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While interfunctional collaboration remains well-studied within the marketing literature, this research is the first to empirically explore the effects of sales–supply chain management (S-SCM) collaboration among salespeople selling internationally. Survey data from 310 international salespeople provide initial empirical evidence showing that S-SCM collaboration can positively predict international salesperson performance outcomes. To show that the effect is unique and provide rare empirical evidence, the authors simultaneously account for the effects of multiple forms of cross-functional collaboration (i.e., sales–marketing collaboration and sales–research and development collaboration). Matching the survey responses with objective country-level data, the authors also find that the value of S-SCM collaboration varies across countries. In particular, the positive effects of S-SCM collaboration were amplified by logistics capacity (or "logistics friendliness") at the country level. The study's findings also indicate that the positive performance returns provided by S-SCM collaboration are even stronger for international salespeople focused on customer acquisition (vs. customer retention). Broadly, the study implies that, for optimal firm performance, those who are responsible for managing global supply chains should coordinate activities with those responsible for selling to global customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spontaneous combustion of coal gangue hills is accompanied by the release of toxic gases and the infiltration of metal elements, posing a serious threat to the global ecological environment. The current temperature monitoring methods for coal gangue hills have certain limitations, hence advanced and timely temperature monitoring is crucial for the management of coal gangue hills. This paper takes Guojiahe coal gangue hill as an example, thousands of visible light and thermal infrared images are obtained by using an unmanned aerial vehicle, and the 3-D model of the surface temperature of the gangue hill is established with Gaussian kernel technique and Random Sampling Consensus Method (RANSAC). Furthermore, the high-temperature zone in the gangue hill is measured by handheld thermocouples. The results indicate that high-temperature areas are distributed in a circular pattern and mostly concentrated on the slope surface and the boundary line between the slope and the bench. The thermal images can reflect the temperature inside the gangue hill by comparing the results of thermocouple temperature measurement and UAV detection. Further, it is analyzed that the air leakage cracks formed on the slope of the gangue hill provide a channel for the combination of coal gangue and oxygen, accelerating the heat accumulation, and the three-field coupling mechanism of coal gangue spontaneous combustion is proposed. This study can provide technical and methodological support for the prevention and control of spontaneous combustion in coal gangue hills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corruption, a global phenomenon, affects countries worldwide, transcending geographic and political boundaries, and continues to escalate, partly due to the inefficiency of financial and legal institutions and lack of enforcement. This has significant implications for Africa, hindering democracy, development, and poverty alleviation efforts. Defined as the intentional misuse of official authority for personal benefit, corruption is often fueled by public sector financial managers or accounting officers embezzling funds. The increasing pressure on these officers to justify public fund usage, coupled with expectations for effective service delivery, may contribute to corrupt practices. This article presents a systematic literature review focused on evaluating policies and regulations to control corruption among accounting officers in South Africa's public sector. The public sector in South Africa has recently seen a rise in corruption cases, with numerous incidents involving corrupt government officers, including accounting officers, gaining media attention. This situation prompted the need for the study, which systematically reviewed existing literature to identify gaps and weaknesses in current policies and regulations. The findings revealed non-compliance with anti- corruption policies and regulations, along with a lack of accountability among accounting officers. Additionally, the study observed that punishment measures for those implicated in misusing public funds are inconsistently implemented, highlighting a significant gap between policy and practice. These findings are critical for government policymakers, as they reveal areas needing improvement in anti-corruption policies and regulations. Issues identified include unqualified officers, poor delegation, embezzlement, and non-compliance. The study recommends that the government consistently apply strict measures against officials guilty of corruption, holding them accountable for their actions. It also advocates for the implementation of effective monitoring and evaluation systems to enforce anti-corruption policies and bridge the policy-practice gap. Emphasizing that good planning is as crucial as the implementation structures themselves, the study suggests that effective functioning requires both elements to work in tandem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud computing revolutionizes global software, system, infrastructure, and storage accessibility, offering flexibility and cost-effectiveness. This paper explores the pivotal intersection of cloud computing and privacy, presenting a model to enhance cloud privacy. Beginning with an insightful introduction, the paper conducts a comprehensive exploration. A meticulous literature review addresses data privacy intricacies in the cloud context. The study navigates international dimensions of personal data processing, revealing global implications beyond geographical boundaries. Delving into cloud computing's impact on user privacy, it emphasizes the delicate balance between convenience and safeguarding sensitive information. The examination of inherent cloud computing challenges, both technical and legal. A deep dive into recent privacy concerns is complemented by dissecting legal challenges, emphasizing the General Data Protection Regulation's (GDPR) far-reaching impact on the cloud industry. Contributions include a legal and technological overview, technologies for privacy protection, and a global legal framework. The paper identifies challenges and offers information on resolving legal intricacies. Proposed strategies provide a roadmap for industry stakeholders to ensure compliance and mitigate risks. The manuscript concludes with a future perspective on cloud computing's evolving landscape, offering insights into shaping technological advancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on international law and practices, a map by itself does not constitute an independent territorial title and has no independent probative value in territorial disputes. Regarding maps with inaccurate or unreliable sources of information, unofficial maps and official maps produced by one party aiming to enhance its position, international judicial and arbitration institutions tend to hold a very little credibility. The Institute of Maritime and Ocean Affairs (IMOA), an agency of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, and some Philippine political elites selected many of the maps for the 2014 exhibition. Although some maps or charts of Scarborough Shoal drawn by the Spanish colonists on display are official or semiofficial in nature, they do not mark the political boundaries of the relevant areas and are obviously inaccurate. The purpose of Spain's charting in each expedition to Scarborough Shoal was to provide guidance on navigational safety, not to assert sovereignty. It is difficult to arrive at definite conclusions about sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal from these maps and charts. The maps or charts displayed and drawn by cartographers from other countries, have many problems, such as insufficient accuracy, covering vast area more than the Philippine Islands and the lack of marking political boundaries and thus cannot prove that the Philippines has territorial sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal. Similarly, none of the maps and charts on display are sufficient to prove that the "Kalayaan Islands" belong to the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snakebite envenomation is a serious health concern in tropical regions, resulting in high mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a neglected tropical disease and is working on strategies to reduce mortality. Russell's viper (Daboia russelii) is one of the most abundant venomous snakes found across Southeast Asia. Proteomic analysis of Russell's viper venom has demonstrated variation, with phospholipase A2 (PLA2) being the most abundant toxin across geographic boundaries. PLA2, a major constituent of the low-molecular-weight fraction of snake venom, hydrolyses phospholipids at the sn-2 position, releasing arachidonic acid and lysophospholipids. They are reported to cause various pharmacological effects, including hemolysis, anticoagulation, neurotoxicity, myotoxicity, and oedema. Though administration of antivenoms (ASV) is the primary treatment for envenomation, it has many drawbacks. Besides causing hypersensitivity reactions and life-threatening anaphylaxis, treatment with ASV is further complicated due to its inability to neutralize low-molecular-weight toxins. Thus, there is a greater need to produce next-generation antivenoms that can target specific toxins in the venom. In this review, we explored the classification of Russell's viper and the variation in its proteomic profile across Southeast Asia to date. In addition, we have also summarized the mechanism of action of PLA2 and discussed various isoforms of PLA2 found across different regions with their respective pharmacological effects. Finally, the drawbacks of commercially available antivenoms and the molecules investigated for inhibiting the low-molecular-weight toxin, PLA2 are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What explains the variation in public support for European integration? While the existing literature has predominantly focused on economic, cultural and political factors, the influence of geography has been largely overlooked. In this paper, we aim to fill this gap by examining the impact of residing in the European Union (EU) border regions on voters' perceptions and attitudes towards the EU. Contrary to previous research, our study reveals a remarkable pattern, indicating that individuals living in border regions exhibit a higher propensity to vote for Eurosceptic parties and hold negative views on the EU. Through the utilization of both behavioural and attitudinal indicators in years ranging between 1999 and 2021 and employing statistical matching, our analysis robustly supports this finding. Moreover, we delve into the underlying mechanisms driving these negative attitudes in border regions, highlighting the significance of institutional factors. A mediation analysis reveals an interesting and previously unexplored theoretical twist: We find that residing in a border region is associated with lower trust in national political institutions, which translates into distrust in the EU. These findings suggest that it might be policymakers residing in the capital of the country rather than people on the other side of the border that make borderland inhabitants' attitudes distinctly negative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correlations between natural geographic boundaries and variations in organisms' morphology have been well-documented in Sulawesi Island, which has a unique geological history and hundreds of endemic species. One of the widely distributed species of small mammals is Sulawesi giant rat (Paruromys dominator). Considering the geographic condition of Sulawesi, this species is a suitable model for studying geographic influences on morphological change. Moreover, there are no comprehensive studies on this species. Previous studies cannot fully explain the variability due to the lack of representative samples. Here, we measure 19 skull characteristics for 131 adult complete-skull specimens from six distribution areas in Sulawesi. We investigate the variation in skull characteristics using agglomeration nesting (AGNES) for cluster analysis and the standardized major axis (SMA) for allometry analysis. Our results show that P. dominator can be categorized into two groups, but distribution areas, elevation, or sex do not influence those. P. dominator in group 1 had a larger skull size than group 2. The two groups can be distinguished from four characteristics: breadth of mesopterygoid fossa (BMF), breadth of first upper molar (BM1), length of the auditory bulla (LB), and breadth of incisive foramina (BIF). The BMF and BM1 are related to mastication, and the LB and BIF are related to communication. We propose that the skull variation of this species is not correlated with geographical barriers but more clearly correlated with their feeding habits, mating behavior, and ability to escape predation. These findings were useful for future studies on the taxonomic status of P. dominator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, boundary or edge detection has made great progress under the development of convolutional neural networks (CNNs), and some algorithms have achieved a beyond human-level performance. However, CNNs tend to generate blurred edge maps, and their boundary lines are very thick and noisy. In this work, we propose a method named GCB-Net to address this problem. The GCB-Net adopts a simple yet effective fully convolutional U-shape encoder-decoder architecture, with the encoder built on VGG-16 and a novel decoder comprising a feature enhancement module (FEM) and a feature fusion module (FFM). This setup allows our method to produce more discriminative multi-scale features and leverage them for edge detection effectively. Additionally, we construct a novel mixed loss function based on Tversky index, which can guide the network to generate high-quality and crisp edge maps without postprocessing. The experiment results illustrate that the GCB-Net not only enhances the visual effect of edge maps, but also achieves a top performance among several state-of-the-art methods on the BSDS500 dataset (ODS F-score is 0.824) and NYUD-V2 dataset (ODS F-score is 0.766). Our codes are available at https://github.com/AlbertTJU/GCB-Net. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Early Cenozoic sedimentary archives of Tibet are crucial for elucidating the geodynamic processes related to continental collision, particularly crustal deformation and shortening. However, the lack of a reliable chronostratigraphic framework for the Cenozoic sedimentary basins in central Tibet has hindered a comprehensive understanding of the influence of the continuous India‐Asia convergence process on the tectonic evolution of the Tibetan hinterland. Here, we report new magnetostratigraphic ages and paleomagnetic results for the Niubao Formation exposed in the northern bank of the Siling Co. Positive field tests and microscopic observations suggest that the remanence is primary. We determine that the depositional age of the measured section was between 59.2 and 48.6 Ma. Our results reveal that the paleogeographic location of the Bangong‐Nujiang Suture Zone during the Late Paleocene–Early Eocene was 25.4 ± 2.1°N, thus supporting the model of two‐stage collision between India and Asia. Plain Language Summary: The tectono‐sedimentary evolution of the Cenozoic terrestrial sedimentary basins in the Tibetan Plateau was a long‐term response to Cenozoic continental collision and was critical for both constraining the amount of crustal shortening of the Asian continent and for paleogeographic reconstruction of the plateau. Nonetheless, the ages of the basins are controversial because of the discordance between radiometric dating results and paleontological ages. Siling Co is the geographic boundary between the Lunpola and Nima Basins, and the Niubao Formation is widely exposed on its northeastern margin, providing excellent research materials for studying the paleogeographic evolution of the plateau. Hence, we established a reliable magnetostratigraphic sequence of the Niubao Formation in northwestern Siling Co, combined with U‐Pb chronology, and constrained its age to 59.2–48.6 Ma. Our updated paleomagnetic results indicate that the paleolatitude of the Bangong‐Nujiang Suture Zone was 25.4 ± 2.1°N during the Late Paleocene–Early Eocene. Combined with the published paleomagnetic data from the intra‐oceanic arc, we suggest that the collision between the Asian and Indian continents had at least two stages and that the paleogeographic location of the collision was above 20°N. Key Points: Detrital zircon U‐Pb ages and paleomagnetic polarity patterns indicate that the Niubao Formation was deposited at 59.2–48.6 MaThe Bangong‐Nujiang Suture Zone was located at 25.4 ± 2.1°N during the Paleocene–EoceneThe amount of crustal shortening in the central Tibetan Plateau since 60 Ma is likely to be 780 ± 330 km [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the issues of large anomalous triangulations, invalid interpolations, and uneven boundary interpolations in kriging interpolation, we propose research on a coal seam modeling construction method based on improved kriging interpolation. The work methodology assumes that by introducing kriging interpolation and analyzing its problems, we improve the interpolation method via a local interpolation algorithm for large anomalous triangulations, an optimization algorithm for locally redundant interpolation points, and a nonuniform boundary adaptive local interpolation algorithm. These improvements allow the interpolation method to better reflect the variability and realistic nature of coal seams. The research results indicate that applying this method to the construction of the Dananhu No. 2 open-pit mine coal seam model has improved the issue of coal seam transition stiffness, such as abnormal large-area triangulation in areas with significant elevation differences. This approach appropriately reduces the memory space usage without altering the coal seam morphology (which saves approximately 27,000 KB of memory, equivalent to the space occupied by 4 out of 21 coal seams). It has also prevented inaccuracies in boundary line positioning and transitions caused by too low a density of points on the coal seam reserve boundary line, resulting in smoother model transitions at the boundaries that better align with the actual coal seam change trends, the error rate in coal quality estimation decreased by 62.69%. This study provides data support for mining planning and reduces costs. This method can be extended to the construction of all mine models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractStatic nanobeam bending problems have yielded conflicting results from many researchers. Methods suggested by numerous researchers have shown inconsistencies in capturing size effects and satisfying essential and natural boundary conditions for nanobeam configurations when subjected to different types of loading. This work proposes an alternative approach using Eringen’s strain-driven integral nonlocal elasticity to arrive at analytical solutions. The theory of generalized functions and the Dirac-delta identity are used to revisit Timoshenko nanobeam modeling aspects, focusing on nanobeam elastostatics. Proposed analytical solutions for fundamental and derived quantities based on the strain-driven nonlocal model have been compared with the results of existing approaches. A crucial drawback with the strain-driven models of Eringen in both integral and differential form is its inability to satisfy equilibrium equations, which is addressed extensively in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENTIllegal material is increasingly appearing on popular mainstream websites. Many commentators worry about the impact of such material on adolescents' psycho-sexual development and the potential for some legal pornography to act as a gateway to child sexual exploitation material for users of any age. In this study, we collected publicly available data from a popular legal pornography website to assess the risk of adolescent exposure to content that may hinder healthy psycho-sexual development. We analysed over 27 million customer searches involving 149 video tags from this site. Five international experts on the effects of pornography rated the tags, categorising them into five overlapping genres: mainstream, incestuous, underage, aggressive and non-consensual. They also assessed the potential risk each genre posed. Our analysis found a significant positive correlation between the harm ratings and the frequency of tags used as search terms. Additionally, eleven of the twelve tags with the highest mean risk scores involved potential underage and/or incestuous content. This study highlights a concerning relationship between the harm ratings of various pornographic genres and their popularity as search terms. While exploratory, these results emphasise the need for regulatory measures to address the presence of harmful material on mainstream websites.The study has practical implications for the regulation of potentially harmful pornography by legal pornography sites. The sites should (a) control the use of tags and how new tags are developed in order to prevent content creators from advertising potentially illegal material, (b) vet all content before it is uploaded for public consumption, and (c) implement screening systems to retrospectively find and eradicate all illegal or harmful content already in their collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes the catalytic cracking unit of a petrochemical industry as an example to explore the effects of blending hydrogenated tail oil on the distribution and quality of catalytic cracking products, and analyzes the reasons. The results showed that blending hydrogenated tail oil can significantly reduce the output of dry gas and oil slurry. Every increase of 1 ton of hydrogenated tail oil refining, the output of oil slurry decreases by 0.14 tons, dry gas decreases by 56 m³, and gasoline output increases by 0.26 tons. The blending of hydrogenated tail oil will reduce the aromatic hydrocarbon content in gasoline components, decrease the density of gasoline components, and lower the distillation temperature. As the blending amount of hydrogenated tail oil increases, the C3 content in the liquefied petroleum gas decreases and the C4 content increases . This is attributed to the fact that the blending of hydrogenated tail oil inhibits the deep reaction of catalytic cracking, reduces the generation of C3 and below components and deep cracking products such as slurry, and increases the yield of liquids above C4. As the blending amount of hydrogenated tail oil increases, C3 and C4 components become the boundary line for the impact of hydrogenated tail oil blending on the depth of catalytic cracking reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns an age-structured juvenile-adult model incorporating harvesting pulse and moving boundaries in a heterogeneous environment, in which harvesting reflects human periodic pulse intervention on adults and the moving boundaries describe the natural expanding front of species. The principal eigenvalue is firstly defined and its properties involving the intensity of harvesting and length of habitat sizes are analyzed. Then the criteria to determine whether the species spread or vanish is discussed, and some relevant sufficient conditions characterized by pulse are established. Our results reveal that the co-extinction or coexistence of species is influenced by internal expanding capacity from species itself and external harvesting pulse from human intervention, in which the intensity and timing of harvesting play key roles. Our numerical simulations validate that the larger the harvesting rate and the shorter the harvesting period, the worse the survival of the species due to the cooperation among juveniles and adults, and such harvesting pulse can even alter the situation of species from persistence to extinction. In addition, expanding capacities also affect or alter the outcomes of spreading and vanishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a dialogue between Siao Yuong Fong (Rong) and Jian Lin, who are Co-Editors of Cultural Commons and Book Reviews at the European Journal of Cultural Studies. They share their personal journeys with Cultural Studies and their visions for the Cultural Commons section. The editors emphasize inclusivity, Global South perspectives, and the importance of decolonizing knowledge production in cultural studies. They aim to create a space for diverse voices and alternative epistemological paradigms, challenging traditional academic boundaries and fostering global conversations. [Extracted from the article]

The article explores the phenomenon of "dear enemy effects" in the stoplight parrotfish, Sparisoma viride. Dear enemy effects refer to the tendency of territory holders to act less aggressively towards their neighbors compared to strangers. The study observed territorial interactions between male parrotfish and neighboring males or nonterritorial "floaters." The results showed that territorial males were more likely to engage in escalated chases with floaters than with neighbors. The study suggests that the dear enemy effect may be influenced by the defense of food resources and the presence of females. The findings contribute to understanding the mechanisms underlying territoriality in parrotfish and its role in population regulation and ecosystem functioning. [Extracted from the article]

Palmprint is a promising biometric modality and has several advantages. However, many serious challenges severely restrict the development of palmprint recognition in mobile environments. Double-line-single-point (DLSP), as a state-of-the-art assisting graph, can be free from pre-processing, and effectively reduce the errors of pre-processing; however, its accuracy heavily depends on users' cooperation and operation proficiency. This paper proposes boundary line calibration (BLC) and finger valley calibration (FVC) to suppress the translational dislocations in DLSP. Firstly, the samples acquired according to DLSP are rotated around the center so that the assisting lines are horizontal. Secondly, a rectangular area is cropped as the region of line detection (RLD) with the assisting line as the reference; while a rectangular area is cropped as the region of point detection (RPD) with the assisting point as the reference. The cropped rectangular regions are convolved with Gabor filters along an optimized direction to enhance edges. The accurate palm boundary is localized in RLD to reduce the vertical dislocation; and the accurate inter-finger valley point (IFVP) is localized in RPD to reduce the horizontal dislocation. The sufficient experiments show that the proposed algorithm can calibrate the translational dislocations caused by users' imperfect cooperation, and accordingly remarkably improve the accuracy and users' comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Global species distribution maps tend to be limited to a reduced number of species or are too coarse to inform ecological research and conservation actions at local scales. We developed a workflow to generate species range and area of habitat (AOH) maps tailored to local contexts based on expert information, community science observations and an ecoregion approach. We also developed a workflow to increase transparency in range maps and map the areas of uncertainty at the species and community levels using community science data. Location: North‐Western South America. Methods: We combined expert knowledge, community science observations, a new map of ecoregions for Colombia and national maps of land cover to produce species range and AOH maps for 94% of the terrestrial resident birds of Colombia (1633 species). We used community science records to validate the range maps and produce a species‐specific layer of uncertainty by calculating the distance between pixels classified as habitat and species occurrence points. Results: Compared to previous efforts, the new maps have higher species coverage and produced better validation scores for more than 50% of the species analysed. In addition, the produced maps also show macroecological patterns that follow natural boundaries, significantly improving the arbitrary patterns observed in previous mapping efforts. Uncertainty maps illustrate the spatial resolution and the extent at which these maps can be used with the highest confidence and highlight poorly surveyed areas that require extensive sampling. Main Conclusions: Combining information from expert sources, field observations and broad macroecological patterns is key to improve AOH maps that are fitted to local applications. Our uncertainty analysis can also guide concerted national efforts to survey specific localities. Our workflow can be used in multiple regions, countries and for other taxa, and we expect that it will improve local estimates of biogeographical and species diversity patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a leading cause of corneal endothelial degeneration resulting in impaired visual acuity. Excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (guttae) on Descemet's membrane (DM) is the hallmark of FECD. We sought to detect the guttae area rapidly using aniline blue (AB) staining in FECD mouse model. FECD mouse model was established via ultraviolet A (UVA) exposure. Masson's trichrome staining was utilized to stain the corneal sections. AB staining was utilized to stain both whole cornea tissues and stripped Descemet's membrane‐endothelium complex (DMEC) flat mounts, while immunofluorescence staining of collagen I was employed to stain guttae areas. In Masson's trichrome staining, corneal collagen fibrils were stained blue with AB. The DMEC flat mounts were stained into relative dark blue areas and relative light blue areas using 2% AB staining. The areas of dark blue could almost overlap with collagen I‐positive areas, and have an acellular centre and a moderately distinct boundary line with the surrounding corneal endothelial cells. In conclusion, AB staining is a rapid and effective method for the evaluation of the guttae areas in the FECD mouse model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent demand for substantial reforms in the governance of coastal regions. Recent research advocates for a transformative shift in European coastal governance system towards a landscape governance approach. This perspective, informed by a narrative literature review on coastal and landscape governance, explores the potential value of coastal landscape governance, drawing on the Council of Europe Landscape Convention. Our results, presented in the form of a manifesto, underscore the need to move beyond political administrative boundaries and address all coastal landscapes as socio-ecological systems. It emphasises the necessity for the State to recognise them as a public and common good, establishing a specific governance arena with dedicated actors and institutions. The manifesto also advocates for landscape justice through knowledge co production, urging transformative change and landscape based regional design to envision alternative futures. Additionally, it calls for regionalising coastal landscape governance and invites scholars from other transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives to contribute to this research agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normative models of citizenship delimit rights and obligations within the territorial boundaries of the modern state. These models fail to capture how political belonging can be stretched and reconfigured across polities. The 2019 '17 October Revolution' in Lebanon galvanised widespread solidarity protests and initiatives in the Lebanese diaspora in France. As sites of cultural encounter, solidarity protest movements in the diaspora created opportunities for different cultural and political identities to collide, producing 'contrapuntal' forms of citizenship. Drawing insights from Edward Said's examination of the 'contrapuntal,' this paper argues that as sites of encounter, diasporic solidarity initiatives pluralised definitions of political belonging producing contrapuntal forms of citizenship. By thinking through music, this paper will examine the overlapping layers, or melodies, of political belonging that constitute diasporic citizens. It will contend that diaspora solidarity initiatives allowed activists to enact multiple, sometimes contradicting, claims to belonging. In doing so, it will shift from hybrid to contrapuntal models of diasporic citizenship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the inverse scattering problem associated with an anisotropic medium with a conductive boundary. We will assume that the corresponding far–field pattern is known/measured and we consider two inverse problems. First, we show that the far–field data uniquely determines the boundary coefficient. Next, since it is known that anisotropic coefficients are not uniquely determined by this data we will develop a qualitative method to recover the scatterer. To this end, we study the so–called monotonicity method applied to this inverse shape problem. This method has recently been applied to some inverse scattering problems but this is the first time it has been applied to an anisotropic scatterer. This method allows one to recover the scatterer by considering the eigenvalues of an operator associated with the far–field operator. We present some simple numerical reconstructions to illustrate our theory in two dimensions. For our reconstructions, we need to compute the adjoint of the Herglotz wave function as an operator mapping into H 1 of a small ball. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present context of artificial intelligence, student-teachers need to understand technological applications in education and incorporate them into their classroom instruction. Technological applications help in connecting and collaborating beyond geographical boundaries. The student-teachers should be equipped with the knowledge and understanding of the benefits of incorporating technology into their teaching practices and it should be the focus of teachertraining to equip them with the necessary skills to utilize these applications in their practice. The ICT in Education course was introduced in one of the University's pre-service teacher education programs in India to facilitate student-teachers to gain the ICT skills needed to integrate it into teaching. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the multimedia package on student-teachers at the pre-service level based on empirical evidence. Some of the findings suggest that the use of the multimedia package not only helps student-teachers identify and use resources effectively but also delivers the content meaningfully. The Multimedia packages could serve as a tool for educators to deliver subject content efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As laser scanning technology becomes readily available and affordable, there is an increasing demand of using point cloud data collected from a laser scanner to create as-built building information modeling (BIM) models for quality assessment, schedule control and energy performance within construction projects. To enhance the as-built modeling efficiency, this study explores an integrated system, called Auto-Scan-To-BIM (ASTB), with an aim to automatically generate a complete Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) model consisted of the 3D building elements for the given building based on its point cloud without requiring additional modeling tools. Design/methodology/approach: ASTB has been developed with three function modules. Taking the scanned point data as input, Module 1 is built on the basis of the widely used region segmentation methodology and expanded with enhanced plane boundary line detection methods and corner recalibration algorithms. Then, Module 2 is developed with a domain knowledge-based heuristic method to analyze the features of the recognized planes, to associate them with corresponding building elements and to create BIM models. Based on the spatial relationships between these building elements, Module 3 generates a complete IFC model for the entire project compatible with any BIM software. Findings: A case study validated the ASTB with an application with five common types of building elements (e.g. wall, floor, ceiling, window and door). Originality/value: First, an integrated system, ASTB, is developed to generate a BIM model from scanned point cloud data without using additional modeling tools. Second, an enhanced plane boundary line detection method and a corner recalibration algorithm are developed in ASTB with high accuracy in obtaining the true surface planes. At last, the research contributes to develop a module, which can automatically convert the identified building elements into an IFC format based on the geometry and spatial relationships of each plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The wheat harvesting boundary line is vital reference information for the path tracking of an autonomously driving combine harvester. However, unfavorable factors, such as a complex light environment, tree shade, weeds, and wheat stubble color interference in the field, make it challenging to identify the wheat harvest boundary line accurately and quickly. Therefore, this paper proposes a harvest boundary line recognition model for wheat harvesting based on the MV3_DeepLabV3+ network framework, which can quickly and accurately complete the identification in complex environments. The model uses the lightweight MobileNetV3_Large as the backbone network and the LeakyReLU activation function to avoid the neural death problem. Depth-separable convolution is introduced into Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling (ASPP) to reduce the complexity of network parameters. The cubic B-spline curve-fitting method extracts the wheat harvesting boundary line. A prototype harvester for wheat harvesting boundary recognition was built, and field tests were conducted. The test results show that the wheat harvest boundary line recognition model proposed in this paper achieves a segmentation accuracy of 98.04% for unharvested wheat regions in complex environments, with an IoU of 95.02%. When the combine harvester travels at 0~1.5 m/s, the normal speed for operation, the average processing time and pixel error for a single image are 0.15 s and 7.3 pixels, respectively. This method could achieve high recognition accuracy and fast recognition speed. This paper provides a practical reference for the autonomous harvesting operation of a combine harvester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we establish the existence of multiple, infinitely many, nontrivial solutions to a class of nonlinear fractional elliptic systems in fractional variational form subject to pointwise gradient constraint and pure Dirichlet-type boundary conditions. We use a topological class of maps referred to as generalized twists and examine them in connection with the later system of fractional Euler-Lagrange equations and prove the existence of a countably infinite of topologically distinct twisting solutions to this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its inception, the United Nations (UN) system has been instrumental in fulfilling the objectives of the UN Charter. Despite these successes, environmental degradation has escalated to critical levels especially in the last six decades. The prevailing development model, reliant on infinite natural resource extraction, is unjust and unsustainable. Growing scientific evidence on planetary boundary warns that this unbalanced developmental model is driving the humanity toward irreversible damage to essential ecological processes. Radical transformations and extraordinary cooperation among nations are required to reverse these. This paper argues that the UN system is critical in facilitating this extraordinary cooperation and charting pathways to a sustainable planetary future by harnessing its convening power, scientific & technical expertise and global presence. To achieve this, the UN must strive for stable and sustainable pathways as a common good by all the 193 member states. This commitment will require structural reforms, robust governance architecture, strengthened multilateralism, and, above all, moving away from artificial geographical boundaries while recognizing the critical role of the UN member states. As a corollary, the UN needs to build capacity and assist sovereign states in translating the ambitious action plans for our planetary future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores local experiences and consequences of Russian “borderization” and “creeping occupation” along the administrative boundary line (ABL) between occupied South Ossetia and Georgian-controlled territory. Based on ethnographic fieldwork and interviews in borderland villages, the focus moves beyond the immediate physical manifestations and geopolitical consequences and draws attention to the social effects produced by these practices. By examining the relationship between the specific political situation affecting livelihoods along the ABL and local notions of kinship and place as foundations of good lives and social continuity, the article unpacks the ways in which fundamental ambiguities and uncertainties characterizing the borderlands extend beyond the physical terrain and into intimate social relationships and practices. I conclude by arguing that in this context otherwise mundane notions of individual mobility, kinship obligations and ancestral place are infused with a sense of urgency, which takes on both existential and political significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While conventional wisdom holds that right-wing individuals tend to present more negative attitudes toward environmental protection, McCright and colleagues find no clear relationship between political ideology and environmental attitudes in Central and Eastern Europe. The reason for this finding remains speculative. Our study expands on this phenomenon by exploring how party competition and, thereby, parties’ focus on a specific issue moderate this ideology-environment link at an individual level across 28 European countries. Using individual level-data from the European Value Study and party-level estimates from the Chapel Hill Expert Survey, our findings emphasize that respondents’ political orientation predicts their environmental attitudes more strongly when their preferred party prioritizes environmental issues. Notably, the left-right connection weakens when parties downplay environmental concerns, revealing why such issues have less impact in Central and Eastern, and Southern European political landscapes. This underscores the contextual boundaries of political ideology’s explanatory power in diverse political arrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bound states in the continuum (BICs), referring to spatially localized bound states with energies falling within the range of extended modes, have been extensively investigated in single-particle systems, leading to diverse applications in photonics, acoustics, and other classical-wave systems. Recently, there has been theoretical interest in exploring many-body BICs in interacting quantum systems, which necessitate the careful design of impurity potentials or spatial profiles of interaction. Here, we propose a type of many-body BICs localized at boundaries, which can be purely induced by the uniform onsite interaction without requiring any specific design of impurity potential or nonlocal interaction. We numerically show that three or more interacting bosons can concentrate on the boundary of a homogeneous one-dimensional lattice, which is absent at single- and two-particle counterparts. Moreover, the eigenenergy of multi-boson bound states can embed within the continuous energy spectra of extended scattering states, thereby giving rise to interaction-induced boundary many-body BICs. Furthermore, by mapping Fock states of three and four bosons to nonlinear circuit networks, we experimentally simulate boundary many-body BICs. Our findings enrich the comprehension of correlated BICs beyond the single-particle level, and have the potential to inspire future investigations on exploring many-body BICs. Bound states in the continuum (BICs) have been extensively investigated in single-particle systems, leading to diverse applications in photonics, acoustics, and other classical-wave systems. Here, the authors propose a type of interaction-induced many-body BICs at boundaries and experimentally simulate these boundary many-body BICs using nonlinear circuit networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In medieval times, Christians on the Iberian peninsula fought wars to expel Muslim rulers from Europe. This protracted conflict, known as the Reconquista, was concluded in 1492 when the last of the Muslim rulers surrendered. Less than a hundred years later, in 1565, the Spanish Empire's conquering impulse had carried it across two oceans into Southeast Asia, where Christian Spaniards, once again, confronted and fought against Islam. Though there are distinct differences between these two Christian-Muslim conflicts, there are also important similarities. As the Reconquista had done in Spain, Christian-Muslim conflicts in the Philippines—known as the Moro Wars—shaped local perceptions of Islam, established political and cultural boundaries, and attached personal loyalties to one or the other of these two global religions. This paper analyzes this process by focusing on two Christian conquests of Moros. The first of these was the conquest of Manila. When the Spanish arrived, Manila was a developing Moro settlement with ties to Islamic rulers on Borneo, Mindanao, and Jolo. Over several decades the Spanish gradually coopted Moro authority in Manila, and then finally expelled it through the prosecution of several conspirators involved in the Tondo conspiracy. This conquest established the political and cultural center of the colony and its emerging multiethnic colonial community. The second conquest happened on Min danao. Unlike the conquest of Manila, the conquest of Mindanao was never completed. Though the Spanish colony won several battles, Moro authority continued to thrive in the region. By focusing on the triumphal entry of a Spanish army following one of these victories, this paper shows how the constant Christian-Muslim conflict reaffirmed and gave personal meaning to the boundaries separating the Moros and the Christians in the archipelago. Together these two different conquests demonstrate how the revival of the Reconquista contributed to the creation of the Philippine colony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is the world's largest organization in terms of its impact and scope, which has grown and developed along with human history. One of the most important parts of this organization from past to present has undoubtedly been Anatolia. Çukurova is one of the leading geographies that bring this feature to Anatolia. Mersin and İçel provinces, which are the subject of our topic and will be united in 1933, contain a significant part of this fertile geography within their borders. For this reason, it is possible to grow almost all kinds of agricultural plants. Cotton, citrus fruits, grains, olives and vegetables are the most important products of the region. Mersin, located in the Mediterranean basin, constitutes 2% of Türkiye's total surface area with its surface area of 1,585,300 hectares. Mersin ranks 3rd after Antalya and Konya in terms of agricultural production. The subject of our article titled Agricultural Policies and Economic Effects in Mersin (İçel) in the Early Years of the Republic (1923-1945) is the agricultural situation in Mersin and the effects of agricultural production on the country's economy. The Republic Archive, newspapers of the period, official parliamentary documents, product statistics published by the ministry and scientific sources. Efforts will be made to shed light accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are so complex that we constantly build models to represent them, understand them and attempt to plan them. Models represent a middle ground between the singular configurations of cities and universal theories. This is what makes them valuable and prone to circulate (between places, institutions and languages) and evolve to adapt to new ideas, local conditions and/or other models. When it comes to analytical urban models (i.e. analytical representations of cities developed to study or simulate part of their structure or dynamics), there is a lack of academic understanding regarding how context and circulation affect their content, use and interpretation. What happens to analytical urban models and their reception during their circulation across geographical and disciplinary boundaries? How have different academic disciplines interacted with, contributed to and been influenced by analytical urban models? What are the consequences of urban models' mobility for our understanding of cities? In this article, we employ the policy mobilities framework to analyse the circulation of analytical urban models. We use six canonical models as case studies to determine how their assumptions came about and how these models have circulated across different domains of policy and application by using biographical information and model analysis. The first contribution of the article is to demonstrate by example that our hypothesis regarding the influence of context is consistent. We also show that highly transferable/mobile models share common characteristics relating to contingent factors such as their creators' biographies, institutional context and the traditional markers of power relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates boundary spaces and agents in one social field: the socialization of diplomatic and European Union (EU) professionals in Europe. Theoretically, I combine the geographical work on boundary practices in diplomacy with the Bourdieusian scholarship on transnational fields in sociology and international relations. Empirically, I examine the institutional settings in which the professionals who move in EU diplomacy are trained and socialized. I theorize such settings as interstitial fields to highlight their ambiguous and in-between character. The professionals who move in such fields are nomadic figures who link and mediate multiple national, institutional, and cultural settings: they are both diplomats and Eurocrats at the same time. The paper foregrounds the hinge-like spaces and practices that regulate the production of diplomatic and EU-related expertise in contemporary Europe. It thereby contributes to our understanding of the workings of international governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the impact of a Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) on acute stroke care in a middle-sized city in Germany. The study analyzes data from 552 patients with acute cerebrovascular events and compares the process times for emergency medical care (EMC) with a modeled scenario using an MSU. The results show that the use of an MSU significantly reduces the alarm-to-needle time for thrombolysed patients and increases the proportion of patients receiving thrombolysis within the "golden hour." The study suggests that MSUs can expedite the care pathway for stroke patients and improve outcomes. However, the study has limitations, and further research is needed to optimize prehospital stroke care. [Extracted from the article]

Italian colonial authorities heavily relied on the askaris (i.e. native soldiers) throughout the history of colonialism to alleviate the economic and political burdens of colonial warfare. For that, the askaris became privileged intermediaries for the Italians and emerged as a de facto elite within colonial society, seeking social mobility for themselves and their families. After the end of the Second World War, the askaris lost their role as soldiers, but gained new relevance as political intermediaries for Italian or British plans regarding the final resolution of the Italian colonies affaire. The article delves into the life stories of two askaris, which were documented by the author on 3rd November 2009, in Tripoli. Their memories highlight the relationships of friendship or intimacy that existed with the colonisers and showcase the askaris' ability to downplay colonial elements of domination and oppression through their intermediation. Being an askar entailed, on one hand, questioning the political and racial boundaries of society, and on the other hand, challenging the agendas of nationalist groups. The transition to independence indeed involved a struggle between colonisers and the colonised, as well as among various groups of colonial subjects, all vying for power within the post-colonial State and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to establish transnational links between South Yorkshire and the colony of Victoria in Australia during the late nineteenth-century. Examining definitions of 'northernness' and challenging arguments that depict northern identity and culture as inward-looking, it explores the relative absence of 'northernness' in narratives of migration and makes the case for the interconnection of ideas, events and individuals across cultural, political and national boundaries. Exploring Sheffield's links and relationship with Victoria this article places recent research about population transfers, civic identity, protest and business practice in a global perspective that highlights overlaps and connections over disjunctures, difference and the particular. Throughout, the emphasis of the article is on the diverse and wide-ranging nature of these links in an imperial context. Against this background, neither steel workers in Sheffield, nor the shearers in outback Australia appear as insular and inward-looking, as has often been asserted. In short, the article poses questions about the nature and scale of a transplanted northern identity, and the relevance of the environment of the Australian colonies to a developing sense of what it was to be from Sheffield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to investigate the morphological variations among collections of okra landraces in order to improve local varieties in Palestine. Eighteen okra accessions from various locations in the West-Bank region were evaluated for morphological variation. Different sixteen morphological traits were used for okra collection evaluation. The results revealed significant differences in seed color, leaf rib color, stem color, branching patterns, and fruit characteristics. Cluster and similarity analysis classified into two main clusters (I and II) with further sub-clusters. Genetic proximity did not strictly align with geographical boundaries, suggesting that factors beyond location influence genetic similarity. Cluster I exhibited greater diversity, with sub-clusters hinting at potential local adaptation. In contrast, Cluster II was smaller and less diverse, implying potentially distinct genetic origins. These findings provide insights for breeding strategies and germplasm conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1994, Water, War & Peace in the Middle East was published on these pages. Thirty years later, it is an important moment to consider what has changed, what has stayed largely the same, and how to think about the continuing role of water in the dynamic and difficult politics of the region. Freshwater resources there are scarce, variable, and every major river and groundwater basin crosses international boundaries. With some exceptions, over the last 30 years water conditions and political relationships have deteriorated, and violence has surged. The conclusion of the 1994 article remains true: "The opportunity for conflict over water in the Middle East is high, but peaceful, effective cooperation remains a goal worth striving for." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting the shoreline is an important task for its potential use. The shoreline allows cropping of the image into two separate areas that present the water area and the shore. It is particularly interesting because the images can be used to analyze pollution, land development, or even waterfront erosion. Unfortunately, automatic shoreline detection is a complex problem due to numerous physical and atmospheric issues. In this paper, we present a solution based on a U-net convolutional network, that is trained to shoreline detection on a dedicated database. The database is automatically generated by applying image processing techniques and a heuristic algorithm. Using heuristics, optimal values of mask generation parameters are determined. Consequently, the solution allows for the automation of generating a set of masks by analyzing the boundary line and the efficiency of the segmentation network. The proposed solution allows for the analysis of the coastline, where potential obstacles and even occurring waves can be quickly detected. To evaluate the proposed solution, tests were carried out in real conditions, which showed the effectiveness of the model. In addition, tests were carried out on a publicly available database, which allowed for obtaining higher results than existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a spatial discontinuity created by geographic boundary lines, this paper evaluates the incidence and effectiveness of a prominent place-based policy in China: national development zones (NDZs). Combining comprehensive firm-level and administrative data, the establishment of NDZs is found to have a significant impact on upgrading the technological level of Chinese manufacturing firms. NDZs promote the technological level of manufacturing firms by enhancing productivity and fostering innovation, with support from fiscal and taxation policies. The effects are heterogeneous: foreign-funded firms, small and medium-sized firms, and newly set up firms experience larger benefits. Cities with multiple NDZs realize greater effects compared to those with only one. The ability of NDZs to promote the technological level of firms is also higher in cities with a higher administrative status. Additionally, the impact varies based on whether the NDZ is an economic or a high-tech zone and its location in China's eastern, central, western, or northeastern regions. Our findings provide empirical support for the government to develop place-based industrial policies further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) have become popular study organisms for insect-based climate studies, due to the taxon's strong sensitivity to environmental conditions, and an enthusiastic following by community scientists due to their charismatic appearance and size. Where formal records of this taxon can be limited, public efforts have provided nearly 1,500,000 open-sourced odonate records through online databases, making real-time spatio-temporal monitoring more feasible. While these databases can be extensive, concerns regarding these public endeavors have arisen from a variety of sources: records may be biased by human factors (ex: density, technological access) which may cause erroneous interpretations. Indeed, records of odonates in the east-central US documented in the popular database iNaturalist bear striking patterns corresponding to political boundaries and other human activities. We conducted a 'ground-truthing' study using a structured sampling method to examine these patterns in an area where community science reports indicated variable abundance, richness, and diversity which appeared to be linked to observation biases. Our observations were largely consistent with patterns recorded by community scientists, suggesting these databases were indeed capturing representative biological trends and raising further questions about environmental drivers in the observed data gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional ICP algorithm has drawbacks such as low computational efficiency and susceptibility to local optima. This paper added line feature constraints to the traditional ICP algorithm and proposed an ICP algorithm with line feature constraints. The method adopted a coarse to fine registration strategy. Firstly, the SIFT algorithm was used to pair feature points in the DSM images generated from point cloud and image data. After eliminating mismatches with the RSANC algorithm, it served as the initial parameters for data registration. Then building boundary lines were extracted as line features from the original point cloud data and image DSM data, and the line features were simplified, fitted, or orthogonalized. The endpoints were used to represent the feature lines, and the endpoints of the same named feature lines were added to the ICP algorithm as line feature constraints to complete the registration of point cloud data and image dense point cloud data. Compared with the classic ICP algorithm, the new method proposed in this article fully extracts point cloud and image features without the need for operations on all point cloud data. Only a small number of points (about 3%) need to be sampled to participate in registration calculation, which can complete the registration of point cloud and image 3D-3D. The computational efficiency is greatly improved, and under the constraint of online features, it avoids the disadvantage of traditional algorithms easily falling into local optima. Through data experiments, the improved algorithm significantly increased the average point spacing of the painful ICP algorithm registration results from 0. 462 m to 0. 342 m, resulting in a significant improvement in accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extent of the plastic zone is critical in determining the stability and extent of damage to the surrounding rock in tunnels, crucial for designing support structures and thermal insulation layers. This study focuses on understanding how rock thermal stress affects the expansion of the plastic zone in deep-buried tunnels subjected to high geothermal temperatures, based on the derivation of the boundary line formula of the plastic zone in a high geothermal tunnel, and combined with the test results of the hydraulic fracturing method in a high geothermal tunnel of the Bulunkou Hydropower Station in Xinjiang. The findings indicate that thermal stress in the rock mass slows the growth of the plastic zone but significantly increases its extent. However, the influence of thermal stress on the shape and size of the plastic zone is less significant compared to the lateral pressure coefficient. In conditions of high geothermal temperature and geostress, rock mass thermal stress induces substantial changes in the morphology and extent of the plastic zone, which cannot be overlooked and can lead to significant errors if not properly considered. The theoretical formulas derived from engineering analysis, along with observed patterns of plastic zone expansion, demonstrate practical applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), one of the major afforestation species adopted in vegetation restoration, is notable for its rapid root growth and drought resistance. It plays a vital role in improving the natural environment and soil fertility, contributing significantly to soil and water conservation and biodiversity protection. However, compared with natural forests, due to the low diversity, simple structure and poor stability, planted forests including Robinia pseudoacacia L. are more sensitive to the changing climate, especially in the aspects of growth trend and adaptive range. Studying the ecological characteristics and geographical boundaries of Robinia pseudoacacia L. is therefore important to explore the adaptation of suitable niches to climate change. Here, based on 162 effective distribution records in China and 22 environmental variables, the potential distribution of suitable niches for Robinia pseudoacacia L. plantations in past, present and future climates was simulated by using a Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model. The results showed that the accuracy of the MaxEnt model was excellent and the area under the curve (AUC) value reached 0.937. Key environmental factors constraining the distribution and suitable intervals were identified, and the geographical distribution and area changes of Robinia pseudoacacia L. plantations in future climate scenarios were also predicted. The results showed that the current suitable niches for Robinia pseudoacacia L. plantations covered 9.2 × 105 km2, mainly distributed in the Loess Plateau, Huai River Basin, Sichuan Basin, eastern part of the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, Shandong Peninsula, and Liaodong Peninsula. The main environmental variables constraining the distribution included the mean temperature of the driest quarter, precipitation of driest the quarter, temperature seasonality and altitude. Among them, the temperature of the driest quarter was the most important factor. Over the past 90 years, the suitable niches in the Sichuan Basin and Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau have not changed significantly, while the suitable niches north of the Qinling Mountains have expanded northward by 2° and the eastern area of Liaoning Province has expanded northward by 1.2°. In future climate scenarios, the potential suitable niches for Robinia pseudoacacia L. are expected to expand significantly in both the periods 2041–2060 and 2061–2080, with a notable increase in highly suitable niches, widely distributed in southern China. A warning was issued for the native vegetation in the above-mentioned areas. This work will be beneficial for developing reasonable afforestation strategies and understanding the adaptability of planted forests to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on human-elephant interactions are typically confined to a single country. Since elephants traverse international boundaries, it is critical to comprehend human-elephant interactions along their migration routes and recognize the significance of conserving these animals. A rapid appraisal was conducted to primarily understand the human-elephant dynamics in the transboundary lowlands of the Kangchenjunga landscape, encompassing regions of Bhutan, India, and Nepal, and highlight community-identified options for coexistence between humans and elephants in the shared landscape. Elephant populations in the transboundary landscape faced significant threats due to habitat loss and fragmentation as a result of increasing human settlements, agriculture, and infrastructure development. Habitat reduction and dietary changes were common reasons for the increased raids by elephants on human settlements for food. Conflict prevention and mitigation were hindered by inadequate resources, while waste mismanagement aggravated human-elephant conflicts. Limited expertise among forest personnel and ineffective compensation systems further challenged wildlife conservation. Some potential options identified by communities as vital for human-elephant coexistence included habitat restoration, capacity building, livelihood diversification, cultivation of non-palatable crops, financial incentives for recultivating fallow land, standardization of compensation and insurance practices, transboundary cooperation, and building tolerance through alternative techniques. These strategies were aimed at mitigating conflicts, promoting understanding, ensuring sustainable cohabitation, and emphasizing the importance of collaboration between governments, conservation organizations, and local communities to safeguard elephants and enhance conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]