Mutual Community Research Articles

“Give and take is the key”: Reciprocity leads to psychological well-being of North Korean refugees in South Korea

Social support may facilitate North Korean refugee (NKR) resettlement in South Korea. However, little is known about how NKRs perceive support. We aim to understand how support exchange and reciprocity evolve throughout NKR migration trajectories and how they are related to psychological well-being. From September to December 2019, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 NKRs and 20 of their South Korean (SK) acquaintances. We analyzed data using a grounded theory approach. Prior to arrival in South Korea, NKRs resided in mutually interdependent communities where reciprocation of support was a moral norm. However, support exchange became predominantly unidirectional in South Korea, with NKRs becoming recipients and SKs being givers. Several NKRs expressed discomfort with being dependent on others, preventing them from requesting support when it was needed. SKs also described distress from not receiving minimum levels of reciprocity or gratitude. Some NKRs managed this unease through reciprocating either to the giver or to others in need. Acts of reciprocity were described as sources of happiness, satisfaction, and pleasure, increasing self-esteem. Overall, exchange of support and reciprocity within one’s social network may be important and yet overlooked features of relationships that contribute to psychological well-being of NKRs.

Changes in Need, Changes in Infrastructure: A Comparative Assessment of Rural Nonprofits Responding to COVID-19

Due to the variance in community infrastructure and resources, COVID-19 impacted rural communities differently than their urban counterparts. This study examines two waves of data from a survey of rural residents in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia regarding how community organizations responded to the pandemic, what strategies were most successful, and where needs shifted. The findings demonstrate that organizations with deeply embedded community leaders achieve higher levels of collaborative change in a timely manner. Additionally, mental health services have become a more pronounced need as a result of the pandemic. The interdependence of community needs, recognized by community members, calls for collaborative strategies for the future.

Seismic Resilience of Interdependent Built Environment for Integrating Structural Health Monitoring and Emerging Technologies in Decision-Making

The functionality of interdependent infrastructure and resilience to seismic hazards has become a topic of importance across the world. The ability to optimize an engineered solution and support informed decision-making is highly dependent on the availability of comprehensive datasets and requires substantial effort to ingest into community-scale models. In this article, a comprehensive seismic resilience modeling methodology is developed, with detailed multi-disciplinary datasets, and is explored using the state-of-the-science algorithms within the interdependent networked community resilience modeling environment (IN-CORE). The methodology includes a six-step chained/linked process consists of: (a) community data and information, (b) spatial seismic hazard analysis using next-generation attenuation, (c) interdependent community model development, (d) physical damage and functionality analysis, (e) socio-economic impact analysis and (f) structural health monitoring (SHM) and emerging technologies (ET). An illustrative case study is presented to demonstrate the seismic functionality and resilience assessment of Shelby County in Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States. From the discussion of results, it is then concluded that data from structural health monitoring and emerging technologies is a viable approach to enhance characterising the seismic hazard resilience of infrastructure, enabling rapid and in-depth understanding of structural behaviour in emergency situations. Moreover, considering the momentum of the digitalization era, setting an holistic framework on resilience that includes SHM and ET will allow reducing uncertainties that are still a challenge to quantify and propagate, supported by sequential updating techniques from Bayesian statistics.

Single-cell transcriptomics analysis reveals Cilp+Cd200+ fibroblasts promote mesenchymal endothelial transition (MEndoT) in cardiac injury

Abstract Background Cardiac fibroblasts are considered to be highly heterogeneous mesenchymal cells after a cardiac injury. Understanding the heterogeneity of cardiac fibroblasts is of fundamental importance for fibroblast-targeted strategies to treat patients with heart disease. Advances in the single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-Seq) technology have provided a possibility to elaborate the heterogeneity of cells in more depth. However, currently, most studies on scRNA-Seq of cardiac fibroblasts are performed using non-myocyte cells isolated at a certain point in time, which include a very complex, interdependent community of interstitial cells. scRNA-Seq based on lineage-tracing of cardiac fibroblasts is essential for a deeper understanding of cellular heterogeneity of specific cell type populations, which can reveal how a pre-existing cardiac fibroblast population responds to cardiac injury. Our previous studies demonstrated that a subset of cardiac fibroblasts can adopt the endothelial cell phenotype by undergoing mesenchymal–endothelial transition (MEndoT) and contributes to cardiac repair by revascularizing the damaged myocardium. Purpose To decipher which subgroup of the preexisting cardiac fibroblasts involved in MEndoT respond to cardiac injury. Methods and Results For lineage-tracing-based studies, Col1a2 Cre ERT: R26R td-Tomato transgenic mice were generated for reliable cardiac fibroblast tracking. 10X scRNA-Seq was performed to analyze the diversity of prelabeled cardiac fibroblasts after sham or transverse aortic constriction injury. Using the Seurat R package, the td-Tomato labeled cells were further clustered into 11 distinct populations. In addition, the cell trajectory assay shows both Cilp and Cd200 positive (Cilp+/Cd200+) cluster located in the early state and showing the phenotype of mesenchymal stem cells, indicating that this clusters have high diversity with regard to differentiation and directly contribute to angiogenesis. Besides, we isolated Cilp+/Cd200+ cardiac fibroblasts from wild-type mice by flow sorting and performed matrigel tube formation and acetylated low-density lipoprotein (Ac-LDL) uptake to measure the potential of MEndoT. Interestingly, compared with Cilp-/Cd200- cardiac fibroblasts, both matrigel tube formation and Ac-LDL uptake of the Cilp+/Cd200+ group were significantly increased (∼1.3 fold higher in matrigel tube formation, P<0.05;∼3.3 fold higher in Ac-LDL uptake, P<0.05). Conclusion Our findings indicated that Cilp+/Cd200+ is the main group of cardiac fibroblasts involved in MEndoT and plays a major role in the organization of the extracellular matrix and cell differentiation. This study provided new therapeutic strategies for cardiac hypertrophy by accurately regulating the cardiac fibroblasts.

Three alginate lyases provide a new gut Bacteroides ovatus isolate with the ability to grow on alginate.

Humans consume alginate in the form of seaweed, food hydrocolloids, and encapsulations, making the digestion of this mannuronic acid (M) and guluronic acid (G) polymer of key interest for human health. To increase knowledge on alginate degradation in the gut, a gene catalog from human feces was mined for potential alginate lyases (ALs). The predicted ALs were present in nine species of the Bacteroidetes phylum, of which two required supplementation of an endo-acting AL, expected to mimic cross-feeding in the gut. However, only a new isolate grew on alginate. Whole-genome sequencing of this alginate-utilizing isolate suggested that it is a new Bacteroides ovatus strain harboring a polysaccharide utilization locus (PUL) containing three ALs of families: PL6, PL17, and PL38. The BoPL6 degraded polyG to oligosaccharides of DP 1-3, and BoPL17 released 4,5-unsaturated monouronate from polyM. BoPL38 degraded both alginates, polyM, polyG, and polyMG, in endo-mode; hence, it was assumed to deliver oligosaccharide substrates for BoPL6 and BoPL17, corresponding well with synergistic action on alginate. BoPL17 and BoPL38 crystal structures, determined at 1.61 and 2.11 Å, respectively, showed (α/α)6-barrel + anti-parallel β-sheet and (α/α)7-barrel folds, distinctive for these PL families. BoPL17 had a more open active site than the two homologous structures. BoPL38 was very similar to the structure of an uncharacterized PL38, albeit with a different triad of residues possibly interacting with substrate in the presumed active site tunnel. Altogether, the study provides unique functional and structural insights into alginate-degrading lyases of a PUL in a human gut bacterium. IMPORTANCE Human ingestion of sustainable biopolymers calls for insight into their utilization in our gut. Seaweed is one such resource with alginate, a major cell wall component, used as a food hydrocolloid and for encapsulation of pharmaceuticals and probiotics. Knowledge is sparse on the molecular basis for alginate utilization in the gut. We identified a new Bacteroides ovatus strain from human feces that grew on alginate and encoded three alginate lyases in a gene cluster. BoPL6 and BoPL17 show complementary specificity toward guluronate (G) and mannuronate (M) residues, releasing unsaturated oligosaccharides and monouronic acids. BoPL38 produces oligosaccharides degraded by BoPL6 and BoPL17 from both alginates, G-, M-, and MG-substrates. Enzymatic and structural characterization discloses the mode of action and synergistic degradation of alginate by these alginate lyases. Other bacteria were cross-feeding on alginate oligosaccharides produced by an endo-acting alginate lyase. Hence, there is an interdependent community in our guts that can utilize alginate.

Perspectives on self-management of individuals living with chronic illnesses: A qualitative study in the Asian context.

Living with a chronic illness requires individuals to perform a critical role in self-managing their illness to improve their quality of life and prevent disease-related complications. To our knowledge, no studies have explored how individuals perceive managing their illness in daily living within the Asian context. This exploratory-descriptive qualitative study aimed to explore the individuals' perspectives regarding self-managing their life with a chronic illness within the Asian context. Individual interviews were conducted with 15 adults living with chronic illness, from three teaching hospitals in Pakistan. An iterative process was followed for data collection and analysis. The analysis identified self-management as complex and situation-driven with variable roles for individuals, namely follower, selective follower, self-permitting role, and active role. Three interrelated elements were found to be influencing these roles: the components of self-management; individuals' relationship with agencies (significant people and power); and their inner drives. Individuals keep moving between these four self-management roles to avoid disharmony and reciprocate the efforts of their significant others. The interdependent community structure, which is a reality in Asian society, was reflected in our data. With this in view, a great deal of authority was given to family relationships and healthcare professionals (HCPs). This study found a lack of collaborative partnership role between individuals and HCPs. The findings and a suggested conceptual figure can facilitate redefining the individuals' and professionals' roles in the healthcare system to promote collaborative partnership and improve individuals' experience of living with a chronic illness within the Asian context. Members of the research team have extensive experience in research around chronic illness management, and self-management (support) from the Western context. The researcher did not need the patient or public contribution in this preliminary exploratory study from the Asian context.

A broken heart and fear of the bulldozer: Organized abandonment and living with abandon in Hawai‘i

Hawai‘i faces a crisis of homelessness due to the high cost of housing across the islands. Many without formal housing establish interdependent communities unsanctioned by property regimes and refer to themselves as “houseless” because intimate relations with place and expansive practices of care provide an adequate home. Attending to the experiences of Hawai‘i’s houseless, I unpack the meanings and practices of organized abandonment while proposing that some face structural neglect by “living with abandon.” I argue that the rupturing of life-giving relations entwined with particular places serve as a foundation of organized abandonment. Devolution, state retrenchment, the intensification of land use for revenue-oriented development, and a punitive carceral state layer upon this foundational rupture to propel the continual abandonment of shared resources. This enables the ongoing circulation of capital through the environment. In response, people live with abandon by rejecting, or holding an ambivalent relationship with, aspirations to thrive within capitalism. Living with abandon is a form of creative improvisation that cultivates connections in the face of broken relations, yet remains defined by uncertainty and heartbreak. It both invokes the fullness of time and space and mourns the losses that have produced the tenuous present.

Sustainable Futures for OA Books: The Open Book Collective

This article describes and explains the need for the work of the Open Book Collective (OBC). The OBC is a major output of the COPIM project (Community-Led Infrastructures for Open Access Monographs). The collective will bring together diverse small-to-medium open access (OA) publishers, open publishing service providers, libraries, and other research institutions to create a new, mutually supportive, and interdependent community space and platform designed to sustainthe future of OA book publishing. The OBC is founded upon equitable, community-led governance and helping publishers move beyond Book Processing Charges (BPCs). Central to the functioning of the Open Book Collective is an online platform that will make it far quicker and easier for libraries and other potential subscribers to compare, evaluate, and subscribe to different OA publishers and open service providers via membership packages. The OBC supports small-to-medium OA publishers by way of the COPIM (Community-Led Publication Infrastructures for Open Access Books) philosophy of “scaling small.” This allows publishers and other members to operate sustainably and collaboratively whilst retaining their diverse and singular editorial missions, rather than operating from philosophies centered on economic growth, competition, and monopoly.

Helping to shine light on the Dark Ages: Applying the bioarchaeology of care approach to remains from the early Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Worthy Park

ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that a bioarchaeological focus on health-related care provision can contribute to the currently limited understanding of social practice in Early Anglo-Saxon England (mid5th-early7th centuries AD). MaterialsPublished descriptions of pathology in 69 adult remains from the Early Anglo-Saxon cemetery of Worthy Park, southern England. MethodsThree case studies (one examining likely need for care at an individual level and two at a population level) were undertaken using the bioarchaeology of care approach. ResultsAnalyses indicate likely care provision (‘direct support’ and/or ‘accommodation of difference’) to Worthy Park individuals experiencing temporary or permanent disability. Interpretation suggests community interdependence, cooperation, flexibility and tolerance of difference, as well as cultural and socioeconomic mechanisms for managing physical and social challenges of ageing. ConclusionsThis study provides proof of concept that bioarchaeology of care analysis can offer new insights into social practice in this period. SignificanceThis study demonstrates that a bioarchaeological focus on caregiving behaviours in an Early Anglo-Saxon community extends modern thinking about social relations in post-Roman Britain, offering a model for future investigations into social practice in this, and potentially other, periods. More generally, it illustrates the richness of results achievable when combining bioarchaeological and historical research. LimitationsReliance on secondary sources limited detail (and potentially accuracy) of interpretation possible. Suggestions for further researchThis study’s approach should be further tested and refined, either through application to different Anglo-Saxon (or other historic) populations or in a more thorough analysis of the Worthy Park sample itself.

Viruses interact with hosts that span distantly related microbial domains in dense hydrothermal mats

Many microbes in nature reside in dense, metabolically interdependent communities. We investigated the nature and extent of microbe-virus interactions in relation to microbial density and syntrophy by examining microbe-virus interactions in a biomass dense, deep-sea hydrothermal mat. Using metagenomic sequencing, we find numerous instances where phylogenetically distant (up to domain level) microbes encode CRISPR-based immunity against the same viruses in the mat. Evidence of viral interactions with hosts cross-cutting microbial domains is particularly striking between known syntrophic partners, for example those engaged in anaerobic methanotrophy. These patterns are corroborated by proximity-ligation-based (Hi-C) inference. Surveys of public datasets reveal additional viruses interacting with hosts across domains in diverse ecosystems known to harbour syntrophic biofilms. We propose that the entry of viral particles and/or DNA to non-primary host cells may be a common phenomenon in densely populated ecosystems, with eco-evolutionary implications for syntrophic microbes and CRISPR-mediated inter-population augmentation of resilience against viruses.

Restoring human and more-than-human relations in toxic riskscapes: “in perpetuity” within Lake Superior’s Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Sand Point

Lake Superior’s Keweenaw Bay is the ancestral and contemporary homeland of the Anishinaabe Ojibwa and their relatives. It is also a toxic riskscape: Its waters, shorelines, and fish beings are polluted by an unknown tonnage of legacy mining waste rock called “stamp sands,” which contain unsafe levels of toxic compounds. This paper describes Ojibwa stewardship principles and reciprocal obligations, illustrating First Treaty With Gichi-Manitou practices of restoring relations within a toxic riskscape. Defined here, riskscapes are places and spaces where pollution/toxicity relations are continually reconfigured in literal, symbolic, and systemic ways. We share a story from Keweenaw Bay’s Sand Point restoration project (2002–present) to elucidate distinctly different approaches and challenges to restoring ecological relationships, including those between human and more-than-human beings. The restoration of 35 acres of barren shoreline into a thriving landscape concurrently created space for reclaiming Ojibwa stewardship obligations to land, water, and life. The goal was to restore Sand Point as a self-sustaining plant community, but maintenance remains demanding and costly. Lake Superior forces continually mobilize stamp sands, and recent extreme storm events have done so with even greater force. Thus measures of “success” are reconsidered annually, a reminder that “in perpetuity” toxic governance regimes are as unstable as riskscapes themselves. Yet Sand Point is a story of hope. Substantial transformations atop the surface reflect the restoration of many relationships between communities, institutional partners, and more-than-human beings. It is our Sand Point plant relatives who share the most valuable lessons of restoring sustainable livelihoods: resilience is inter-dependent communities caring for one another.

ОСВЕЩЕНИЕ ВОЕННОГО КОНФЛИКТА В СМИ

Violence significance and scale assessment and conflict potential in the modern Ferghana Valley are one of the most common topics in studies of post-Soviet Central Asia. This densely popu-lated region has long been characterized as a place of hidden inter-ethnic conflict. And from this point of view, the Ferghana Valley region is not only a place of close residence of three large ethnic groups – Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Tajiks, co-existing in a network of interdependent communities that share burial sites, pastures, and markets, but also a place where ethnic and political borders most often in-tersect.

Police Ethics in Rural Contexts: A Left Realist Consequentialist View

This article presents crime survey data from the state of West Virginia in the United States showing that, controlling for structural conditions, community atmosphere is significantly related to crime, violence and many other social problems in rural places. These results help identify measurable and achievable progressive desired ends in rural policing, replacing law enforcement outputs (for example, arrests, gun and drug seizures) with safe, strong community outcomes as the summum bonum (i.e, ultimate outcome) of policing. Findings show that interdependent communities where police are partners with residents are the safest, while conflict communities where the police are viewed as adversaries are least safe. These results suggest a left realist consequentialist approach to police ethics to dismantle the hegemony of draconian policies and practices.

A Vibrant and Empowering Context for Teacher Leaders

This report describes the results of a series of interviews with educators in an independent school for students with unique learning needs that is characterized by a pervasive positive school culture, clear mission, and high levels of teacher participation in decision making. Researchers noted the collective understanding among teachers and administrators of the work of teacher leaders. There was a strong sense of community interdependence and collaboration that fostered teacher leadership. Strong structural support enabled teacher leaders to exercise influence beyond their classrooms. Teachers reported a strong sense of freedom and high levels of administrator trust. Teachers felt that they needed to establish a base of school-based experience in order to emerge as leaders. Other observations included high levels of teacher professionalism, collective expectations that teachers would maintain ongoing readiness to learn on the job, contagious enthusiasm, and deep commitment to the school community. Challenges to teacher leadership included a sustainable workload, altered collegial relationships, alignment of grassroots initiatives with school priorities, and pressure to meet parent expectations. Teachers recognized the fragility of their positive school culture and celebrated their professional autonomy. Teachers and administrators understood that their school must operate in a way that led parents to want to enroll their children. Finally, the researchers considered succession planning, along with the skills and knowledge that could lead to similarly high levels of innovation and success in other schools.

Beyond the Crossroads: Religious Life in the 21st Century by Amy Hereford

Reviewed by: Beyond the Crossroads: Religious Life in the 21st Century by Amy Hereford Rev. Vien V. Nguyen, SCJ Beyond the Crossroads: Religious Life in the 21st Century. By Amy Hereford, CSJ. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2019. Pp. xvi + 176. $22.00. As the title indicates, the book explores the "contemporary movements" and "emerging currents" (x) in religious life today in North America. It continues the conversation on religious life started in Religious Life at the Crossroads: A School for Mystics and Prophets by Amy Hereford (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2013) and highlights the evolving forms of religious life emerging in the twenty-first century. The book comprises seven chapters, bookended by an introduction and a conclusion. In Chapter 1, H. engages with Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si' to focus on humanity's interrelatedness and [End Page 210] interdependence with every living thing in our common home. The encyclical provides the framework to contemplate the evolution of religious life, focusing on collaboration and community. Chapter 2 examines how social movements and ecclesial changes have shaped and colored the identity of religious life, particularly the evolution of religious life from the pre-Vatican II phase to the Vatican II phase to the current post-Vatican II phase. Amid these evolutionary changes, religious life remains resilient and manifests itself anew. Fundamental to the resilience and the social cohesion that draw and unite people are community, spirituality, and mission. In each phase, women and men religious strive to live the Gospel radically and their call with integrity. In Chapter 3, H. discusses the vows in the context of archetype, a notion based on philosophical, psychological, and sociological literature concerning observable, socially constructed patterns of human behaviors (43). The evangelical counsels of obedience, poverty, and celibacy are also archetypes that will continue to evolve in their meanings. Chapter 4 is H.'s dialogue with In Our Own Words, edited by Juliette Mousseau, RSCJ, and Sarah Kohles, OSF (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2018). The book is a collection of reflections by young women religious from various religious communities in North America who entered religious life in the last few decades. H. highlights how these women's religious life experiences resonate with her own and how they collaboratively strive to "give voice to their common experience" (64) of religious life in today's rapidly evolving society. Aspects of religious life reflected and shared include the vows, community life, charism, culture, identity, mission, and leadership. Chapters 5 and 6 give attention to the topics of vocation and formation. New and smaller cohorts of men and women entering religious life come from diverse cultural backgrounds and life experiences. Vocation recruiters and formation directors are at the forefront of religious life renewal and transformation by inviting, accompanying, and mentoring those discerning religious life (87). This entails openness to the movement of the Spirit and a sharpened awareness of the shifts in expectations and assumptions of millennial vocations. In each stage of initial formation, the formation directors assist a candidate in navigating the transition from independence to interdependence in community, spirituality, and ministry. Since today's new entrants to religious life come from different spiritual, educational, cultural, and ministerial backgrounds, it is necessary to tailor a coherent but adaptable, individualized formation plan to meet their particular needs and provide a more positive experience for candidates and formators (109). In Chapter 7, H. discusses the characteristics and implications, opportunities and challenges of the evolution of religious life. As a new generation of religious is stepping up to re-imagine and live the Gospel faithfully but radically, the way forward entails collaboration and community. [End Page 211] This reflective and engaging book is written mainly for active, apostolic women religious in North America, but the insights presented also apply to men religious. Readers are challenged to read the signs of the times with courage, discern where the Spirit is leading, and commit themselves to ongoing renewal and conversion of heart. For a community to be viable, H. suggests that we give each other space and time for relationships. Those in community who have well-established social support networks acquired over decades of living, praying, and working with others are called to create space...

Examining Social Relationships among Older Muslim Immigrants Living in Canada: A Narrative Inquiry

Social connectedness and engagement are particularly important among groups who are at risk of experiencing social isolation, such as immigrant older adults. The objective of our study was to understand the social relationships of aging Muslim Lebanese immigrants living in Canada by exploring their lives in their ethnic and wider communities. This study used a life course perspective and adopted a constructivist narrative inquiry to understand the diverse lived experiences of four older adults who immigrated to Canada during early adulthood. Participants engaged in a narrative interview and follow-up session in which they storied their lived experiences. Findings describe one core theme, cultivating social relationships through family, friends, and community interdependence, and three related sub-themes: (1) navigating and creating family interdependence and planting new roots; (2) family interdependence in later life: the important role of grandchildren; and (3) cultivating ethnic and local interdependence to support aging in place. The participants’ stories provided an understanding of how culture, religion, aging, family, and immigration experiences interrelated throughout their life course and shaped their social relationships during later life. This study sheds new insight on the importance of culturally tailored activities and awareness about the social needs of immigrant older adults.

Blended and collaborative learning: Case of a multicultural graduate classroom in Taiwan.

As internationalization of higher education has become more prevalent, the search for approaches to support quality learning within multicultural classrooms has become critical. In this study, we presented a blended and collaborative learning (BCL) method and discussed its potential as a viable learning approach for graduate classrooms with culturally-diverse students. We first discussed implementation of a BCL approach in a multicultural graduate course, then explored learnings gained from the BCL experience in terms of three interdependent Community of Inquiry elements: teaching, cognitive, and social presences, and in terms of its implementation in a multicultural setting.

Modern Practices of the Cultural Resources Exchange: the International Network Structures Experience

Globalization processes stimulate the search for new principles of organization of a multicultural environment, optimization of dialogue of its subjects, and the search for new organizational structures of cooperation that would meet the qualitatively new challenges of international coexistence in a post-industrial society. In order to effectively reconcile interests and support the sustainable development of a common world, the multiplicity of actors and forms of intercultural interaction in modern realities requires the ability to direct intercultural cooperation to reorganize the system of transnational cultural practices. International cooperation is becoming a space and a way to promote the sustainable development of solidarity, interdependent communities, creating the most complex system of joint action, led by global international institutions and network structures.The network form of organization of interaction in the field of culture provides cooperation with more varied opportunities for the formation of common resources (tangible and intangible), optimizes the entire system of coordination of their mutual influence on cultural policy and social change. A classic example of a successful and thoughtful organization of network cooperation is the functioning of the European network on cultural management and policy (ENCATC). The network promotes the development and implementation of new key competencies in the field of cultural policy, cultural and creative industries at both local and global levels of the world community. ENCATC expands the resources of cultural management by finding new modern forms and mechanisms for synchronizing knowledge and actions, the synergy of local project experiences, and other forms of activity not only in the field of culture but also in the socio-political, economic spaces of cooperation.

Review of Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next) by Dean Spade (Verso Books)

Dean Spade’s Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next) is an accessible guidebook meant to inspire local organizing efforts based in mutual care, generosity, and dependency. By reflecting on contemporary contexts in which people are increasingly individualized and rendered dependent on inadequate government support systems, Mutual Aid demonstrates that sharing and cohesion are radical steps toward liberation. On this basis, we are reminded that contemporary social crises can usher in the normalization of interdependent community engagement, inspiring lasting social movements built upon mutual aid.

Human activities' fingerprint on multitrophic biodiversity and ecosystem functions across a major river catchment in China.

Human-induced global change dramatically alters individual aspects of river biodiversity, such as taxonomic, phylogenetic or functional diversity, and is predicted to lead to losses of associated ecosystem functions. Understanding these losses and dependencies are critical to human well-being. Until now, however, most studies have only looked either at individual organismal groups or single functions, and little is known on the effect of human activities on multitrophic biodiversity and on ecosystem multifunctionality in riverine ecosystem. Here we profiled biodiversity from bacteria to invertebrates based on environmental DNA (hereafter, 'eDNA') samples across a major river catchment in China, and analysed their dependencies with multiple ecosystem functions, especially linked to C/N/P-cycling. Firstly, we found a spatial cross-taxon congruence pattern of communities' structure in the network of the Shaying river, which was related to strong environmental filtering due to human land use. Secondly, human land use explained the decline of multitrophic and multifaceted biodiversity and ecosystem functions, but increased functional redundancy in the riverine ecosystem. Thirdly, biodiversity and ecosystem function relationships at an integrative level showed a concave-up (non-saturating) shape. Finally, structural equation modeling suggested that land use affects ecosystem functions through biodiversity-mediated pathways, including biodiversity loss and altered community interdependence in multitrophic groups. Our study highlights the value of a complete and inclusive assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem functions for an integrated land-use management of riverine ecosystems.