diagnosis, navigating special education, and advocating for services within an insular rural context. American Samoa, an unincorporated U.S. territory located 2600 miles from Hawaiʻi with a population under 50,000, represents a case of what we term insular rurality—a condition in which the structural disadvantages of rurality are intensified by oceanic isolation, territorial governance, and colonial history. Data were collected through three focus groups with fifteen mothers whose children hold a range of disability diagnoses, with a card sort activity at the outset of each session serving as an idiographic anchor to protect individual voice within the group format. Analysis followed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis adapted for focus groups (IPA-FG), proceeding from line-by-line exploratory noting through Personal Experiential Themes and Group Experiential Themes within each focus group case to cross-case convergence and divergence analysis, interpreted through the Fonofale model of Pacific wellness. Findings reveal two overarching themes: systemic invalidation, in which mothers encountered deficit-based assumptions, stagnant educational goals, and institutional disengagement; and parent peer support as the primary infrastructure, in which mothers became de facto experts, built community-driven solutions, and envisioned more inclusive futures. Technology emerged as a contradictory force—valuable for parent learning but largely ineffective for children’s remote therapy. These findings suggest how workforce shortages and geographic isolation create conditions in which maternal advocacy becomes a systems-level necessity rather than a personal choice. Implications for rural education policy, IDEA implementation in U.S. territories, and culturally grounded family support are discussed. Full article

Background: Prostate cancer remains one of the most prevalent malignancies and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men in the United States, with more than 300,000 new cases diagnosed annually. As the burden of disease continues to rise, ensuring equitable access to effective treatment remains a critical public health priority. Unequal access to definitive surgical management among disadvantaged populations may contribute to preventable morbidity and mortality. Radical prostatectomy is a cornerstone treatment for localized disease; however, its utilization has evolved over time in response to changing screening guidelines, technological advancements, and shifting treatment paradigms. Despite these developments, disparities in access to surgical management persist. Methods: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we conducted a retrospective cohort study evaluating factors associated with radical prostatectomy utilization among 917,194 men with localized or regional prostate cancer diagnosed between 2004 and 2022. Multivariable logistic regression assessed demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical predictors of surgical treatment. Results: Overall, 33.5% of patients underwent radical prostatectomy. Increasing age was strongly associated with lower odds of surgery (OR 0.904 per year, 95% CI 0.903–0.904, p < 0.001), while married patients were significantly more likely to undergo prostatectomy (OR 1.601, 95% CI 1.554–1.649, p < 0.001). Black patients had markedly lower odds of surgery compared with White patients (OR 0.547, 95% CI 0.539–0.555, p < 0.001), whereas Asian/Pacific Islander patients had slightly higher odds (OR 1.082, p < 0.001). More recent year of diagnosis and increasing income were associated with modest reductions in prostatectomy utilization. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that treatment selection in prostate cancer is influenced not only by disease characteristics but also by sociodemographic factors, highlighting persistent disparities in access to definitive surgical care and the need for targeted interventions to improve equity in treatment delivery. Full article

Developing countries in which infrastructure development is heavily dependent on overseas development aid face significant sustainability challenges, including financing gaps and inadequate maintenance. Increasing private-sector investment is crucial for addressing these challenges. This paper proposes an innovative framework linking environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles with a revised joint credit mechanism (JCM) to attract private investment in infrastructure development, particularly in Pacific Island countries facing the climate crisis. Under the revised JCM, by allocating generated carbon credits to participating Japanese companies, rather than the Japanese government, corporations can monetise credits through market transactions, creating compelling economic incentives for private-sector engagement. In ESG-advanced markets, credits serve as strategic instruments for corporate value enhancement beyond revenue generation, while corporations require continuous credit acquisition to sustain investor confidence. Our revised framework provides a sustainable solution to both financing gaps and infrastructure maintenance challenges. Our analysis demonstrates that integrating market dynamics and corporate incentives into bilateral climate mechanisms holds substantial potential for mobilising private capital for sustainable climate infrastructure finance. This approach represents a promising departure from traditional donor-dependent models, effectively aligning corporate interests with sustainable development objectives while advancing national emission reduction commitments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Despite the potential use of social media for health promotion and education among Pacific communities, there is a lack of understanding regarding how it is used and how interventions can best utilize it. This scoping review aims to explore how social media is used for health purposes within Pacific communities and the potential benefits, challenges and opportunities. Methods: This review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) extension for scoping reviews. Databases and grey literature sources were searched for health-related primary research studies that focused on Pacific communities and included social media. Thematic analysis was used to synthesize the included studies and create codes that reflected the text. Results: A total of 37 studies were included, with most mentioning social media as a key finding (35%), while others approached social media as a recruitment strategy (30%), research topic (22%), intervention tool (14%) or recommendation for use in future approaches (11%). The benefits of social media mentioned in health-related studies for Pacific people include access to health information and services and providing a safe and familiar space. Challenges and risks included misinformation, lack of digital literacy, a disconnect with Pacific cultural norms and the negative impacts of prolonged time on social media. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the potential of culturally grounded social media approaches for health promotion among Pacific communities. To support health promotion in the modern world, there are clear opportunities for developing digital literacy, preserving cultural knowledge, identifying trusted voices to disseminate health knowledge and ensuring social media approaches are evaluated for impact and effectiveness. Full article

Background/Objectives: Secondary malignant neoplasms of the bone are a major concern for cancer patients, with significant morbidity and mortality despite advancements in cancer care. The current literature reports demographic variability, but population-level trends and survivor-specific risk factors remain poorly characterized for bone metastasis. This study aims to provide a comprehensive temporal analysis of the trends and disparities of secondary malignant neoplasms of the bone. Methods: Deidentified death certificate data from the United States as reported in the CDC WONDER database (1999–2023) were analyzed for secondary malignant bone neoplasms (ICD-10 C79.5). Age-adjusted mortality rates per 100,000 were calculated and stratified by gender, age, and race. Temporal trends were assessed using Joinpoint Regression, yielding APCs, AAPCs, and 95% CIs. Results: Between 1999 and 2023, there were 424,811 deaths in U.S. adults over the age of 25 years related to secondary malignant bone neoplasms. The overall age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) increased from 5.77 (95% CI 5.67 to 5.87) in 1999 to 11.92 (95% CI 11.79 to 12.05) in 2023. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) over this period was 3.28 (95% CI 2.63 to 3.94). From 1999 to 2009, mortality decreased with an annual percentage change (APC) in AAMR of −3.62 (95% CI −4.92 to −2.30), followed by a sharp increase in mortality between 2009 and 2023 with an APC of 8.52 (95% CI 7.83 to 9.19). Certain populations had greater increases in AAMR over the study period. The population aged 85 years and older had the largest increase in mortality from secondary malignant bone neoplasms with an AAPC of 4.77 (95% CI 3.38 to 4.77). Over the study period, Black individuals had an overall AAPC of 1.53 (95% CI 0.11 to 2.97), White individuals had an AAPC of 2.60 (95% CI 1.61 to 3.60), and Asian or Pacific Islanders had an AAPC of 3.74 (95% CI 1.17 to 6.38). Rural areas had overall higher AAMRs compared to urban areas, with an AAPC of 2.27 (95% CI 1.52 to 3.02). Conclusions: Overall, AAMR increased from 1999 to 2023, though there was a period of decreasing AAMR from 1999 to 2009. We suggest that due to increased rates of screening, it is possible that rates of secondary metastases of the bone have been constant over the years, but they were not diagnosed, leading to a false increase in AAMR. Mortality rates were highest in Black individuals in our study, possibly pointing towards discrepancies in cancer screening and treatment between races. Additionally, the AAMR was higher in rural than in urban areas, which we hypothesize may be due to limited access to treatment, such as surgery. Our study was limited by its nature as a database study, but future studies should focus on the prevention of primary malignancies and minimizing risk factors for the development of secondary malignancies. Full article

This study investigates the ionospheric response in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres over the period from 25 December 2024 to 7 January 2025. A major geomagnetic storm occurred on 1 January 2025, following the consecutive solar wind eruptions on 29–31 December 2024 and 1 January 2025. Global geomagnetic activity monitoring data showed that the Kp index surged to 8+, indicating the occurrence of this major geomagnetic storm. By analyzing the ionosonde, GNSS-TEC, and satellite in situ detection data from Learmonth, Australia (−21.8° N, 114.1° E), as well as Wake Island (19.29° N, 166.65° E), we found that the ionospheric anomalies in the two regions exhibited different patterns. The ionospheric parameters in Learmonth changed much more severely than those in Wake Island in the Pacific region. Relative to normal conditions, the disturbed ionosphere over Learmonth during 1–3 January 2025 exhibited a strong negative storm phase: f_oF₂ decreased by 31.4%, TEC dropped by 27.17%, and M3000F₂ declined by 41.2%, while h_mF₂ increased by 5.2%. This work provides an analysis of the differences in the ionosphere between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres affected by geomagnetic storms in late 2024. These findings highlight the need to incorporate hemispheric asymmetry into ionospheric dynamics models. Full article

Even with the rise in concern over suicide and drug overdose mortality in the United States, gaps in research on at-risk populations still exist. The purpose of this study was to investigate disparities in suicide and drug overdose mortality risk among Washington State workers. Using 2014–2023 Washington State death records and American Community Survey (ACS) data, we calculated rates of suicide and drug overdose mortality by usual industry and occupation while adjusting for age and stratifying by sex and race/ethnicity. We compared the mortality risk among workers in specific industries and occupations to all workers within the same sex and race/ethnicity strata to understand how work differentially affects risk. Working in Construction & Extraction occupations was associated with an increased risk for suicide and drug overdose death for males across all race/ethnicity categories and for drug overdose death among White females. The suicide risk for Asian/Pacific Islander males had the largest increase—Asian/Pacific Islander males working in Construction & Extraction occupations had a rate 4.59 times higher than all Asian/Pacific Islander male workers. The Education, Training, & Library occupation group had significantly lower crude rates and rate ratios. Although the causal pathways that may lead someone to die by suicide or drug overdose are complex, understanding risk profiles among different industries and occupations may lead to more appropriate prevention strategies. Full article

Despite accounting for less than 0.03% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) face existential threats to their environment, livelihoods, and regional stability due to their heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels and disproportionate climate vulnerability. To address this “Justice Paradox,” this study utilises a Nexus Mapping framework to qualitatively synthesise the non-linear causal pathways between climate stressors and energy system vulnerabilities. Through an integrative thematic synthesis of literature and regional policy documents, the research identifies systemic bottlenecks, including the “fiscal trap” of post-disaster reconstruction, the “demand-utility paradox” of rising temperatures, and the logistical premiums of archipelagic energy distribution. The analysis suggests that energy decarbonisation represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen climate security across four dimensions: human, national, international, and ecological. To facilitate a secure transition, the study proposes a comprehensive “policy mix” of regulatory standards (sticks), economic de-risking through mechanisms such as Sovereign Green Bonds (carrots), and the institutionalisation of local technical sovereignty (sermons). This research offers an interpretive analytical framework for Pacific policymakers, arguing that decentralised, modular renewables may serve as a strategic shield against climatic instability and support the preservation of regional statehood. Full article

Background and Objectives: New Caledonia, an archipelago in the South Pacific, experienced an unprecedented conjunction of prolonged border closure during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 to 2022) and marked influence of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This context provided a unique opportunity to explore how environmental drivers, island isolation, and socio-demographic factors interact to shape infectious disease dynamics. This study aimed to assess the respective and combined effects of climatic variability, travel restrictions, and socio-demographic factors on the dynamics of four priority infectious diseases. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from 2017 to 2023 on four infectious diseases: leptospirosis, dengue, influenza, and hepatitis A (HAV). Satellite precipitation data and the Multivariate El Niño/Southern Oscillation Index (MEI) were used. Socio-demographic and economic variables were gathered. Statistical analyses employed descriptive analysis and Generalized Additive Mixed Models to evaluate the associations between climatic events, travel restrictions, and disease circulation using the communal level as a random effect and time (daily) as a spline effect. Results: We analysed 878 cases of leptospirosis, 165 of HAV, 6607 of influenza, and 7377 dengue cases. Influenza was associated with rainfall before lockdown (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.7, Confidence interval 95%, (CI95%), (0.6–0.8)) and disappeared during lockdown but resurged post-reopening losing its meteorological association. Dengue epidemics declined, coinciding with the Wolbachia program and border closure, and were associated with lower MEI (OR 0.78, CI95% (0.6–1) during the 2017 to 2020 period. HAV cases were correlated with the MEI (OR: 1.8, CI95% (1–3.3)). Leptospirosis cases were associated with cumulative rainfall (OR 1.12 (1.1–1.2)) and lower education (OR 1.04, CI95% (1–1.1)) and decreased with water supply (OR 0.7, CI95% (0.5–0.8)). Conclusions: Our findings highlight how climatic conditions, mobility restrictions, and socio-environmental inequities differentially shape infectious disease risks in island ecosystems. These results reinforce the need for integrated One Health surveillance that jointly addresses environmental change, social vulnerability, and infectious disease prevention. Full article

With the advancement of urbanization, the functions of cities continue to expand and deepen, among which the tourism function plays an increasingly important role in urban and regional economic development. To resolve the challenges in data acquisition for urban function classification and assessment, this study introduces POI data and machine learning methods to construct an employment sector distribution model. This enables the estimation of tourism-related employment data in Pacific Island countries. The tourism function of these cities is quantitatively evaluated based on two dimensions: functional scale and functional intensity. The results show that: (1) The constructed employment sector distribution model demonstrates strong predictive performance. The error rate for the total employed population in each island country is below 10%. The Bootstrap robustness test confirms that predicted values for all countries fall within the 95% confidence interval. The number of tourism employees shows a significant positive correlation with inbound tourist numbers and the count of tourism-related POIs at the 0.01 level. Empirical validation shows tourism-related sector error rates of 4.44% for Ningbo and 9.02% for Wuxi, both of which are under 10%. (2) Tourism in thirteen countries, including Samoa and Tonga, constitutes a fundamental function of the national economy, whereas in Papua New Guinea, tourism is a non-fundamental function, reflecting a lower degree of economic reliance on the tourism sector. (3) A provisional typology of tourism functions is proposed, identifying Fiji and The Cook Islands as robustly specialized, while Papua New Guinea remains characterized by stable low-specialization. The remaining 11 countries occupy transitional positions where classification is sensitive to prediction uncertainty. Subject to this caveat, the PICs are provisionally categorized into three groups: medium-to-large specialized (Fiji, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, and Samoa), small specialized (Tuvalu, Palau, Solomon Islands, and Tonga), and low-specialization (Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, and Marshall Islands). The classification results can guide these island nations in enhancing their tourism functions, fostering sound regional development, and enabling more effective participation in global governance. Full article

Coastal small-scale fishers in the Asia-Pacific region (APR) face mounting challenges from climate change (CC), with vulnerability shaped by ecological exposure, socio-economic dependence, and limited adaptive capacity. This study reflects on two contrasting cases, Taiwan and Papua New Guinea (PNG), to explore fishers’ perceptions and perspectives on CC and practical adaptation strategies. In PNG, 209 respondents from Momase, the Islands, and Southern regions participated. In Taiwan, 45 respondents from the Yunlin and Chiayi coastal regions participated. Significant correlations in coastal communities’ vulnerabilities and perceptions towards CC were revealed. Small-scale fishers perceive rising sea temperatures, shifting fish stocks, and intensifying typhoons as disruptive shocks to livelihoods and eroding traditional fishing practices. In Taiwan, despite relatively stronger infrastructure, household income, and access to technology, adaptation remains constrained by market pressures, declining youth participation, and regulatory complexities. In PNG, fishers deeply rely on natural resources and coastal ecosystems for subsistence and income, yet face acute risks from sea-level rise, coral bleaching, and unpredictable weather. With limited financial resources, weak institutional support, and geographic isolation, fishers perceive CC as an amplifying factor to existing vulnerabilities, leaving communities dependent on traditional knowledge and communal coping strategies. Fishers’ perceptions of CC are shaped by lived experiences rather than scientific discourse, influencing adaptation choices ranging from livelihood diversification to migration. Perceptions of CC drivers, their distal and proximal impacts on coastal fishing community livelihoods are viewed as siloed; yet, remote sensing data revealed that the impacts are transboundary. The findings underscore the urgent need for context-sensitive policies that integrate local knowledge, science-based data (such as remote sensing CC maps) to strengthen institutional support, and enhance resilience among vulnerable and underserved coastal small-scale fishers. Full article

Background: Prostate cancer remains a major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality among men in the United States. Differences in diagnosis and survival across racial and socioeconomic groups continue to raise concern in clinical and public health research. Population-based datasets provide an opportunity to examine patterns of advanced disease and survival outcomes across diverse demographic groups. Objective: This study evaluated racial and socioeconomic disparities in cancer-specific survival among patients with metastatic prostate cancer using a national population-based dataset. Methods: A retrospective population-based study was conducted using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Patients diagnosed with malignant prostate cancer between 2004 and 2020 with distant stage disease were included. The final analytic sample consisted of 54,062 patients. Variables included race and ethnicity, age group, metastatic sites at diagnosis, treatment variables, and median household income. Descriptive analyses compared characteristics by cancer-specific death using chi-square tests for categorical variables and t tests for continuous variables. Survival patterns were examined using Kaplan–Meier methods and log-rank tests. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios for factors associated with cancer-specific mortality. Results: Cancer-specific mortality differed across racial and socioeconomic groups. Higher mortality was observed among non-Hispanic Black patients (aHR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.31, p = 0.046) and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native patients (aHR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.20, p < 0.001) compared with non-Hispanic White patients, while Hispanic and non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander patients showed lower mortality risk. Older age groups demonstrated higher mortality. Liver, lung, and brain metastases were associated with increased risk of prostate cancer death. Patients in higher income groups showed lower mortality compared with patients in lower income groups (aHR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.80 to 0.87, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights persistent racial and socioeconomic differences in cancer-specific survival among patients with advanced prostate cancer in the United States. These findings support continued efforts to address disparities in early detection, access to care, and treatment pathways. Future research should further explore clinical and structural factors that influence survival differences across population groups. Full article

Background: Delivering comprehensive cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment across Hawaiʻi and the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) is constrained by geographic isolation, oncology workforce shortages, and persistent cancer inequities. Objectives: The University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, partners with community healthcare systems to address cancer health disparities. Here, we describe an implementation-focused strategy initiated in December 2024 that is designed to improve equitable access to evidence-based oncology services across the catchment area. Approach: This program description integrates publicly available demographic and health system data and presents a structured implementation framework centered on (1) workforce development and oncology training pathways; (2) a statewide clinical oncology network supported by telehealth; (3) community-engaged screening and early detection outreach; and (4) strengthening clinical research and trial infrastructure with deliberate inclusion of underserved populations. Evaluation: We outline an evaluation framework incorporating process and outcome metrics spanning workforce capacity, screening participation, timeliness of care, clinical trial enrollment, and equity indicators stratified by county, island, and population group. Conclusions: This approach offers a scalable, implementation-oriented model for developing an academic oncology ecosystem that emphasizes measurement, accountability, and equity, with potential applicability to other geographically dispersed and ethnically diverse regions. Full article