Adaptive Strategy Research Articles

Climate change adaptation through traditional Buffalo knowledge: learning reflection from the Blackfoot indigenous community

ABSTRACT This paper highlights the potential of Indigenous Buffalo knowledge as a valuable resource for adapting to the impacts of climate change. Buffalo, particularly in regions where they have been traditionally reared, have played a crucial role in Indigenous cultures and livelihoods. Indigenous communities have developed an intimate understanding of buffalo behaviour, ecological interactions, and their relationship with changing environmental conditions. This traditional Buffalo knowledge encompasses observations, practices, and Indigenous knowledge systems passed down through generations, providing insights into adaptive strategies that can be applied in the face of climate change. Following decolonial and relational theoretical frameworks, we used deep listening to learn how traditional Buffalo knowledge contributed to climate change adaptation strategies in Indigenous communities; how does integrating traditional Buffalo knowledge into climate change adaptation policies and practices contribute to the resilience of vulnerable communities? What challenges and opportunities are associated with incorporating traditional Buffalo knowledge into mainstream climate change adaptation efforts?

Epitranscriptome insights into Riccia fluitans L. (Marchantiophyta) aquatic transition using nanopore direct RNA sequencing

BackgroundRiccia fluitans, an amphibious liverwort, exhibits a fascinating adaptation mechanism to transition between terrestrial and aquatic environments. Utilizing nanopore direct RNA sequencing, we try to capture the complex epitranscriptomic changes undergone in response to land-water transition.ResultsA significant finding is the identification of 45 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with a split of 33 downregulated in terrestrial forms and 12 upregulated in aquatic forms, indicating a robust transcriptional response to environmental changes. Analysis of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications revealed 173 m6A sites in aquatic and only 27 sites in the terrestrial forms, indicating a significant increase in methylation in the former, which could facilitate rapid adaptation to changing environments. The aquatic form showed a global elongation bias in poly(A) tails, which is associated with increased mRNA stability and efficient translation, enhancing the plant’s resilience to water stress. Significant differences in polyadenylation signals were observed between the two forms, with nine transcripts showing notable changes in tail length, suggesting an adaptive mechanism to modulate mRNA stability and translational efficiency in response to environmental conditions. This differential methylation and polyadenylation underline a sophisticated layer of post-transcriptional regulation, enabling Riccia fluitans to fine-tune gene expression in response to its living conditions.ConclusionsThese insights into transcriptome dynamics offer a deeper understanding of plant adaptation strategies at the molecular level, contributing to the broader knowledge of plant biology and evolution. These findings underscore the sophisticated post-transcriptional regulatory strategies Riccia fluitans employs to navigate the challenges of aquatic versus terrestrial living, highlighting the plant’s dynamic adaptation to environmental stresses and its utility as a model for studying adaptation mechanisms in amphibious plants.

Feasibility of Urban-Based Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Urban Centers of Southwest Ethiopia: From Local Climate Action Perspective

Feasibility of Urban-Based Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Urban Centers of Southwest Ethiopia: From Local Climate Action Perspective

Rainfall variability and welfare of agricultural households: Evidence from rural Niger

AbstractVariable weather continues to be the major source of vulnerability to chronic hunger and poverty in many developing countries due to the strong dependency of livelihood strategies on rainfed farming. Quantifying the effect of climatic parameters on agricultural households is, therefore, necessary to help policymakers understand the benefits of climate policies, improve the allocation of the scarce resources dedicated to adaptation and prioritize among adaptation strategies. This article investigates the empirical relationship between the welfare of rural households and rainfall variability in the semi‐arid tropics, using household panel data and high‐resolution remotely sensed rainfall data from Niger. We find that a standard deviation increase in rainfall variability is associated with a reduction of real food consumption by 11.13%. Results also indicate that a standard deviation increase in rainfall variability reduces expenditures for cereal‐based products, animal‐based products and processed foods by 11.96%, 21.31%, and 16.23%, respectively. Our results are consistent across a battery of robustness checks. Finally, we find geographical‐based differences in terms of the effect and that access to cereal banks cushions the negative effect of rainfall variability. Policy interventions aiming at improving the well‐being of rural households should therefore emphasize improving climate adaptation strategies.

Women’s Homelessness and the Justice System: A Study of Desistance and Social (Re)integration Among Canadian Women Who Used or Did Not Use Criminal Activities to Survive

Women experiencing homelessness (WEH) are a marginalized group who often lack support services, leading them to adopt alternative survival strategies that leave them at risk of being victimized and becoming involved with the justice-system. To better understand this problem, we analyzed the adaptive strategies Canadian WEH use to survive. Comparing the life histories of WEH who turned to criminal activities ( n = 4) with WEH who demonstrated prosocial resilience ( n = 4) makes it possible to identify protective and risk factors for criminal behavior and to propose adaptive strategies that can be used to support these women to adopt a prosocial lifestyle. The results provide a framework for understanding the needs of WEH, filling a gap that results from the focus on men needs in most scientific literature and by many resources, and suggesting that meeting those needs may reduce the likelihood that WEH will become involved with the justice-system.

Aging in climate change: Unpacking residential mobility and changes of social determinants of health in southern United States

The southern coastal states of the United States are susceptible to extreme weather and climate events. With growing move-in and -out older populations in the region, health implications of their residential mobility lack sufficient knowledge. Using 126,352 person-level records from 2012 to 2021, we examined geospatial and temporal patterns of older populations’ residential mobility, considering the changing social determinants of health and disparities. We found the moves of older populations with socioeconomic or health disadvantages were related to increased exposure to environmental hazards and reduced access to health resources. The findings inform targeted strategies for climate adaptation that address the needs of vulnerable aging populations.

Fire regime attributes shape pre-fire vegetation characteristics controlling extreme fire behavior under different bioregions in Spain

BackgroundDesigning effective land management actions addressed to increase ecosystem resilience requires us to understand how shifting fire regimes are shaping landscapes. In this study, we aim to assess the link between fire regime and pre-fire vegetation biophysical characteristics (type, amount, and structure) in controlling extreme fire behavior across Atlantic-Transition-Mediterranean bioregions in Spain marked by different summer drought conditions and dominant plant regenerative traits. We used remote sensing metrics to estimate fire severity and pre-fire vegetation characteristics in eight study areas recently affected by large and highly severe wildfires under different environmental contexts. Furthermore, to account for fire regime attributes, we retrieved, for each target wildfire, the perimeter of the past wildfires that occurred between 1985 and 2022 and calculated fire recurrence, the time the since last fire (TSLF), and fire severity of previous wildfires (FSPW). The effect of fire regime attributes on pre-fire vegetation was examined using generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs).ResultsDuring the study period, fire recurrence decreased significantly in all bioregions analyzed. Fire severity increased under Atlantic conditions and decreased under Mediterranean environmental context, where the time since the last fire was the highest. Pre-fire fuel type and amount were identified as primary drivers of fire severity, being both strongly modulated by fire regime but following distinct mechanisms depending on the environmental context of each bioregion. In Atlantic sites, more frequent past wildfires of low to moderate fire severity were associated with a greater dominance of fire-prone shrublands with moderate fuel amounts, which increases the risk of severe wildfires. Similar trends occurred in Transition and Mediterranean sites but under the previous occurrence of highly severe wildfires. Specifically, long times after highly severe wildfires (> 30 years) increased fuel amount in conifer-dominated ecosystems in all bioregions analyzed, heightening susceptibility to extreme fire behavior.ConclusionsOur findings highlight that fire-prone ecosystems need adaptative management strategies to mitigate the effects of fire regime changes, but these actions should be specific to the climatic and ecological context.

SEEI: spherical evolution with feedback mechanism for identifying epistatic interactions

BackgroundDetecting epistatic interactions (EIs) involves the exploration of associations among single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and complex diseases, which is an important task in genome-wide association studies. The EI detection problem is dependent on epistasis models and corresponding optimization methods. Although various models and methods have been proposed to detect EIs, identifying EIs efficiently and accurately is still a challenge.ResultsHere, we propose a linear mixed statistical epistasis model (LMSE) and a spherical evolution approach with a feedback mechanism (named SEEI). The LMSE model expands the existing single epistasis models such as LR-Score, K2-Score, Mutual information, and Gini index. The SEEI includes an adaptive spherical search strategy and population updating strategy, which ensures that the algorithm is not easily trapped in local optima. We analyzed the performances of 8 random disease models, 12 disease models with marginal effects, 30 disease models without marginal effects, and 10 high-order disease models. The 60 simulated disease models and a real breast cancer dataset were used to evaluate eight algorithms (SEEI, EACO, EpiACO, FDHEIW, MP-HS-DHSI, NHSA-DHSC, SNPHarvester, CSE). Three evaluation criteria (pow1, pow2, pow3), a T-test, and a Friedman test were used to compare the performances of these algorithms. The results show that the SEEI algorithm (order 1, averages ranks = 13.125) outperformed the other algorithms in detecting EIs.ConclusionsHere, we propose an LMSE model and an evolutionary computing method (SEEI) to solve the optimization problem of the LMSE model. The proposed method performed better than the other seven algorithms tested in its ability to identify EIs in genome-wide association datasets. We identified new SNP–SNP combinations in the real breast cancer dataset and verified the results. Our findings provide new insights for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.Availability and implementation: https://github.com/scutdy/SSO/blob/master/SEEI.zip.

Strategies for adaptation to high light in plants

AbstractPlants absorb light energy for photosynthesis via photosystem complexes in their chloroplasts. However, excess light can damage the photosystems and decrease photosynthetic output, thereby inhibiting plant growth and development. Plants have developed a series of light acclimation strategies that allow them to withstand high light. In the first line of defense against excess light, leaves and chloroplasts move away from the light and the plant accumulates compounds that filter and reflect the light. In the second line of defense, known as photoprotection, plants dissipate excess light energy through non-photochemical quenching, cyclic electron transport, photorespiration, and scavenging of excess reactive oxygen species. In the third line of defense, which occurs after photodamage, plants initiate a cycle of photosystem (mainly photosystem II) repair. In addition to being the site of photosynthesis, chloroplasts sense stress, especially light stress, and transduce the stress signal to the nucleus, where it modulates the expression of genes involved in the stress response. In this review, we discuss current progress in our understanding of the strategies and mechanisms employed by plants to withstand high light at the whole-plant, cellular, physiological, and molecular levels across the three lines of defense.

Symbiotic virus-bacteria interactions in biological treatment of coking wastewater manipulating bacterial physiological activities

Biological treatment is commonly used in coking wastewater (CWW) treatment. Prokaryotic microbial communities in CWW treatment have been comprehensively studied. However, viruses, as the critical microorganisms affecting microbial processes and thus engineering parameters, still remain poorly understood in CWW treatment context. Employing viromics sequencing, the composition and function of the viral community in CWW treatment were discovered, revealing novel viral communities and key auxiliary metabolic functions. Caudovirales appeared to be the predominant viral order in the oxic-hydrolytic-oxic (OHO) CWW treatment combination, showing relative abundances of 62.47 %, 56.64 % and 92.20 % in bioreactors O1, H and O2, respectively. At the family level, Myoviridae, Podoviridae and Siphoviridae mainly prevailed in bioreactors O1 and H while Phycodnaviridae dominated in O2. A total of 56.23–92.24% of novel viral contigs defied family-level characterization in this distinct CWW habitat. The virus-host prediction results revealed most viruses infecting the specific functional taxa Pseudomonas, Acidovorax and Thauera in the entire OHO combination, demonstrating the viruses affecting bacterial physiology and pollutants removal from CWW. Viral auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) were screened, revealing their involvement in the metabolism of contaminants and toxicity tolerance. In the bioreactor O1, AMGs were enriched in detoxification and phosphorus ingestion, where glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) and beta-ketoadipyl CoA thiolase (fadA) participated in biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols, respectively. In the bioreactors H and O2, the AMGs focused on cell division and epicyte formation of the hosts, where GDPmannose 4,6-dehydratase (gmd) related to lipopolysaccharides biosynthesis was considered to play an important role in the growth of nitrifiers. The diversities of viruses and AMGs decreased along the CWW treatment process, pointing to a reinforced virus-host adaptive strategy in stressful operation environments. In this study, the symbiotic virus-bacteria interaction patterns were proposed with a theoretical basis for promoting CWW biological treatment efficiency. The findings filled the gaps in the virus-bacteria interactions at the full-scale CWW treatment and provided great value for understanding the mechanism of biological toxicity and sludge activity in industrial wastewater treatment.

Indigenous Knowledge and Agricultural Practices of Ifugao Ethno-Farming in Ifugao Village, Diffun, Quirino

This study endeavors to delve into the traditional knowledge and farming methods employed by Ifugao farmers residing in Barangay Ifugao Village, Diffun, Quirino. Despite the proven efficacy of Indigenous farming practices, they confront formidable challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss, and the erosion of Indigenous knowledge. The research aims to meticulously document and safeguard the wealth of knowledge and practices upheld by Ifugao farmers, recognizing their pivotal role in fostering environmental sustainability and cultural enrichment. Utilizing an ethnographic approach, this study endeavors to unravel the intricate interplay between farming techniques, traditional wisdom, and the multifaceted challenges posed by modernization. By employing key informant interviews conducted in the Ilocano dialect, the project seeks to elucidate how Ifugao farmers adapt their agricultural practices in response to evolving environmental and socioeconomic dynamics. Through purposive sampling, experienced Ifugao farmers are selected as key informants, ensuring a comprehensive examination of the methods, beliefs, practices, strategies, and knowledge that have underpinned Ifugao ethno-farming traditions. The study, spanning one month and focusing on seasoned Ifugao practitioners, guarantees a thorough exploration of the adaptive measures and customs intrinsic to Ifugao’s agricultural heritage. Reflexive thematic analysis serves as the analytical framework for interpreting the gathered data, with anticipated results offering valuable insights into the resilient techniques employed by Ifugao farmers to preserve their cultural heritage and navigate contemporary challenges. These findings underscore the imperative for collaborative endeavors aimed at safeguarding, documenting, and integrating Indigenous knowledge into agricultural practices, thereby fostering resilience and sustainability for present and future generations. Keywords: Ifugao, Ethno-farming, Indigenous Knowledge, Sustainability, Preservation, Agricultural Practices, Beliefs, Changes perceived, Adaptive Strategies

FEATURES OF COPING STRATEGIES IN CONDITIONS OF UNCERTAINTY OF WARTIME

Relevance. The purpose of this article is to empirically investigate the discrepancies in the selection of coping strategies among groups of people during war under various conditions of uncertainty. Methodology. The sample consists of 186 residents of Ukrainian cities who live under various conditions of uncertainty. Methods: author’s questionnaire, methods: «Test for psychological diagnostics of coping mechanisms (E. Heim)», «The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS-12) (N. Carleton, adaptation by H. Gromova)»; mathematical methods for processing empirical data using the IBM SPSS Statistics 26 package. Results. Respondent groups, based on their location relative to the front line, show statistically significant discrepancies in cognitive and behavioral coping strategies. The empirical study’s analysis showed that individuals living in the front and near-front zones often compare their problems with others and downplay their difficulties more frequently (41,94%) than those living further from the front line (21.94%). Furthermore, individuals closer to the front line show a higher tendency to employ the adaptive coping strategy «altruism» (19.35%), that is, they offer help to others in overcoming difficulties more often than those living further from the front line (6.45%). Both groups predominantly employ relatively adaptive coping strategies. However, a divergence in problem-solving approaches exists: individuals in the front and near-front zones typically avoid problem-solving by engaging in a favorite activity, whereas the other group tends to evade problem-solving by resorting to alcohol, medicines, sedatives, or indulging in tasty food. The study did not identify statistically significant differences between groups regarding intolerance to uncertainty.

Variation in fern species richness, assemblages and morphology along a tropical riparian humidity gradient: an example from Borneo

ABSTRACT Riparian vegetation experiences a little spatial distance humidity gradient, especially in the hyper-humid tropics. In Borneo, with almost no seasons and rather constant local climatic conditions, the riparian plant species show a wide range of morphological and physiological adaptations. This study assesses the adaptation strategies of ferns along a riparian humidity gradient in the submontane forest of Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo). The species richness and cover, morphological traits, leaf area, leaf perimeter, leaf dissection, leaf elongation ratio, and stomatal density of 63 fern species were surveyed in six study areas along six stream transects. Significant trends in species richness and species cover were identified along the six transects, and changes in morphological traits such as leaf area, leaf perimeter, and leaf dissection were also discovered. With increasing distance from the streams (i.e. decreasing humidity), ferns tended to show longer leaves and a lower stomatal density. We conclude that the morphological traits of fronds change significantly within a short tropical riparian humidity gradient. This reveals variations in the energy investment and adaptation efficiency of ferns within a tropical forest microsite.

Strategies for protecting IT supply chains against cybersecurity threats

This review paper explores the multifaceted realm of cybersecurity within IT supply chains, addressing the intricate challenges posed by digital vulnerabilities, high-profile cyber incidents, and emerging threats. It highlights the criticality of continuous risk assessment, the implementation of international security standards, and the necessity for enhanced management of third-party vendors. The paper also delves into advanced technological solutions like blockchain, AI, and machine learning for bolstering security, advocating for best practices including the zero-trust model, regular employee training, and secure software development. Emphasizing a proactive over a reactive approach, the paper underscores the evolving nature of cyber threats and the imperative for adaptive strategies. It calls for concerted efforts from businesses, policymakers, and IT professionals to prioritize and continuously refine cybersecurity measures in safeguarding IT supply chains against future threats. Keywords: IT Supply Chain, Cybersecurity, Risk Management, Blockchain, Zero-Trust Model, Artificial Intelligence.

Rompendo o ciclo de emergência da justiça espacial

This paper examines the critical need to integrate prospective planning into territorial development processes for achieving spatial justice and sustainable urban futures. It highlights the limitations of a reactive approach to urban governance, particularly prevalent in Latin America, where weak institutions and unstable political systems often hinder long-term perspectives. The research emphasizes the importance of strategic foresight as a complementary tool to traditional planning practices. Territorial foresight facilitates the exploration of complex future scenarios, fostering collaborative learning and a shared vision among stakeholders. The study proposes a shift towards a proactive, foresight-driven approach that can help break the vicious cycle of addressing only immediate crises. By embracing prospective studies, urban planners and policymakers can gain insights into potential future trajectories, enabling them to anticipate challenges, adapt strategies, and make informed decisions aligned with long-term goals. This paper draws on discourse analysis to examine the work of Latin American institutions and scholars engaged in foresight studies. Ultimately, the paper advocates for a paradigm shift in urban governance, prioritizing long-term strategic vision. This is essential for overcoming the fragmentation of urban planning, addressing systemic inequalities, and laying the groundwork for more just, resilient, and sustainable urban territories.

An improved slime mould algorithm using multiple strategies

Aiming at the defects of standard slime mould algorithm (SMA), such as local optima stagnation, slow convergence and improper balance between exploitation and exploration, we propose an improved SMA that contains the adaptive t-distributed variation strategy, improved location update formula and chaotic opposition-based learning strategy, that is, the MISMA. Utilizing comparative experiments and ablation studies on classical benchmark and CEC2020 benchmark suite, we proved that MISMA outperforms other state-of-the-art rival algorithms on convergence speed, solution accuracy, and robustness, each component of MISMA achieves an improvement on the defects of SMA at each stage and exhibits synergistic effects.

Parental Neglect, Emotional Regulation and Psychological Adjustment Among Queer and Heterosexual Young Adults

This study explores the intricate dynamics of parental neglect, emotional regulation, and psychological adjustment among queer and straight young adults in India. Using a sample of 108 participants, including 56 from the queer (LGBTQ) group and 52 from the heterosexual (straight) group. Statistical analyses of Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient and Independent Samples T-Test were conducted to test hypotheses. Results reveal a significant negative correlation between parental neglect and psychological adjustment. However, no significant relationship was found between parental neglect and emotional regulation, suggesting a complex interplay between these factors. Additionally, the study examines specific forms of neglect, including physical, emotional, cognitive, and supervisory neglect, highlighting their differential impact on psychological adjustment. Furthermore, analysis of emotional regulation strategies reveals that cognitive reappraisal shows a weak negative correlation with adjustment, expressive suppression demonstrates a weak positive correlation, underscoring the importance of adaptive regulation strategies in promoting well-being. Interestingly, the study finds a significant difference in parental neglect between queer and straight young adults, emphasizing the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals. However, no significant differences are observed in emotional regulation or psychological adjustment between the two groups. Overall, these findings contribute to our understanding of the complex interplay between parental neglect, emotional regulation, and psychological adjustment among young adults in India. By identifying key factors influencing mental health outcomes, the study informs the development of targeted interventions to promote resilience and foster supportive environments for all young adults, irrespective of sexual orientation.

Pistia Stratiotes based heavy metals phytoremediation of a Himalayan river impacted by hydroelectric plant in an Indo Burma hotspot region

ABSTRACT Present study attempts to study the impact of Serlui-B hydroelectric dam on water quality (‘water-energy nexus’) of a Himalayan river and to devise possible phytotechnology for heavy metals remediation. Physico-chemical characteristics of water were analyzed using ‘American Public Health Association (APHA)’ methods while Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) was used for estimation of heavy metals. To this end, concentrations of Fe and Ni were recorded above permissible limit which can impose public health risks. Therefore, phytoremediation experiments were performed by using Pistia stratiotes L. (water lettuce) and effects of Fe and Ni concentrations (1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 mg/L) on photosynthetic pigments were observed. Phytoremediation investigations using 24 aquaria (of 40.5 L) revealed that P. stratiotes was an effective hyperaccumulator of Fe and Ni with maximum removal efficiency of 96.2% and 92%, respectively. In relation to bioaccumulation indices, the bioconcentration factor (BCF) values decreased with increase in Fe and Ni concentrations, whereas the translocation factor (TF) was noted higher at low concentrations and vice versa. Furthermore, the total chlorophyll content and carotenoid levels in P. stratiotes demonstrated negative significant correlation with the rise in Fe/Ni concentrations that may be considered as an adaptive biochemical strategy to mitigate metals induced oxidative stress. The present study can further be extrapolated to field phytoremediation for ameliorating both physico-chemical and metallic contaminants. Last, the role of microbial biodiversity associated with P. stratiotes should be elucidated in future to help achieve SDG 6 and environmental sustainability.

Analysis of Market Entry Strategies for Foreign Multinational Corporations in India A Market Research Study

This research paper explores market entry strategies for foreign multinational corporations (MNCs) in India, aiming to provide actionable insights for navigating the complexities of this dynamic market landscape. Through a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with key industry experts and executives of foreign MNCs operating in India. The findings reveal that joint ventures are the preferred entry mode, with factors such as access to local knowledge, regulatory requirements, and cultural compatibility influencing entry mode selection. Performance evaluation metrics primarily focus on revenue growth, market share, and customer satisfaction, while adaptation strategies include product localization, marketing customization, and supply chain optimization. Challenges faced by foreign MNCs in market entry include regulatory compliance, cultural differences, and competition. Overall, this study contributes to filling the identified literature gap by providing a nuanced understanding of market entry strategies and their effectiveness in the Indian context. The implications of these findings extend to both academia and practice, offering opportunities for further research and guiding strategic decision-making for MNCs seeking to establish and expand their presence in India.

Noise pollution causes parental stress on marine invertebrates, the Giant scallop example

In marine invertebrates, abiotic stresses on adults can act directly on gametes quality, which impacts phenotype and development success of the offspring. Human activities introduce noise pollution in the marine environment but still few studies on invertebrates have considered the impacts on adult or larval stages separately, and to our knowledge, never investigated the cross-generational effects of anthropogenic noise. This article explores parental effects of pile driving noise associated with the building phase of offshore wind turbines on a coastal invertebrate, Pecten maximus (L.). Adults were exposed to increasing levels of sound during gametogenesis, then their offspring were also exposed. The results highlight that anthropogenic noise experienced by the parents reduces their reproductive investment and modify larval response in similar conditions. Also, larvae from exposed adults grew 6-fold faster and metamorphosed 5-fold faster, which could be an amplified adaptive strategy to reduce the pelagic phase in a stressful environment.