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Telecoupling among social-ecological systems poses a significant challenge to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the Anthropocene. This article focuses on the fact that international trade has separated the production and consumption places, the framework for assessing social-ecological system sustainability is proposed to exploring the global national-scale sustainable development mode. The results show that international trade has both synergistic and trade-off effects on sustainable development. Countries with abundant ecological resources can achieve the ecology-economic equilibrium mode by exports, and countries with scarce ecological resources and more developed can maintain the ecology-wellbeing equilibrium mode through imports. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, the underdeveloped countries with low agricultural technology have to rely on imports, leading to an ecological over-protection mode that limits their sustainable development. More significantly, this article proposes adaptive strategies for different sustainable development modes. These strategies have important implications for achieving SDGs through developing adaptive governance measures of social-ecological systems. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia, one of the major limiting environment factors in aquaculture, may pose a threat to the shrimp growth, reproduction and survival. In this study, to understand molecular differences of transcriptomic and metabolomic responses and investigate the tolerance mechanisms underlying ammonia stress in Litopenaeus vannamei , ammonia-tolerant family (LV-AT) and ammonia-sensitive family (LV-AS) of these two extreme families were exposed to high-concentration (NH 4 Cl, 46 mg/L) ammonia for 24 h. The comparative transcriptome analysis between ammonia-treated and control (LV-C) groups revealed involvement of immune defense, cytoskeleton remodeling, antioxidative system and metabolic pathway in ammonia-stress response of L. vannamei. Likewise, metabolomics analysis showed that ammonia exposure could disturb amino acid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism and lipid metabolism, with metabolism related-genes changed according to RNA-seq analysis. The comparison of metabolite and transcript profiles between LV-AT and LV-AS indicated that LV-AT used the enhanced glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle strategies for energy supply and ammonia excretion to adapt high-concentration ammonia. Furthermore, some of genes involved in the detoxification and ammonia excretion were highly expressed in LV-AT. We speculate that the higher ability of ammonia excretion and detoxification and the accelerated energy metabolism for energy supplies might be the adaptive strategies for LV-AT relative to LV-AS after ammonia stress. Collectively, the combination of transcriptomics and metabolomics results will greatly contribute to incrementally understand the stress responses on ammonia exposure to L. vannamei and supply molecular level support for evaluating the environmental effects of ammonia on aquatic organisms. The results further constitute new sights on the potential molecular mechanisms of ammonia adaptive strategies in shrimps at the transcriptomics and metabolomics levels. • Transcriptomic and metabolomic responses to high-concentration of ammonia were studied in L. vannamei. • Ammonia exposure influences immune defense, cytoskeleton remodeling, antioxidative system and metabolic pathway. • Ammonia exposure disturbs the amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism and nucleotide metabolism. • Higher ability of excretion and detoxification and accelerated energy metabolism might be related to ammonia tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal flooding is a severe and recurring problem, as evidenced by recent disasters that have caused significant damage for coastal communities. A community's ability to mitigate the effects of coastal flooding depends on the local context and its adaptive capacity. Although past research has highlighted the important role that non-governmental organizations play in building adaptive capacity to support effective adaptation, few studies have focused specifically on rural, community-based nonprofits. To fill this gap, we employ a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the role of the Ingleside on the Bay Coastal Watch Association (IOBCWA), a resident-led, community-based nonprofit, in building adaptive capacity to coastal flooding in the City of Ingleside on the Bay (IOB; pop. 800), located in the Coastal Bend Region of Texas. By applying a grounded theory framework, we show that IOBCWA has improved the adaptive capacity of IOB through five primary activities: engaging in community organizing, boosting advocacy and outreach, implementing evidence-based data collection, building capacity among residents, and developing regional communication networks. Our findings are further examined using the Regional Fingerprint tool (Hirschfeld et al., 2020) to assess progress toward building regional adaptive capacity. We identify a need for more formalized policies, enhanced regional partnerships, and broader inclusion of socially vulnerable groups to address environmental challenges. Overall, this work highlights the important role that small, community-based nonprofits like IOBCWA play in building community adaptive capacity and suggests the need for a more comprehensive regional approach with participation from multiple stakeholders to address challenges related to coastal flooding. • Emphasizes the role of CBOs, participatory governance, and local knowledge in coastal flood mitigation initiatives. • Applies grounded theory to analyze the environmental challenges in coastal communities. • Explores the adaptive capacity of small coastal communities amid industrial and environmental threats. • Evaluates adaptive capacities of a community by applying the Regional Fingerprint tool (Hirschfeld et al., 2020). • Underscores the importance of regional collaboration among diverse stakeholders in building adaptive capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of key genes and molecular pathways that are involved in the response to stressors is crucial for controlling stress in fish and sustainable aquaculture. Environmental stressors can induce stress responses in aquatic animals, resulting in compromised immune function, inhibited growth, and increased mortality rates. mRNA-seq analysis provides a powerful tool to identify key genes and pathways associated with stress response. In the present study, mRNA-seq analysis was employed to identify key overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and molecular pathways under salinity, nitrite, copper, and pH stress in the liver of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The pathways associated with the immune response, oxygen transport, homeostasis, and oxidative stress were enriched across all stressors. The top KEGG pathways were complement and coagulation cascades, PPAR signaling pathway, and cardiac muscle contraction. The top GO enrichment terms were oxidoreductase activity, aerobic respiration, endopeptidase inhibitor activity, endopeptidase regulator activity, heme binding, and iron ion binding. The complement genes (C3 , C4 , C5 , factor B , and factor H), alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), hemoglobin subunit epsilon (HBE), hemoglobin subunit alpha (HBA), coagulation factor genes (XI and X) and the cytochrome c oxidase (COX) gene family (cox1 , cox2 , cox3 , cytochrome P450) were identified as key shared genes across multiple stressors. The discovery of these genes and molecular pathways provided a better understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the stress response in Nile tilapia. The results of the present study can facilitate the development of stress management strategies in Nile tilapia. [Display omitted] • Overlapping DEGs and molecular pathways under multiple stressors were discovered in Nile tilapia • Pathways associated with the immune response, homeostasis, and oxidative stress were enriched across all stressors • Top KEGG pathways were complement and coagulation cascades, PPAR signaling pathway, and cardiac muscle contraction • Top GO enrichment terms were oxidoreductase activity, aerobic respiration, endopeptidase inhibitor, and heme binding • Complement genes and COX gene family were identified as key shared genes across multiple stressors [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-Scale Fishery Systems have changed in the last decades under the influence of multiple human activities. The Itaipu Small-Scale Fishery System is under the influence of gentrification of an almost exclusive fishing village, allied to economic demands and technological advances. The present study aimed to understand the adaptive strategies of this system based on the analysis of changes that have occurred in the last four decades regarding the following parameters: catch composition and fish production, characteristic fishing methods and the gear and vessels used in the activity. The spatial distributions of gillnet and hook-and-line catches and their relationship with the defined area of the Itaipu Marine Extractive Reserve was also evaluated. The results indicate the capability of the Itaipu Small-Scale Fishery System to adapt over time concerning disturbances. These results may contribute to the management of the fishing system at the Marine Extractive Reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovative policy measures often imply institutional adjustments. Whether such adjustments are accomplished often depends upon the presence of institutional entrepreneurship: actors who take responsibility to initiate the necessary actions to redesign existing institutional practices. The question arises under which conditions can institutional entrepreneurship be developed? And, what might be the cause of lacking institutional entrepreneurship? In this article, the latter question is examined through in-depth collaborative research project for exploring alternative, adaptive flood risk strategies for flood proofing the unembanked area of the north-end of the city district Feijenoord in Rotterdam. Due to climate change, these areas are increasingly vulnerable to flooding. The traditional, institutionalized solution of raising the ground level before initiating new spatial developments does not suffice in the long term. Therefore, the city government explored alternative strategies for more adaptive ways of dealing with flood risks. Together with representatives of key stakeholders in the area, two key strategies for the unembanked areas were elaborated. These strategies have significant implications for the distribution of costs, risks and responsibilities and necessitate alternative governance architectures that exceed the current institutional structures. During the research project, it became clear that the developed alternative strategies fundamentally differed from the current institutional system. Thus, institutional redesign was necessary. This proved to be virtually impossible, especially because none of the involved actors was willing nor capable of undertaking entrepreneurial activities to start such redesign. This observation led us to further investigate into the causes and the consequences of the absent entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangrove ecosystems are vulnerable to environmental threats. In order to elucidate the effect of phosphorus (P) on cadmium (Cd) tolerance and physiological responses in mangroves under Cd stress, a mangrove specie with salt exclusion Kandelia obovata and a specie with salt secretion Avicennia marina were compared in a hydroponic experiment. The results showed that most Cd was accumulated in mangrove roots and that P addition induced Cd immobilisation in them. Cd stress significantly increased malonaldehyde content, whereas P significantly decreased malonaldehyde in mangroves. Phosphorus positively regulated the photosynthetic pigment, proline content and synthesis of non-protein thiols, glutathione and phytochelatins in the leaves under Cd stress conditions. The results suggest different adaptive strategies adopted by two mangroves in a complex environment and A. marina showed a stronger Cd tolerance than K. obovata . The study provides a theoretical basis for P mediated detoxification of Cd in mangrove plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil, as in many other tropical countries, coastal communities have been dealing with a complex dynamics of change, mostly related to the degradation of ecosystems, growing tourism and changing government policies, with consequences for natural resources conservation and management. Understanding how these communities are dealing with such change and the trade-offs provide insights for building resilience. In this paper, we investigate how a Caiçara community (traditional group of mixed heritage) has been dealing with social-ecological changes over the last 50 years, and how these changes have affected the livelihood resilience. Livelihood pathway analysis revealed how the system behaved historically and how the past dynamics influenced and may continue to influence resilience building. In face of challenges and disturbances, the coping and adaptive strategies used by this community have helped to maintain the diversity of livelihood options and ecosystem services, which contributed to resilience. Self-organization, collective action and political agency were important components to deal with crises mainly related to territorial disputes concerning overlap with protected areas. The trade-offs in social-ecological system dynamics were related to the geographical isolation of the community (located on an island), the creation of protected areas, and the use of tourism income as a livelihood strategy. Over the years, social cohesion has weakened due to increased economic rationality and conflicts – which may undermine social-ecological system resilience in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ager: Journal of Depopulation & Rural Development Studies / Revista de Estudios sobre Despoblación y Desarrollo Rural is the property of Rolde de Estudios Aragoneses and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Currently, most processes have a volume of historical information that makes its manual processing difficult. Data mining, one of the most significant stages in the Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) process, has a set of techniques capable of modeling and summarizing these historical data, making it easier to understand them and helping the decision making process in future situations. This article presents a new data mining adaptive technique called SOM+PSO that can build, from the available information, a reduced set of simple classification rules from which the most significant relations between the features recorded can be derived. These rules operate both on numeric and nominal attributes, and they are built by combining a variation of a population metaheuristic and a competitive neural network. The method proposed was compared with the PART method and measured over 19 databases (mostly from the UCI repository), and satisfactory results were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revue d'Études Comparatives Est-Ouest is the property of Presses Universitaires de France and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ideas y Valores is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rapid population growth is putting enormous pressure on fragile marine ecosystems. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a widely adopted management tool to address these challenges, but their conservation effectiveness is uncertain, especially in developing countries such as China. Management effectiveness evaluation (MEE) is an efficient method for assessing MPA outcomes and identifying key impact factors. However, only a limited number of MEEs have been conducted for China's MPAs in the past two decades, thus largely limiting their improvement of management. In this context, we conducted a comprehensive review of MPAs status and existing MEEs in China. We found that despite the significant increase in the number and coverage of China's MPAs, their conservation effectiveness might be impacted by the lack of systematic planning, adequate funding, appropriate zoning, long-term monitoring, and sound laws. Major challenges to the evaluation of MPA management effectiveness in China include the lack of a standardized framework, limited survey data, financial support, and public engagement. To address these challenges, we developed a comprehensive framework based on the common objectives of China's MPAs and existing MEE frameworks. We also recommend based on the developed framework: 1) establishing long-term monitoring pilots in national MPAs; 2) providing sustained funding support for MEE, monitoring and capacity building from government, social capital, and ecotourism; and 3) promoting public participation in MPA management and evaluation through advocacy, incentive mechanisms, and establishment of committees. Adopting our recommendations can strengthen adaptive management and provide new insights into evidence-based decision-making for MPAs in China. [Display omitted] • A comprehensive review of China's MPAs and their management effectiveness evaluations (MEEs) is conducted. • The effectiveness of China's MPAs urgently needs to be improved through adaptive management. • The lack of a standardized framework, survey data, financial support, and public engagement hinder the MEEs forChina's MPAs. • A comprehensive and standardized framework was proposed for China's MPAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: In West Africa, rural livelihoods depending on natural resources develop coping and adapting strategies to face climate variability or change and economic or political changes. The former Lake Faguibine in northern Mali has experienced drastic ecological, social, and economic changes. Forests have emerged on the former lake and have become important for local livelihoods. This paper analyses the coping and adapting strategies of forest- and livestock-based livelihoods facing ecological changes. Results from field research at different levels indicate that most local strategies are based on diversification including migration within the livestock production system or in complement to it, with differences according to gender, age, and ethnicity. Political discourses, cultural identities, and past experiences influence and shape adaptation strategies at the local level. The sustainability of the observed strategies depends on the access to natural resources and the sustainable management of these resources, which in turn depends on institutions at local and national levels. Many local strategies are reactive to external events but would need strategic support from higher levels to move from coping to adapting. Examples are the development of institutions and technical actions for natural resource management, as well as development actions supporting local strategies and sustainable investments. Researchers, practitioners and development planners will need simple methods and tools for understanding and analysing local adaptation perceptions and actions to achieve an effective support of sustainable and gender-equitable local adaptation and to avoid mismatches between strategies proposed by local and by sub national and national actors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Frontières is the property of Universite du Quebec a Montreal, Revue Frontieres and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: The aim of this research is to develop an autonomous system for solving data analysis problems. The system, called Genetic Programming-Autonomous Solver (GP-AS) contains most of the features required by an autonomous software: it decides if it knows or not how to solve a particular problem, it can construct solutions for new problems, it can store the created solutions for later use, it can improve the existing solutions in the idle-time it can efficiently manage the computer resources for fast running speed and it can detect and handle failure cases. The generator of solutions for new problems is based on an adaptive variant of Genetic Programming. We have tested this part by solving some well-known problems in the field of symbolic regression and classification. Numerical experiments show that the GP-AS system is able to perform very well on the considered test problems being able to successfully compete with standard GP having manually set parameters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Psychiatria Polska is the property of Editorial Committee of Polish Psychiatric Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Occupants' adaptive strategies play an important role in the energy consumption of office buildings. Previous research has mostly focused on the adaptive strategies triggered by occupants' indoor discomfort; however, it is crucial to understand if specific adaptive strategies are linked to occupants' energy-saving intentions. This study explores the relationships among employees' heuristic decision-making in their first choice of adaptive strategies (technological solutions or personal adjustments) when facing extreme discomfort conditions, and their energy-saving intentions, then links these patterns with building design, workplace contextual factors, and demographics. A cross-sectional survey was collected among university employees from China, Brazil, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the US. Our results demonstrated that the accessibility to indoor environmental controls (IECs) and office type are the significant factors for adaptive strategies. There was a positive relationship between the number of IEC features and the percentage of employees choosing a technological solution. When feeling too hot, occupants in private offices are more likely to adopt a technological solution, whereas occupants in cubicles are more likely to choose a personal adjustment. Occupants with energy-saving intentions are less likely to choose thermostat adjustments or use portable devices as adaptive strategies than their counterparts. Finally, the cluster analysis suggests females were more likely to use adaptive strategies for energy-saving purposes than males. The majority of occupants would turn on/off lighting to save energy. The study provides the contributions in the connection between the heuristic decision-making process and energy-saving intentions and recommendations on design strategies for building architects, engineers, and managers. • This study examines occupants' adaptive strategies in facing discomfort conditions. • Occupants in private offices are more likely to adopt a technological solution. • Occupants with energy-saving intentions do not prefer thermostat adjustments. • Women were more likely to use adaptive strategies for energy-saving purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unique vulnerabilities are intrinsic to Pacific Island Countries which shape risk perception and influence adaptive decision making to natural hazards. This study aims to examine ongoing risks caused by hydro-meteorological hazards, with a focus on micro-level household response to increasing vulnerabilities, in addition to macro-level community related vulnerabilities. Data collection was undertaken through semi-structured interviews in three hydro-meteorological hazard-prone communities, dominated by members of the Indi-Fijian community, that is, the Indian diaspora, in the Western part of Fiji. The findings were analysed using descriptive, interpretive and inferential analysis. The findings reveal that climatic, physical, cultural and socio-economic factors render households more vulnerable at a micro-level. The research also revealed that members of the Indian community normally have lower levels of societal cohesion, have an inherent individualistic approach to disasters and lack access to communal assets such as land, rendering them more vulnerable at a community level. As a coping mechanism, households were found to have a higher likelihood of adhering to social adaptive strategies such as making behavioural, informational, and educational changes for risk reduction. According to this study, participants show a high degree of risk perception with a sound understanding of storm surge, flood peaks and extents as well as prolonged dry spells. The study recommends avenues for combining scientific knowledge together with citizen science for better hazard risk analysis as future research. To ensure appropriate risk mitigation, governments should implement effective warning systems and undertake capacity building prior to disasters to initiate adequate response to forecast warnings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is an important ecological factor that affects physiological metabolism, survival, and distribution of marine organisms. Despite changes in the osmolarity and composition of the cytosol during salinity shifts, marine mollusks are able to maintain their metabolic function. The razor clam (Sinonovacula constricta) survives the wide range of salinity in the intertidal zone via changes in behavior and physiology. To explore the stress responses and mechanisms of salinity tolerance in razor clams, we collected transcriptomic and metabolomic data from a control group (salinity 20‰, S20) and a salinity-stress group (salinity 35‰, S35). The transcriptome data showed that genes related to the immune system, cytoskeleton remodeling, and signal transduction pathways dominated in the S35 group to counteract hypersalinity stress in the gill. The metabolomic analysis showed that 142 metabolites were significantly different between the S35 and S20 groups and that amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism were affected by hypersalinity stress. Levels of amino acids and energy substances, such as l -proline, isoleucine, and fructose, were higher in the gill of the S35 group. The combination of transcriptomic and metabolomic data indicated that metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids was enhanced in the gill during adaptation to high salinity. These results clarified the complex physiological processes involved in the response to hyperosmotic stress and maintenance of metabolism in the gill of razor clams. These findings provide a reference for further study of the biological responses of euryhaline shellfish to hyperosmotic stress and a molecular basis for the search for populations with high salinity tolerance. [Display omitted] • Metabolome and transcriptome analyses revealed metabolic changes in the razor clam gill under hypersaline conditions. • High salinity significantly influenced the immune system, cytoskeleton remodeling, apoptosis, and signal pathways. • Proline and taurine played important roles in osmoregulation. • Amino acids, osmolytes, energy materials, and some intermediate metabolites were critical for adaptation to hyperosmolality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]