Global steel production in the first two decades of the 21st century: a period of economic fluctuations and attempts to control globalisation processes

Based on World Steel Association statistical data, this study brings together changes in the geographical pattern of global steel production in the first two decades of the 21st century and its fluctuations during economic and social crises. The analysis indicates a strong concentration of production in several countries, and among them, China has become the leader in the last two decades. Since 2017, it has produced more than half of all steel globally, and in 2019 its annual production exceeded one billion tonnes. In 2020 the largest Chinese concern, China Baowu Group, ousted ArcelorMittal from its leading position in the ranking of the world’s largest steel concerns. Such an intense concentration of steel production in one country and the strategies of internal consolidation of Chinese steel producers are a clear signal that China is taking control of the global market for this raw material, essential for many economic sectors.

Spatial inequalities of COVID-19 incidence and associated socioeconomic risk factors in Portugal

COVID-19 hit the world in a sudden and uneven way. Scientific community has provided strong evidence about socioeconomic characteristics of the territory associated with the geographical pattern of COVID-19 incidence. Still, the role played by these factors differs between study areas. Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) models were applied to explore the spatially varying association between age-standardized COVID-19 incidence rate in 2020 and socioeconomic conditions in Portugal, at the municipality level. The spatial context was defined as a function of the number of neighbours; the bandwidth was determined through AIC. Prior, the validity of the GWR was assessed through ordinary least squares models. Border proximity, proportion of overcrowded living quarters, persons employed in manufacturing establishments and persons employed in construction establishments were found to be significant predictors. It was possible to observe that municipalities are affected differently by the same factor, and that this varying influence has identifiable geographical patterns, the role of each analysed factor varies importantly across the country. This study provides useful insights for policymakers for targeted interventions and for proper identification of risk factors.

Identification of climate induced optimal rice yield and vulnerable districts rankings of the Punjab, Pakistan

The study attracted to insinuate the inhabitant anomalies of the crop yield in the districts of the Punjab where climate variation, inputs utilization, and district exponents are indispensable factors. Impact evaluation of sowing and harvesting dates for rice yield has been analyzed. Suitable sowing and harvesting dates and potential districts for the crop are proposed. Data consisting of 13,617 observations of more than 90 factors encompassing valuable dimensions of the growth of the crops collected through comprehensive surveys conducted by the Agriculture Department of Punjab are formulated to incorporate in this study. The results establish the significant negative repercussions of climate variability while the impacts vary in the districts. The crop yield deteriorates considerably by delaying the sowing and harvesting times. Districts climate-induced vulnerability ranking revealed Layyah, Jhelum, Mianwali, Khanewal and Chinniot, the most vulnerable while Kasur, Gujrat, Mandi Bhauddin, Nankana Sahib and Hafizabad, the least vulnerable districts. Spatial mapping explains the geographical pattern of vulnerabilities and yield/monetary losses. The study ranks districts using climate-induced yield and monetary loss (222.30 thousand metric tons of rice which are equal to 27.79 billion PKR climatic losses in single rice season) and recommends: the formation of district policy to abate the adverse climate impact, utilization of suitable climate variation by adhering proper sowing and harvesting times, setting the prioritized districts facing climate-induced losses for urgent attention and preferable districts for rice crop.

Exploring the Shifting Geographical Pattern of the Global Command-and-Control Function of Cities

In recent years, some cities have experienced significant growth in terms of command and control functions of cities, and thus have managed to relocate themselves to a much upscale position in the global economy. The main goal of this study is to examine the command-and-control function of cities and the impact of the relocation of corporate headquarters on a city’s command-and-control function. The study examines the changes in the revenues of companies located in selected cities and countries and measure the command-and-control function (“C&C”) of cities that well illustrates the strength of cities and countries in the global economy. To achieve our goals, we employ a composite indicator, the Command and Control Index that integrates such fundamental financial data of companies as revenues, profits, market value, and assets. In the analysis, we consider the companies that are listed by Forbes Global 2000. Our findings reinforce that the command-and-control function of the traditional centers of corporate headquarters has been lessening for a while, whereas cities located in developing countries and China in the first place have been occupying an increasing position in the global command and control. Now, we are experiencing the robust growth of Beijing’s command-and-control function index, and the decline of that index of the former leaders (i.e., New York, London, and Tokyo). We can also draw the conclusion that the migration of headquarters does not significantly impact the change of cities’ command-and-control function. In addition, when relocating the headquarters, most companies have remained within the same country and some of them have not even left the metropolitan area itself. In recent years, the number of those companies that have relocated the corporate headquarters has increased, and they have experienced increase in their revenues as well. To attract more corporate headquarters, cities has to offer an attractive environment for companies which strategy should be supported by such governmental initiatives as the reduction of corporate taxes for relocated companies.

1418Geographic disparities in temporal trends for the most prevalent cancer types in Argentina, 1996-2015

Background There are significant differences in cancer mortality burden along time and between regions, related to changes in individual and contextual conditions. We aimed to analyze the geographic pattern and temporal trend of cancer mortality in Argentina, simultaneously, by using mapping techniques. Methods Age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR, direct method) and average annual percent change (APC, joinpoint regression method) in 1996-2015 were estimated for breast, lung, prostate, colon, cervix, stomach and total cancer in Argentina. Mortality maps were constructed (provincial level, n = 24) for the 2013-2015 period, overlapping temporal trend information (1996-2015), using ascending or decreasing arrows for rising (positive) or decreasing (negative) APC, respectively; the arrow size was proportional to the APC magnitude. Results Both sexes show a similar geographical pattern in cancer ASMR characterized by higher rates in the central and southern Argentinian provinces, and lower rates in the northern provinces. However, men present higher rates than women (ASMRs between 85-158/100,000 deaths/year, and between 67-99/100,000, respectively). Most of tumour sites presented negative APC in most provinces, with geographical disparities on their magnitude. Nevertheless, lung cancer in women (mean APC=1.4%) and colon cancer (1.5% in men and 2.1% in women) showed increasing mortality trends. Conclusions Overall, cancer shows favorable mortality temporal trends, with heterogeneity between provinces in the APC magnitude. Maps suggest that geographical disparities may be linked to social inequalities. Key messages Geographical pattern in cancer ASMR was similar by sex, although with higher rates in men. Cancer sites show decreasing mortality trends, except female lung cancer and colon cancer.

1419Cancer mortality burden and quality of life in Argentina: geographical pattern and measures of association

Background Health outcomes are often related to the conditions in which people live. Previous studies indicated that cancer mortality is non-randomly distributed between social groups and regions in Argentina. We aimed to analyze geographical pattern of mortality due to the most prevalent cancers in Argentina (2013-2015), from a quality of life approach. Methods Age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) for specific cancer types (breast, lung, prostate, colon, cervix, stomach) was estimated by direct method (2013-2015 period). Mortality maps at a departmental scale (n = 511) were constructed by using a Getis-Ord Hot Spot spatial analysis. A Quality of Life Index (QLI, continuous score) for Argentina 2010 was used. Poisson mixed models with a random intercept were performed to estimate IRRs (relative risk) as measures of association. Results Breast, lung, and colon cancers show the most clear ASMR geographical patterns, which locate an extensive cold spot (lower and correlated rates) in the northwestern region of Argentina and a hot spot (higher and correlated rates) in the Pampeana (center-east) region . Particularly, breast and cervix cancers showed confronting mortality geographic patterns and opposite relationships with the departmental QLI (IRR 1.23 and 0.78, respectively). A direct association was found for lung (IRR 1.46/1.15 for women/men) and colon cancer (IRR 1.57/1.49 for women/men). Conclusions Results evidence geographic disparities in cancer mortality burden linked to the quality of life of populations at departmental scale in Argentina. Key messages Geographic disparities in cancer mortality are linked to the quality of life in Argentina. Mortality-QLI relationship varies according the cancer type.

Clusters of Toxoplasmosis in Ganghwa-gun, Cheorwon-gun, and Goseong-gun, Korea

We find out the clusters with high toxoplasmosis risk to discuss the geographical pattern in Gyodong-myeon and Samsan-myeon of Ganghwa-gun, Cheorwon-gun, and Goseong-gun, Korea. Seroepidemiological data of toxoplasmosis surveyed using rapid diagnostic tests for the residents in the areas in 2019 were analyzed to detect clusters of the infection. The cluster was investigated using the SaTScan program which is based on Kulldorff’s scan statistic. The clusters were found with P-values in each region analyzed in the program, and the risk and patient incidence of specific areas can be examined by the values such as relative risk and log likelihood ratio. Jiseok-ri and Insa-ri were found to be a cluster in Gyodong-myeon and Seokmo-ri was the cluster in Samsan-myeon. Yangji-ri and Igil-ri were found to be a cluster in Cheorwon-gun and Madal-ri and Baebong-ri were the cluster in Goseong-gun. This findings can be used to monitor and prevent toxoplasmosis infections occurring in vulnerable areas.

Geographic Pattern of Bryophyte Species Richness in China: The Influence of Environment and Evolutionary History

How contemporary environment interacts with macroevolutionary processes to generate the geographic pattern of bryophyte species is still unresolved. China is very rich in bryophytes, with more than 3,000 bryophytes covering 70% of the families in the world. In this study, we assessed the effects of the contemporary environment (average temperature of the coldest season TCQ, precipitation of the warmest season PWQ, and elevational range) and the recent diversification rates (estimated as mean species number per genus, MSG) on the geographical pattern of species richness for bryophytes and two groups (i.e., liverworts and mosses) in China. We compiled the provincial level distribution of bryophyte species and estimated the geographic pattern of the recent diversification rate by MSG for species in China. Univariate, multivariate regressions and path model analyses were used to assess the relationships between species richness, MSG, and their potential environmental drivers. Species richness of all bryophytes and liverworts significantly increased with the increase of MSG, either in regressions or path analyses, indicating that provinces with high bryophyte richness were mainly inhabited by species (especially liverworts) from lineages with particularly high MSG. In contrast, the species richness of mosses was insignificantly decreased with MSG in univariate regression or insignificantly increased with MSG in path analysis. Both species richness and MSG of all bryophytes and liverworts increased with the increase in energy and water availability. In contrast, for mosses, the species richness significantly increased with the increase of energy and water availability, while MSG decreased with the increase of energy and water availability. The MSG of liverworts increase with the increase of elevational range but the MSG of mosses decrease with the increase of elevational range. Our study suggests that the humid tropical and subtropical mountains in China are not only diversity hotspots for bryophytes, but also cradles for high recent diversification of liverworts, and refuges for mosses to hold many monotypic and oligotypic genera.

Sex chromosome diversification in the smooth snake Coronella austriaca (Reptilia, Serpentes)

The smooth snake Coronella austriaca is a widespread Palearctic colubrid species. The species has been the subject of several molecular and phylogeographic studies which highlighted the occurrence of distinct genetic lineages in different areas of the species distribution, but scarce cytogenetic data are currently available on the species. In this paper we present a molecular and karyological study performed with several banding, staining methods and NOR-FISH on samples of C. austriaca from different geographical areas (Italy and Greece) of the species distribution. The molecular and phylogenetic analysis unambiguously placed the studied samples in different clades with a clear geographical pattern. The karyotype of the two female samples studied was composed of 2n = 36 chromosomes with 16 macro- and 20 microchromosomes and a mix of plesiomorphic and derivate chromosome features. All macrochromosomes were biarmed with the exception of pair 5 that was telocentric. NORs were detected on a microchromosome pair. In both females, the pair 4 was heteromorphic (and completely heterochromatic after C-banding in the Italian female), representing the first report of a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system with female heterogamety in C. austriaca. In addition, the W chromosome showed a different morphology between the two female studied (submetacentric and subtelocentric), highlighting the occurrence of a chromosomal diversification among distinct geographical areas of the species distribution and further supporting that the species contains different diverging evolutionary clades.

Chapter 2.1b Ferrar Large Igneous Province: petrology

The Lower Jurassic Ferrar Large Igneous Province consists predominantly of intrusive rocks, which crop out over a distance of 3500 km. In comparison, extrusive rocks are more restricted geographically. Geochemically, the province is divided into the Mount Fazio Chemical Type, forming more than 99% of the exposed province, and the Scarab Peak Chemical Type, which in the Ross Sea sector is restricted to the uppermost lava. The former exhibits a range of compositions (SiO2 = 52–59%; MgO = 9.2–2.6%; Zr = 60–175 ppm; Sri = 0.7081–0.7138; εNd = −6.0 to −3.8), whereas the latter has a restricted composition (SiO2 = c. 58%; MgO = c. 2.3%; Zr = c. 230 ppm; Sri = 0.7090–0.7097; εNd = −4.4 to −4.1). Both chemical types are characterized by enriched initial isotope compositions of neodymium and strontium, low abundances of high field strength elements, and crust-like trace element patterns. The most basic rocks, olivine-bearing dolerites, indicate that these geochemical characteristics were inherited from a mantle source modified by subduction processes, possibly the incorporation of sediment. In one model, magmas were derived from a linear source having multiple sites of generation each of which evolved to yield, in sum, the province-wide coherent geochemistry. The preferred interpretation is that the remarkably coherent geochemistry and short duration of emplacement demonstrate derivation from a single source inferred to have been located in the proto-Weddell Sea region. The spatial variation in geochemical characteristics of the lavas suggests distinct magma batches erupted at the surface, whereas no clear geographical pattern is evident for intrusive rocks.