bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Strong Ground Motion Characteristics for the Jishishan MS6.2 Earthquake December 18, 2023
Authors: Xueliang Duan , Yanqiong Liu , Zhenghua Zhou , Zhu Bian , Yi Han , Jiacong He , Chen Peng , Long Zhang
Published: July 2024

The MS6.2 earthquake occurred in Jishishan, Gansu Province, China, on December 18, 2023. Based on some strong seismic acceleration time histories captured by some stations of China National Strong Earthquake Observation Network and National Earthquake Early Warning Network, the spatial distribution characteristics, rupture directivity effect, hanging wall and footwall effect, response spectrum characteristics, and attenuation of the peak ground acceleration (PGA) were analyzed in this paper. It can be used as reference for the site determination of post‐earthquake reconstruction and seismic design of engineering structures. The analysis shows that the spatial distribution of strong ground motion of the Jishishan MS6.2 earthquake is mainly controlled by the distribution of causative fault. Near the fault, the effect of rupture directivity is obvious. The effect of hanging wall and footwall significantly affects the distribution of PGAs for this earthquake, causing a pronounced asymmetric pattern about PGAs relative to the fault, with slower attenuation on the hanging wall compared to the footwall. The type of site obviously affects the characteristics of response spectrum. The ground motion intensity observed at the epicenter of this earthquake significantly exceeded the levels of rare and extremely rare seismic events in the current seismic design codes. The attenuation relationship of PGA obtained by regression analysis shows that ones in the 5th generation Chinese ground motion parameter zoning map for the Qinghai‐Tibet region underestimate the horizontal PGA.
Vulnerability Analysis of China‐Europe Railway Express Network Based on Improved Nonlinear Load‐Capacity Model
Authors: Zhu Chao , Zhu Xiaoning
Published: July 2024

The China‐Europe Railway Express (C‐ER Express) provides a transcontinental rail container service between China and Europe. As most C‐ER Expresses are affected by frequent natural disasters and public health incidents, it faces the increasing risk of network vulnerability. When previous studies investigated the evolution of network vulnerability through local information, they often overlook the complexity of the network’s multidimensional characteristics. The nonlinear load‐capacity (NLC) model proposed in this paper integrates local and global information of the network. This approach enables a detailed investigation into how condition thresholds and different types of nodes influence network vulnerability. Firstly, a feature matrix is constructed for C‐ER Express based on the topological measures, freight information, and external environment scores. Then, the autoencoder is used to extract the low‐dimensional dense information, and the DBSCAN is used to classify C‐ER Express into distinct clusters. Secondly, The NLC model integrates feature coefficient to describe the initial capacity of nodes. Subsequently, the failure load is redistributed proportionally to neighboring nodes and remaining normal nodes based on time‐varying load and initial capacity of nodes. Finally, the improved NLC model is applied to the C‐ER Express under different simulation scenarios. Simulation results show that a reasonable condition threshold can mitigate the impact of small‐scale node failures on the network. The DBSCAN attack strategy can effectively identify the node types and prevent the network from chain reactions brought by different types of node failures. This research study is expected to provide some reference value for relevant research about vulnerability analysis of the C‐ER Express network.
Different Configuration Comparisons for Seawater Desalination Systems: Performance Analyses
Authors: Shahgholian Sepehr , Taheri Mahdi , Jahangiri Mehdi , Yaghoubi Somaye
Published: July 2024

This study simulates an RO system for seawater desalination to overcome Iran’s water crisis due to drought and increasing demand. Based on previous studies, a scientific gap has been observed in that the effect of single‐stage or two‐stage systems on performance and effective parameters has not been investigated. In addition, examining the types of arrangements for using pressure vessels will make the present study more comprehensive. SW30XHR‐440i modules are used for desalination and three different feed flow rates (800, 1200, and 1600 m3/day) and three different recovery percentages (40, 55, and 70%) are used for sensitivity analysis. The methodology of the solution includes the examination of different configurations and the solution of the transport equations in the Water Application Value Engine (WAVE) 1.82 software. The configurations without technical errors are selected as the answer for further investigation and comparison with each other. The results show that the lowest specific energy of the pump with the amount of 4.18 kWh/m3 corresponds to the 55% recovery of the two‐stage system (800 m3/day permeate flow rate). As a general result, it can be stated that as the flow rate increases, the advantage of using a 6‐element pressure vessel over an 8‐element pressure vessel becomes more significant. Also, using the two‐stage system instead of single‐stage system is less feasible for higher permeate flows.
Multilayer Iterative Stochastic Dynamic Programming for Optimal Energy Management of Residential Loads with Electric Vehicles
Authors: Aljohani Tawfiq M.
Published: July 2024

This work introduces a multilayer iterative stochastic dynamic programming (MISDP) framework for optimizing energy management in smart residential settings, incorporating electric vehicles to reduce energy costs while enhancing operational efficiency. The study investigates the complexities of managing residential loads with integrated EV batteries, set against the backdrop of unpredictable charging demands and fluctuating energy prices. The proposed method is designed to optimize charging and discharging schedules, ensuring cost‐effective energy consumption without compromising the longevity of EV’s battery operations. The proposed MISDP strategy encompasses multi‐iteration processes, both at internal and external levels, that not only highlight the method’s capacity for precise, real‐time decision‐making but also underscore its adaptability to the dynamic nature of energy systems. The external iteration primarily focuses on adapting to broader operational variables, such as fluctuating prices and demand patterns, setting a framework for optimization. Concurrently, the internal iteration updates the details of EV battery operation, fine‐tuning charging and discharging strategies to refine the control law sequence for each operational period, ensuring optimal energy management. Throughout the iteration process, the framework ensures the performance index function remains bounded, adhering strictly to the evolving control law sequence. Through comparative analysis, the MISDP framework is evaluated against different optimization techniques, demonstrating its superior capability in achieving significant energy cost savings and operational effectiveness while ensuring convergence under stochastic conditions.
Research on Intelligent Vehicle Operation Risk Assessment and Early Warning Based on Predictive Risk Field
Authors: Zhang Ruibin , Guo Yingshi
Published: July 2024

In order to enhance the driving safety of intelligent vehicles in complex road scenarios, a method for vehicle operation risk assessment and early warning based on the predictive risk field is proposed. The temporal feature vector composed of the spatiotemporal state characteristics of the ego vehicle and surrounding traffic participants is taken as input data for the Attention‐Bidirectional Long‐Short Term Memory (Attention‐BiLSTM) model, which is trained to establish the desired mapping relationship. By predicting the motion state of the target vehicle and utilizing an improved risk field model based on the target vehicle of heading angle, the predictive risk field is obtained. This allows for the assessment of the ego vehicle operational risks. The risk warning model is integrated to provide risk early warning, and the safety path for the ego vehicle is planned based on the interaction between the predictive risk field equipotential lines and the cubic spline curves. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed vehicle operation risk assessment and early warning model is effective in providing early warnings and safe path references for the ego vehicle in complex urban road test scenarios.
Rural Energy Source and Its Contribution to Climate Change: The Case of Negele Arsi District, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Bona Gemedo Mohammed , Yigezu Zerihun Demrew
Published: July 2024

The use of traditional biomass in developing countries such as Ethiopia accounts for approximately 90% of the total primary energy consumption at the household level. Such heavy dependency threatens the natural forest ecosystem and contributes to climate change. However, empirical evidence on the extent of fuelwood consumption is limited. This study was therefore carried out to investigate the status of firewood consumption in the Negele Arsi District of Oromia Region, Ethiopia, and its contribution to climate change. Door‐to‐door surveys and measurements were made to estimate the extent of firewood consumption and the resultant greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions at the household level. The major type of woody species used as household energy sources and the amount of firewood saved while using the improved stove were also predicted through kitchen performance tests. The findings showed that 84.5% of the energy needed for home‐based activities was fulfilled by firewood. Eucalyptus species, Podocarpus facaltus and Acacia etbaica, were the most common tree species used as household energy sources in the district. It was found that 17.02 tons of firewood was consumed, and 18 × 103 tCO2e was emitted annually at the household level. Baking Injera using Mirt stove was found to reduce firewood consumption by approximately 25% compared to a traditional open stone stove. The study showed that firewood consumption is the main cause of deforestation in the district and has a large contribution to climate change. Hence, coordinated effort and appropriate interventions are needed to avert the situation.
Adult‐Onset Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, and Cervical Adenitis Syndrome on the Basis of Selective IgA Deficiency
Authors: Altiner Seda , Ekinci Alper
Published: July 2024

Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis syndrome (PFAPA) is an autoinflammatory disease that is thought to occur with the contribution of genetic and environmental factors, but its etiology has not been clearly elucidated. It is characterized by recurrent attacks with fever, pharyngitis, oral aphthous lesions, and cervical lymphadenopathy, and an increase in the level of serum acute phase reactants is observed during the attacks. Although PFAPA usually begins in childhood, adult‐onset cases are also reported in the literature. In the pathogenesis of PFAPA, an increase in the expression of various inflammatory cytokines, especially interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), is observed as a result of the increase in inflammasome activity. Selective IgA deficiency (SIgAD) is the most prevalent primary immunodeficiency. Although most SIgAD cases remain asymptomatic and remain undiagnosed, it is known that the risk of mucosal infection is generally increased in SIgAD cases. In addition, the frequency of autoinflammatory diseases is increased in SIgAD cases compared with the general population. We aim to present a case of adult‐onset PFAPA and SIgAD coexistence.
Supplementary Figure S5 from Randomized Placebo-Controlled, Biomarker-Stratified Phase Ib Microbiome Modulation in Melanoma: Impact of Antibiotic Preconditioning on Microbiome and Immunity
Authors: Glitza Isabella C. , Seo Yongwoo David , Spencer Christine N. , Wortman Jennifer R. , Burton Elizabeth M. , Alayli Farah A. , Loo Christopher P. , Gautam Shikha , Damania Ashish , Densmore Julie , Fairchild Justin , Cabanski Christopher R. , Wong Matthew C. , Peterson Christine B. , Weiner Brian , Hicks Nathan , Aunins John , McChalicher Christopher , Walsh Emily , Tetzlaff Michael T. , Hamid Omid , Ott Patrick A. , Boland Genevieve M. , Sullivan Ryan J. , Grossmann Kenneth F. , Ajami Nadim J. , LaVallee Theresa , Henn Matthew R. , Tawbi Hussein A. , Wargo Jennifer A.
Published: July 2024

Correlation between qPCR derived and WGS derived Ruminococcaceae family abundance at baseline
Supplementary Table 10 from The Pan-RAF–MEK Nondegrading Molecular Glue NST-628 Is a Potent and Brain-Penetrant Inhibitor of the RAS–MAPK Pathway with Activity across Diverse RAS- and RAF-Driven Cancers
Authors: Ryan Meagan B. , Quade Bradley , Schenk Natasha , Fang Zhong , Zingg Marshall , Cohen Steven E. , Swalm Brooke M. , Li Chun , Özen Ayşegül , Ye Chaoyang , Ritorto Maria Stella , Huang Xin , Dar Arvin C. , Han Yongxin , Hoeflich Klaus P. , Hale Michael , Hagel Margit
Published: July 2024

PDX model patient characteristics
The Nested States Model: A Phenomenologically-Grounded Model of the Mind
Authors: Denfield George H. , Kyzar Evan J.
Published: July 2024

Background: Subjective experience is central to the nature of mental illness, yet it has not played a central role in most empirical approaches to psychopathology. While phenomenological perspectives in psychiatry have seen a recent resurgence, there remains a need for more detailed models of psychopathological processes based on explicit phenomenological and enactive foundations. Summary: We present a framework derived from the Nested States Model (NSM) through which such phenomenologically-grounded models might be constructed. The NSM describes the dynamic structure of subjective experience as a system of nested states that reciprocally influence one another across hierarchical layers. Here, we show how the NSM provides a scheme for characterizing patterns of experience that comprise various psychopathological processes. We demonstrate the utility of this scheme both for clinical practice and for building our knowledge of psychopathological processes more broadly. Key Messages: The NSM can advance three aims that we see as critical for the lasting integration of phenomenological approaches to psychopathology within psychiatry. First, we show that the NSM provides a means for constructing clinical formulations and treatment considerations that center squarely on an individual’s subjective experiences. Second, the NSM supplies a framework for organizing findings from clinical-phenomenological research that can guide the construction of broader phenomenologically-grounded models of psychopathological processes. Lastly, the NSM aligns our perspective on subjective experience with emerging perspectives on brain dynamics, helping to bridge phenomenological work with ongoing neurophysiological research.
Estimates of Speech Efficiency in Monolingual and Bilingual Speakers of English
Authors: Song Yuting , Robb Michael P. , Chen Yang
Published: July 2024

Introduction: The Speech Efficiency Score (SES) serves as an acoustic metric for assessing fluency in conversational speech within the temporal domain. This study leverages SES to investigate conversational speech efficiency among native speakers of American English (AE) compared to speakers of Mandarin-accented English (MAE). Methods: SES, speaking rate, articulation rate, and vocabulary diversity were measured and compared between two groups: native AE speakers and MAE speakers. The study utilized conversational speech samples collected from both groups to analyze these metrics. Results: Findings indicate a disparity in speaking rate and articulation rate between the AE and MAE groups, with the AE group exhibiting significantly faster speech. However, no significant differences were observed in SES and vocabulary diversity between the two groups. Conclusion: The results are discussed in the context of the interplay between speaking rate, speech fluency, and vocabulary diversity. These findings shed light on the maintenance of speech efficiency among bilingual speakers, suggesting that despite differences in speaking rate and articulation rate, SES and vocabulary diversity remain comparable between native AE speakers and MAE speakers.
Agricultural path detection systems using Canny-edge detection and Hough transform
Authors: Sasmita Windi Antania , Mubarok Husni , Widiyasono Nur
Published: July 2024

Navigation is one of the crucial aspects of automation technology within the field of agriculture, such as robotics systems or autonomous agricultural vehicles. Despite many navigation systems having been developed for agricultural land, due to their high development and component costs, these systems are difficult to access for farmers or organizations with limited capital. In this study, the Canny-edge detection and Hough transform methods are implemented in a path detection system on agricultural land to find an alternative, cost-effective navigation system for autonomous farming robots or vehicles. The system is tested on ground-level view images, which are captured from a low perspective and under three different lighting conditions. The testing and experimentation process involves adjusting the parameters of the Canny-edge detection and Hough transform methods for different lighting conditions. Subsequently, an evaluation is conducted using Intersection over Union to obtain the best accuracy results, followed by fine-tuning of the canny-edge detection and Hough transform method parameters. The identified parameters, specifically a 15×15 Gaussian kernel, low threshold of 50, high threshold of 150, Hough threshold, minimum line length of 150, and maximum line gap, have been discerned as optimal for the canny-edge and Hough transform algorithms under medium lighting conditions (G=1.0). The observed efficacy of these parameter configurations suggests the method’s viability for implementation in path detection systems for agricultural vehicles or robots. This underscores its potential to deliver reliable performance and navigate seamlessly across diverse lighting scenarios within the agricultural context.
Inverse kinematics of six degrees of freedom robot manipulator based on improved dung beetle optimizer algorithm
Authors: Haohao Ma , As’arry Azizan , Haoyang Zhang , Ismail Mohd Idris Shah , Rashidi Ramli Hafiz , Zuhri Mohd Yusoff Moh , Delgoshaei Aidin
Published: July 2024

Inverse kinematics is a basic problem in robotics, which aims to solve the robot’s joint angles according to the end effector’s position and orientation. This paper proposed an improved spiral search multi-strategy dung beetle optimizer (DBO) algorithm for solving the inverse kinematics problem. The improved DBO algorithm considers not only the error between the target value and the current value but also the previous position of the robot to ensure minimum displacement during the movement. To solve the end position error and orientation error of the robot end effector more accurately, the quaternion is introduced as a penalty factor in the optimization objective function, which is of great significance for reducing the orientation error. Through the improved DBO algorithm, the position error is still accurate, and the orientation error is reduced from 9.5901 to 1.8718. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms other swarm-intelligent algorithms in terms of accuracy and convergence speed. Overall, the proposed spiral search multi-strategy DBO algorithm provides an effective and efficient solution to the inverse kinematics problem in robotics.
Potential challenges of collaborative robot implementation in Vietnamese garment manufacturing
Authors: Nguyen Kim Phung , Ma Yoon Jin
Published: July 2024

Collaborative robots (cobots) are a new significant technology in the integration of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and Industry 5.0 (I5.0). Working alongside humans in open environments, cobots can boost safety and productivity. However, manufacturers are facing some potential challenges in adopting cobots, such as technological challenges, social problems, cost barriers, and labor issues. Vietnam has a great potential for outsourcing in the top supply chains for many famous fashion brands globally, with thousands of textile and garment factories. The purpose of this study was to explore potential challenges of cobot implementations in the context of Vietnam’s garment factories from factory employees’ perspectives. Data were collected from 29 garment factory managers in Vietnam. Findings revealed a rapid change in fashion trends and many unskilled workers may limit cobots’ flexibility, precision, and innovation. Furthermore, cobot implementation is affected by the cost of cobots, infrastructure upgrades, and risks of possible failure in deployment. Cobot firms, application partners, technology programmers, and manufacturers need to discuss how to maximize cobots’ benefits in diverse aspects of the garment manufacturing setting. These insights could boost the industry’s economy and sustainability.
Development of an Arduino-based field heat regulator for fruit storage and transportation
Authors: Britaña Hannah Fretchie A. , Ignalig Marian Claire R. , Natividad Eshtriel Sunday T. , Cabelita Brylle F. , Ecle Erniel Ghrizcer G. , Cane Jas Felicisimo A.
Published: July 2024

Fruit spoilage during transportation is a major problem that results in significant economic losses for fruit producers and distributors. One of the primary causes of fruit spoilage is heat buildup inside the storage container during transportation. Hence, this study was done to design and develop an Arduino-based field heat regulator for fruit storage and transportation, regulate field heat in terms of temperature and humidity monitoring; and assess its influence in terms of the skin color, firmness, and bruising of the fruit specimen. After the conduct of the study, it was found that the regulator underwent several iterations during product development and was tried out in an actual transportation procedure. The results revealed that during transportation the product was subjected to fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity, but the storage regulated heat by maintaining desired conditions. Additionally, there was a significant difference found in terms of the fruit's quality parameters when transported using the proposed storage and the traditional method. In conclusion, this storage has the potential to be used in fruit storage facilities, helping reduce post-harvest losses and decrease the chances of fruits being spoiled easily.
Türkiye Ekonomisinde Araştırma Geliştirme Harcamaları İle Ekonomik Büyüme Ve İşsizlik İlişkisi
Authors: Diler Huriye Gonca , Özsarı Şişman Tuğba
Published: July 2024

Bu çalışma, toplam ar-ge harcamaları doğrultusunda hızla gelişen teknolojinin Türkiye ekonomisinin iktisadi büyüme ve işsizlik parametreleri açısından ne gibi kazanımlar ortaya koyduğunu analiz etmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. 1990–2022 dönemine ait toplam ar-ge harcamaları, iktisadi büyüme oranı ve işsizlik oranı yıllık verileri, Toda-Yamamoto nedensellik testi ile analiz edilmiştir. Analiz bulguları; toplam ar-ge harcamaları-iktisadi büyüme değişkenleri arasında tek, toplam ar-ge harcamaları - işsizlik değişkenleri arasında çift yönlü bağlantı göstermektedir. Toplam ar-ge harcamalarından iktisadi büyümeye doğru bağlantının tespit edilmesi, Türkiye’de GSYH içinde toplam ar-ge harcamaları payının düşük olmasına rağmen bu harcamalar, üretim miktarı ve üretim faktörlerini artırıcı yönde etki ettiğini göstermektedir. Ayrıca toplam ar-ge harcamaları Türkiye’deki işsizliğe, işsizlik de toplam ar-ge harcamalarına doğru ilişkilidir. Özellikle toplam ar-ge harcamalarının iktisadi büyümeye etki ettiği bulgusundan hareketle yeni yatırımlar kanalıyla işsizliği azaltıcı etkide bulunduğu düşünülmektedir.
How State Takeovers of School Districts Affect Education Finance, 1990 to 2019
Authors: Lyon Melissa Arnold , Bleiberg Joshua , Schueler Beth
Published: July 2024

State takeovers of school districts—a form of political centralization that shifts decision-making power from locally elected leaders to the state—have increased over time, often with the purported goal of improving district financial condition. Takeover has affected millions of students since the first takeover in 1988 and has been more common in districts serving marginalized communities. We investigate whether 104 takeovers from 1990 to 2019 affect financial outcomes using event study methods. We find that takeovers increase annual school spending by roughly $2,000 per pupil after five years, leading to improvements in some aspects of financial condition (budgetary and long-run solvency), on average. New funds primarily come from state revenues and mostly cover districts’ legacy costs (debt and employee benefits). These effects are larger when takeovers are motivated by academic and/or other, non-fiscal reasons. However, takeovers are experienced unequally, with Black students less likely to experience the takeover-induced increases to expenditures and improvements in fiscal condition. This suggests that political centralization can promote fiscal health but with potentially concerning equity implications.
Toward Equitable ArtScience Collaborations: Synthesizing Performance Art and Social Psychology for Social Change
Authors: Amir Einat , Hasson Yossi
Published: July 2024

The article proposes a novel model for ArtScience collaborations that is based on more equal roles. With better power balance, artists and scientists can together create projects that truly synthesize their fields. Additionally, it is suggested that these collaborations can significantly contribute to social change through socially engaged research. The article focuses on the transformative potential of the collaboration process itself. The presented case study is the authors’ collaboration in creating hybrids of participatory performance art and social psychology experiments. It contributes new methodological approaches to the expanding field of ArtScience collaborations.
Compositional Rheology: Drafting Musical Flux through Fluid Mechanics and Drawing
Authors: Guerra-Valiente Juan-José
Published: July 2024

This article explores the fluctuating relationship between the concepts of the “smooth” and “striated” musical space and time introduced by French composer Pierre Boulez and further developed by philosopher Gilles Deleuze, as well as its connection to rheology. The study focuses on how the understanding of the Reynolds number (Re), a parameter that characterizes the way a fluid flows in a duct, might provide a new approach to investigating the aforementioned musical concepts and visualizing them through drawing. This article also introduces a way of studying and visualizing musical compositions by establishing analogies between compositional parameters and the molecular and inertial forces that exist within the stream of a fluid.
Proof-of-Stake Non-Fungible Tokens, the Distributed Autonomous Organization, and the Valuation of Art: A Proposal for a Nonprofit, Community Controlled NFT
Authors: Britton David
Published: July 2024

This paper describes a way to use blockchain-based non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to address some fundamental failures of the art world introduced when the early-twentieth-century evolution of financial markets expanded to include objets d’art as commodities. It proposes the creation of a distributed autonomous organization (DAO) that uses domain experts’ Delphic consensus methods embedded in smart contracts to provide NFTs with meaningful nonfinancial assessments of intrinsic artistic qualities and merit.

Full details of the blockchain implementation and organizational development are online, registered at https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/3DF4W with the Open Science Foundation as a large-scale participant/observer social science experiment.
Using traveling festivals to mobilize primate conservation education
Authors: Ramos-Luna Jorge , Torres-Anaya Daniela Alicia , Esparza-Rodríguez Zaira Lizbeth , Fonseca-Leal Tania , Alvarez-Velazquez María Fernanda , Chapman Colin A. , Serio-Silva Juan Carlos
Published: July 2024

Environmental education aims to foster knowledge, awareness, and appreciation for nature and can encompass various formats, including festivals. The traveling festival “Changos y Monos va a tu comunidad” is inspired by previous initiatives and aims to promote the conservation of primates in southeast Mexico. The festival involved focused activities, mainly for children, such as talks, games, and exhibitions. It has been held on ten occasions, reaching approximately 700 people from nine localities. Unlike other events, its execution does not require a large budget due to the short duration, the use of small spaces, and because it can be conducted in parallel with field research, which has facilitated its funding. Although no systematic evaluation of the impact of this initiative has been conducted, it is evident that the festival gained notoriety among people in various locations in the region, suggesting “Changos y Monos va a tu comunidad” represents a significant contribution to the conservation of wild Mexican primates.
Protection service of a leading silverback male from external threats in wild western gorillas
Authors: Tamura Masaya , Akomo-Okoue Etienne François , Mangama-Koumba Lilian Brice , Ghislain Wilfried Ebang Ella , Mindonga-Nguelet Fred Loïc
Published: July 2024

Primate males normally protect reproductive females, genetic offspring, and other relatives from external threats. Nevertheless, male protection of group members other than the above individuals is widely reported. Here, we show qualitative data on a silverback’s charging behaviors toward human observers (predator surrogates) to protect group members having various age-sex and kinship traits in a group of wild western gorillas containing one reproductive male. We observed 106 and 33 charging behaviors by the leading silverback in two separate study periods. Two natal infants were often involved in his protective charging. Further, the silverback provided protection services to reproductive females. Surprisingly, immigrant individuals (i.e., unrelated to the silverback), including a wide range of age-sex classes, were also protected multiple times. His protection services for natal infants and adult females can be interpreted as a form of parenting effort and mating effort, respectively. Further, those for some immigrant immatures accompanied by their mothers can be considered part of mating effort, advertising his quality as a mate to the mothers. Finally, his charging behaviors to protect immigrant young males, who could be reproductive threats to him, may be due to group augmentation benefits. That is, the recruitment of additional males in exchange for protection services would improve the ability of group defense. Protection services of the leading silverback in the one-male group of western gorillas, in which members of various age-sex classes and kinship traits coexist, could be interpreted by some existing functional explanations.
Promoting long-term local ownership of natural heritage through outreach: the case of the endemic Bolivian titi monkeys
Authors: Martinez Jesus , Porcel Zulia , Carvajal Pamela , Flores-Turdera Cecilia , Jurado Cynthya , Lopez-Strauss Heidy , Lopez Lesly , Campera Marco , Wallace Robert
Published: July 2024

Adequate knowledge and learning about local biodiversity are a prerequisite for effective attitudinal changes in favour of species protection. Outreach activities are considered a useful tool for sharing information with local stakeholders who play a crucial role in conserving wildlife. We conducted two outreach campaigns focused on schoolchildren in two villages to share information on the natural history of the Bolivian endemic titi monkeys, Plecturocebus olallae and Plecturocebus modestus, to promote their conservation. We assessed the students’ ability to retain new information and their understanding of biodiversity through pre- and post-questionnaires, finding an improvement in the knowledge about these two endemic primates from pre- to post-talk assessments, as well as an increase in their awareness about local efforts to preserve biodiversity between outreach campaigns. We also found signals of appropriate experiential learning on wildlife value and its relationship with human activities. Additional outreach work across two decades resulted in important achievements that reflect positive attitudinal changes in favour of the endemic primates and biodiversity, with a remarkable involvement of local people. In this way, we show how outreach work can promote important local support for biodiversity conservation, how primates can act as flagship species, and the need to reinforce knowledge acquisition and learning processes to consolidate conservation actions in the long-term.
Make Art, Not War
Authors: Emmrich Thomas
Published: July 2024

This essay critically examines Peter Sloterdijk’s Zorn und Zeit. Politisch-psychologischer Versuch (Rage and Time. A Psychopolitical Investigation) and his attempt to rehabilitate a culture of thymos, i.e. a culture of self-confidence and self-assertion, whose emotional agent Sloterdijk sees in rage. As an alternative to Achilles’ rage in Homer’s Iliad, Sloterdijk’s ancient reference, I will propose Ovid’s Metamorphoses as another literary origin of thymos. Against this background, I aim to defend the legitimacy of thymos, but to give it a different profile than Sloterdijk does, namely that of a creative and culturally productive energy that dismantles the tradition of warlike heroism and is pacifist at its core.
Nous and Divinity in Aristotle’s Metaphysics Lambda
Authors: Laurens Hannah
Published: July 2024

Aristotle’s divine nous of Metaphysics Λ.9 is generally understood to exclusively characterise the Prime Mover-God. This paper challenges this view by (1) drawing out the strong congruity between our ‘best state’ and that of the Prime Mover in Λ.7 and (2) removing certain key obstacles to a more inclusive reading of Λ.9: our thought is not limited to the ‘human’ kind (ho anthrōpinos nous, 1075a7), nor is our self-knowledge always a ‘by-product’ (en parergōi, 1074b36). Noēsis noēseōs, I contend, equally applies to some forms of our thought. Hence, divine thought is accessible—indeed, even commendable—to us, just as the ‘divine life’ of Nicomachean Ethics X.7 is.
Age estimation in tortoises: an evaluation of methods for the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca)
Authors: Vlad Sabina E. , Stănescu Florina , Cogălniceanu Dan
Published: July 2024

Age and growth-related parameters provide a better understanding of life-history adaptations and trade-offs and can be studied in the wild through capture-mark-recapture (CMR) or sclerochronology (i.e., skeletochronology and counting growth marks on hard structures). In chelonians, skeletochronology is limited to carcasses, CMR is limited by time and funding constraints, but counting shell growth annuli (SGA count) is a cheaper and faster alternative. A long-term CMR study in Testudo graeca from south-eastern Romania allowed us to compare the age estimated by the two sclerochronology methods using carcasses, and calibrate the results with data obtained from recaptured tortoises. We found that the accuracy of SGA counts significantly decreased with time (i.e., years between captures and older individuals). Skeletochronology showed the best results with long bones (i.e., ulna, radius, femur), but overall underestimated the age when compared to SGA counts; we obtained comparable results from these two methods in tortoises up to 17 years old. The oldest age estimated by skeletochronology alone was 28 years, 30 years by SGA counts, and 40 years by SGA counts when calibrated by CMR. The growth models using age estimations from both skeletochronology and SGA counts were similar, highlighting their usefulness in monitoring growth trajectories. Our study showed that while age estimation in tortoises is challenging, a combination of methods can improve its accuracy.
Weak males do not work hard: Reproductive investment of deficient male fiddler crabs, Austruca lactea
Authors: Wakabayashi Toshimasa , Muramatsu Daisuke
Published: July 2024

In iteroparous animals, it may be adaptive to adjust the amount of reproductive investment based on their current competitive ability. Male fiddler crabs use an enlarged major claw for claw-waving display in the breeding season. Males sometimes lose their claws, but they can regenerate a claw, which is an inferior weapon for male-male fights. Here, we compared the waving frequency between males with a regenerated claw (regenerated males) and with an original claw (original males) to examine the differences in the amount of reproductive investment. Regenerated males showed lower waving frequency than original males, but some regenerate males waved frequently before the optimal mating season where original males waved frequently. These results indicate that individuals with poor fighting ability that have lower chance of acquiring females invested less in waving, and may also have shifted their peak of mating period in order to avoid competition with original males.
Impact of Solidago gigantea invasion on nematode communities in grasslands
Authors: Jakubcsiková Michaela , Demková Lenka , Renčo Marek , Čerevková Andrea
Published: July 2024

Solidago gigantea is one of the most problematic species of invasive plants in Europe, where its rapid spread threatens the stability of ecosystems. The effect of invasion by S. gigantea on soil ecosystems and food webs can be evaluated using nematode communities as suitable and useful soil bioindicators. We compared the effect of S. gigantea on nematode communities in plots invaded with S. gigantea and non-invaded grasslands across three sites with varying soil and climatic conditions. Our findings indicated that invasion by S. gigantea did not strongly affect nematode taxonomic diversity but negatively affected functional diversity. This effect was evident in the increased abundance of bacterivore and fungivore nematodes and decrease in values of ecological and functional indices. The evaluation of the soil food web using nematode communities confirmed that soil in plots with S. gigantea were less mature and more disturbed with a degraded or depleted food web indicated by lower values of maturity, enrichment and structure indices, compared with non-invaded grasslands. On the other hand, taxonomic diversity, abundance, biomass and the functional indices differed between three study sites, but site had little or no effect on the values of the maturity indices. The interaction between site and invasion status confirmed the effect of invasion on nematode biomass, with the abundance of bacterivore and fungivore nematodes and the functional indices more prominent at sites characterised by cold and humid climates. These findings underscore the importance of considering both taxonomic and functional diversity and the characteristics of the plants and sites when evaluating the impact of plant invasion on soil biota.
Occurrence and diversity of the entomopathogenic nematode Oscheius myriophilus (Nematoda: Rhabditida) in the Italian outbreak area of Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
Authors: Santoiemma Giacomo , Glazer Itamar , Battisti Andrea , Bianchi Alessandro , Fanelli Elena , Mori Nicola , Sacchi Stefano , Tarasco Eustachio , Troccoli Alberto , De Luca Francesca
Published: July 2024

The genus Oscheius includes species with different habits and some of them have been shown to kill some insect pests. The occurrence of Oscheius in hay meadow soils from the area recently invaded by the Japanese beetle Popillia japonica in Lombardy, Italy, has been surveyed. Oscheius myriophilus was detected at five out of 18 sites resulting positive to entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), either alone or together with other genera of EPN, indicating a widespread occurrence. The morphological analysis of the strains retrieved showed that they are morphologically in agreement with those of the type population and with other populations recently described. The phylogenetic analysis supported the sub-grouping of all sequences of O. myriophilus from Lombardy with those present in the databases and a close relationship with O. safricana was observed. The capacity to kill the laboratory host Galleria mellonella was similar to that observed in a previous study related to isolates from P. japonica, although O. myriophilus did not cause significant mortality in laboratory trials with the invasive beetles. The isolates of O. myriophilus from Lombardy were characterised in relation to their infectivity to G. mellonella and response to environmental stress, such as heat tolerance and desiccation. Overall, O. myriophilus appears to be an important component of the EPN community of hay meadow soil in Lombardy and might play a role in the containment of the invasive P. japonica.
Socio-ecological Factors Associated with Preventive Behavior against COVID-19 in Ethiopia
Authors: Engdawork Kibur , Amdework Ezana , Assefa Samuel
Published: July 2024

Understanding factors influencing the adoption of preventive behaviors is crucial in pandemic prevention and control. This study employs the social-ecological model to examine the determinants of preventive actions against COVID-19 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data from a household survey were analyzed using a linear regression model. The findings indicate a moderate level of preventive behavior adoption among residents. Interpersonal behavior, community norms, and organizational-level factors are identified as significant predictors, while personal and demographic factors have little influence. These results highlight the need for context-specific health interventions, addressing social and structural aspects, to effectively combat COVID-19 in Addis Ababa and similar low- and middle-income settings.
Understanding Left-Behind Places in a Contrastive Approach
Authors: Sandu Dumitru
Published: July 2024

How are left-behind places in a country compared to other types of places in an Eastern European country? A typology of local human development is designed and tested for the case of the Romanian society. The United Nations model of human development (structured by the three dimensions of education, economic development and health) is adapted to the local level and two contrasting measures are designed – an index and a typology of local human development. The typology resulted from a cluster analysis. It is validated by bi-variate and multivariate analysis (multinomial regression). High emigration rates, irrespective of the destination, do not bring lower development to the local origin in Romania: the destination of migration counts. There is a higher probability, in 2018, of left-behindness in localities with a higher number of emigrants to Italy in the years preceding 2011. Human development is highly differentiated by destination countries of emigration and by historical subregions. It is especially for such contexts that the quantitative approach could be misleading. Public policy targets could be better identified if qualitative and quantitative approaches are simultaneously used. The proposed approach could be adopted by keeping the same dimensions and measuring them by available and appropriate indicators.
Unpacking Pertinent States of Stigma and Stigmatization Associated with COVID-19 in Eclectic Contexts: a Review of the Literature
Authors: Kang’ethe Simon Murote
Published: July 2024

Incontrovertibly, stigma and its concomitant stigmatization continue to derail the efficacy of the campaign to subdue stigma that negatively affects people’s health-seeking behavior. This is because they are engulfed with fear, despondency, shame, and guilt. The current article, through a literature review methodology, discusses pertinent states of stigma and stigmatization associated with COVID-19 in eclectic contexts, but with more focus directed to Sub-Saharan Africa. Findings indicate that COVID-19 is associated with stigma and stigmatization: fear of contagion; hatred and maltreatment meted out against health professionals; a lack or unavailability of the vaccines and concerns for their efficacy; and mythical and fallacious environments. The article recommends that for effective de-stigmatization of COVID-19, societies need to explore how stigma is caused. The governments and other COVID-19 campaign authorities must work synergistically to control, regulate, and streamline the information dissemination process so that it is bereft of ambiguities, myths, and mistruths surrounding COVID-19.
Not Your Good Germans: Holocaust Memory, Anti-Fascism, and the Anti-Zionism of the Jewish New Left
Authors: Balthaser Benjamin
Published: July 2024

It is often assumed that the 1967 Arab–Israeli War and the emergence of Black Power engendered a split between Jews and the New Left. Some understand the rise of Holocaust memory in the late 1960s as an expression of Jewish nationalism, while others locate increased public expression of Holocaust memory within the context of a late 1960s Jewish revival. Either way, both narratives assume the tension between left-wing Jews and Black Power and anti-imperialism, and locate a new American Jewish commonsense of Jewish nationalism abroad and a quickening of Jewish identity politics at home. Yet most prominent Jewish radicals of the 1960s and early 1970s – from Abbie Hoffman to David Gilbert – did not agree. Not only did much of the Jewish New Left in organisations such as SDS and the SWP continue to back the anti-Zionist BPP, many deployed Holocaust and Red Scare memory to formulate their revolutionary global politics.
Containing Muslims: Europe’s Lower-Strata Working-Class Muslims and the Weaponisation of Antisemitism and Islamophobia
Authors: Özpınar Cihan
Published: July 2024

This paper discusses the subjection of Europe’s lower-strata working-class Muslims to a politics of containment on two levels: isolation and elite capture. Departing from analogies between antisemitism and Islamophobia, it argues for a different comparison between the two that involves their effects when weaponised as discursive strategies. While the effects of the weaponisation of (‘new’) antisemitism tend to isolate Muslims through a de-essentialising good vs. bad Muslim discourse, the effects of the weaponisation of Islamophobia move towards the tendential dynamics of elite capture through a re-essentialising discourse. Instead of theorising identity-formation as a direct consequence of ideology, the paper situates both discursive strategies within a structural framework that involves Muslims’ organisational and collective- action forms, which in turn consolidate non-class identities. The paper concludes that the effects of the weaponisation of both discourses are realised in the containment of Muslims.
Ritual as an Aspect of Cultural Integration: Ugarit, Emar, and the Hittites in Syria
Authors: Thames John Tracy
Published: July 2024

Although the Syrian kingdoms of the 13th century BCE may not have been integrated into the Hittite empire politically or economically, there is evidence that the Hittites employed strategies of cultural integration – part of bridging the geographical and social divide between the rulers and the ruled. The recently published documents from Ugarit reveal that both the Hittite Great king himself, as well as the King of Karkamiš, who administered the Syrian kingdoms, participated in Ugaritic ritual management and sent Hittite agents to offer sacrifices foreign to Ugarit. These features resonate with the emerging understanding of ritual practice at Emar as deeply influenced by Hittite ritual ideas and closely managed by Hittite officials, raising anew the question of Emar’s cult for “the gods of Ḫatti.” This investigation demonstrates aspects of foreign involvement in Ugaritic and Emarite ritual that contributed to the ongoing negotiation of power between those regions as political actors.