Context Of Environmental Change Research Articles

Principled and automated system of systems composition using an ontological architecture

A distributed system’s functionality must continuously evolve, especially when environmental context changes. Such required evolution imposes unbearable complexity on system development. An alternative is to make systems able to self-adapt by opportunistically composing at runtime to generate systems of systems (SoSs) that offer value-added functionality. The success of such an approach calls for abstracting the heterogeneity of systems and enabling the programmatic construction of SoSs with minimal developer intervention. We propose a general ontology-based approach to describe distributed systems, seeking to achieve abstraction and enable runtime reasoning between systems. We also propose an architecture for systems that utilizes such ontologies to enable systems to discover and ‘understand’ each other, and potentially compose, all at runtime. We detail features of the ontology and the architecture through three contrasting case studies: one on controlling multiple systems in smart home environment, another on the management of dynamic computing clusters, and a third on autonomic connection of rescue teams. We also quantitatively evaluate the scalability and validity of our approach through experiments and simulations. Our approach enables system developers to focus on high-level SoS composition without being constrained by deployment-specific implementation details. We demonstrate the feasibility of our approach to raise the level of abstraction of SoS construction through reasoned composition at runtime. Our architecture presents a strong foundation for further work due to its generality and extensibility.

Shift of ambidexterity modes: An empirical investigation of the impact of artificial intelligence in customer service

To manage the trade-offs between exploration and exploitation, customer service organizations typically choose a specific ambidexterity mode, such as structural separation or behavioral integration, that suits their context. However, recent research suggests that organizations need to dynamically change their ambidexterity modes to better align with changing environmental and organizational contexts. This study examines the impact of AI in facilitating the shift across various modes of ambidexterity in customer service organizations. Our findings reveal that achieving shifts in ambidexterity modes is challenging, and organizations must overcome technology, business process, and stakeholder related barriers. Based on our findings, we develop a set of propositions for further investigation. Our study contributes to research on the dynamic perspective of ambidexterity by shedding light on how customer service organizations shift from one ambidexterity mode to another and by articulating the important roles played by AI in achieving such shifts.

Should we care about the level of detail in trees when running urban microscale simulations?

Due to lack of information and long geometry generation times, tree geometries are usually oversimplified or even ignored in Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations that predict wind and pollutant dispersion in urban areas. Nevertheless, trees are known to impact local wind patterns and air quality levels. Thus, in this paper we explore the effects that tree models automatically reconstructed at diverse Level of Detail (LoD) (1, 2 and 3) have in numerical wind predictions. We address this by comparing the non-dimensional velocity magnitude differences between simulations with multiple tree LoDs. To further understand these differences in changing environmental contexts we use three morphologies: an isolated tree, an idealized street, canyon, and a real urban geometry from Rotterdam, The Netherlands The numerical results show that the velocity magnitude differences between the cases with LoD1 tree models and those with LoD2 tree models can be over 1.0m/s while the differences between LoD2 and LoD3 cases are rather limited, usually lower than 0.2m/s. Consequently, through this study we highlight the importance of using tree models in LoD2 or LoD3 at least for CFD simulations of wind flows in urban areas. To further support this conclusion we also analyze the impact of changing wind directions and tree Leaf Area Density (LAD) values in the impact of tree LoDs on wind. The differences found in this work linked to the level of realism in your tree models can support future studies where researchers want to make an informed choice.

Sustainable Livelihood Strategies of the Van Gujjars in Upper Yamuna River Basin

The nomadic pastoral community of the Van Gujjars in the Upper Yamuna River Basin presents a unique case study that illustrates the intricate relationship between human livelihoods and environmental dynamics. This abstract introduces a research endeavor that seeks to explore the sustainable livelihood strategies employed by the Van Gujjars to adapt to their changing socio-economic and environmental contexts. The Van Gujjars, a nomadic pastoral community with a rich history deeply intertwined with the forests and mountains of the Upper Yamuna River Basin, have developed distinctive livelihood strategies that harmonize their traditional practices with contemporary challenges. This research aims to uncover the multifaceted ways in which the Van Gujjars sustain their livelihoods while navigating the complexities of modern development and environmental conservation.

Community forestry in a changing context: A perspective from Nepal’s mid-hill

Community forestry (CF) is one of the major forest management modalities in the world. A growing body of literature documents various outcomes and interactions of people with CF, but limited studies have assessed the mode of forest-people interaction considering changing socio-economic and environmental contexts by employing a broader theoretical framework. Our study employed Ostrom’s social-ecological system (SES) framework accompanied by a meta-synthesis of peer-reviewed literature (n = 74), review of policy documents and census reports (n = 28), interviews with four stakeholder groups (n = 47) and group discussions with district-level forest user groups (n = 20), to explore the changed context in Nepal’s mid-hills since 1990 s. The study revealed transformational changes in socio-economic and environmental contexts of Nepal’s mid-hills compared to the conditions in which the CF was developed during 1990 s. Changes in the forces (or factors) of SES, including demography, socio-economic development, government policy and environmental discourse are so pronounced that its feedback to the social-ecological system is discernible. For example, the evolving dynamics have changed the mode of forest-people interaction and their relationship by altering land use practices, resource use patterns, farm-forestry linkage, and pool of human resources, which is reflected in diminishing participation, social capital, collective action, and (voluntary) contribution to CF management. Such (emerging) dynamics in the social-ecological system could further jeopardise CF institutions and their deliberation, weaken the forest-food security nexus, augment leadership gaps in forest management, and impede the country’s efforts in achieving global climate and development goals. To revitalize CF in this changing context, we suggest that community forests should be managed in three different models: urban, protection and production by putting payment of ecosystem services in place. As Nepal is a global leader in CF and its policies are informing forest and land use policies around the world, the outcomes of our study could offer an insight to the decision-makers of other countries for recalibrating land use policies by considering evolving local and global dynamics and their feedback to SES.

Bow and arrow: Chronological and social context of the introduction of new technologies in Southern Patagonia

Research carried out in the western region of the Santa Cruz province (Patagonia, Argentina), indicates a widespread and simultaneous use of diverse weapons with different launching modes during the Late Holocene. Bow and arrow, spear and/or darts and boleadoras were used as part of adaptive strategies appropriate for a changing environmental context. We recently suggested a prevalence of bow and arrow towards the end of the Late Holocene. The aim of this work is to define a chronology that will allow us to discuss the causes behind the introduction of the bow and arrow and the time it was abandoned. A further goal is to discuss the existence of an immediate replacement of the previous weapons (spears and/or darts) for the bow and arrow. Several factors (social, environmental, ecological and technological) that could explain its beginning, permanence and discard will be analyzed. We are especially interested in emphasizing the short period of its presence in the region, established circa 800/900 BP till 1520 AD as documented by Pigafetta in his chronicle.This work includes the analysis of more than 400 lithic points recovered in different sites within the region. Some of these are related to absolute dates that have been compared with other chronologies of specific technologies from the Late Holocene.Results are discussed taking into consideration the profound changes that occurred in the organizational systems of hunter-gatherer societies during this period. These gave a functional significance to the bow and arrow and other technologies. We consider this work is a contribution to understand the role of new technologies in a changing social context. Thus, we present original data and essential discussion relevant for south American and global archaeological studies.

해양에서의 밀입국·밀출국 특성과 대응방안

This study aims to discuss the need for enhancing the response system regarding illegal immigration and emigration through maritime routes. The research methodology involves analyzing literature and official data to explore the concepts and characteristics related to illegal immigration. Additionally, I attempted to make suggestions on recent changes in crime methods and countermeasures using press releases.
 The summary of the characteristics and changes of illegal immigration and emigration are as follows.
 First, the motivations and purposes behind illegal immigration and emigration are diverse. Second, within the context of environmental changes, illegal immigration techniques have diversified in terms of routes, means, and evasion tactics.
 Suggestions regarding countermeasures against illegal immigration and emigration are as follows.
 First, effective management requires understanding the root causes and motivations behind illegal immigration and emigration. Second, urgent development of surveillance and enforcement technologies is necessary. Third, regular updates and improvements to laws and regulations are essential. Fourth, establishing collaboration systems involving both domestic and international partners is crucial.

The Contextual Environment as a Catalyst for Change in the Learning Process and Learning Styles of Students

This study aims to assess whether students’ learning styles have changed due to the environmental context changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. This analysis is important because learning styles, in addition to predicting vocational outcomes, must inform the design of pedagogical practices and supports used in the teaching environment. To achieve this objective, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted on three cohorts of students who enrolled in an engineering course. Students in group 2 have been under confinement conditions during the previous year, while students in group 3 have been under confinement conditions for the previous two years. Group 1 consists of students who did not experience any confinement. The obtained results lead to the following conclusions: (i) The pandemic outbreak has led to environmental changes, pedagogical practices, and changes in the personality profiles of students, which can significantly impact the learning styles of students entering an engineering degree. (ii) While some learning styles are more susceptible to change, others remain resilient. (iii) The duration of exposure to the environmental changes caused by the pandemic outbreak has a greater impact on the changes in these learning styles.

A distant city: Assessing the impact of Dutch socioeconomic developments on urban and rural health using respiratory disease as a proxy

ObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence of respiratory disease in several populations from the Netherlands across different time periods and socioeconomic conditions. MaterialsWe analyzed 695 adult individuals from six different Dutch contexts of urban and rural settlements dating to different time periods (i.e., early-medieval, late-medieval, post-medieval). MethodsFor each individual, the presence/absence of chronic maxillary sinusitis, otitis media, and inflammatory periosteal reaction on ribs was recorded macroscopically according to accepted methods. ResultsStatistically significant associations were found in the presence of sinusitis diachronically (early-medieval to late-medieval period, and early-medieval to post-medieval period) both in rural and urban environments. Differences in prevalence rates of otitis media were found statistically significant when comparing rural to urban environments in the early-medieval and late-medieval periods. ConclusionOur results suggest that factors such as increased contact between towns and countryside, higher population densities, and intensification of agricultural production impacted the respiratory health of past populations both in rural and urban settings. SignificanceOur study provides new insights into the impact of environmental changes and urbanization on respiratory disease prevalence, shedding light on the relationship between health and changing social and environmental contexts. LimitationsResearch limitations included the complex etiology of respiratory diseases, and the impact of uncontrollable factors such as hidden heterogeneity, selective mortality, and rural-to-urban migration. Future researchFurther research in different contexts is advised in order to continue exploring urbanization and its impact on human health across both time and space.

Sustainability dilemma of hemp utilization for energy production

With global energy demand rising and climate change targets becoming more ambitious, the use of biomass for combustion will become even more important than it already is. As wood supplies become scarce, leading to increased demand for materials and energy, the demand for alternative solid biofuels for energy use is growing. Using various biobased raw materials seem to be the best way to optimize the value chain of solid biomass fuels. Biomass has high energy density, homogeneous physical properties, easy handling and efficient transportation. Combining multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and life cycle analysis (LCA), this article evaluates the utilization of hemp for a number of uses, including energy generation. The methodology developed combines agrotechnological and sustainability criteria with data analytic techniques for more effective application of hemp products in changing environmental, economic, and geopolitical contexts. According to the results of the research conducted, the use of hemp as an energy source is a viable option only in the short term.

Human decision change in crowd evacuation: A virtual reality-based study

In complex building evacuations, continuous decision-making is unavoidable to make a sequence of route choices at intersections. Evacuees can change their initial decisions with the environmental context changes to deal with the uncertainties of the evacuation. However, this decision-changing phenomenon in evacuation wayfinding has not been well explained. Therefore, this study investigates the decision-changing behavior in crowd evacuation. The influence of two typical crowd flow modes (i.e., symmetric split and asymmetric split crowd flow) on human decision changes in evacuation wayfinding is explored. The results show that evacuees are likely to change their initial route choice decision under the influence of crowd flows, and asymmetric crowd flow significantly reinforces this trend. Moreover, crowd flow modes significantly affected participants' wayfinding performance, including evacuation time, distance, and speed. This study provides behavioral observations and empirical evidence of the persistent effects of crowd flows on evacuees' wayfinding decisions changing and performance during the evacuation.

Molecular detection of hemoplasmas in rescued black-eared opossums (Didelphis aurita Wied-Neuwied, 1826) from southeastern Brazil, with evidence of a novel genotype infecting marsupials.

There is a growing concern about the participation of wild hosts and reservoirs in the epidemiology of several pathogens, particularly within the context of environmental changes and the expansion of the One Health concept. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of hemoplasmas in opossums rescued from the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 15 Didelphis aurita and subjected to DNA extraction and PCR using primers for the 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA genes. Physical examination and hematological analysis were also performed. Three out of 15 opossums tested positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. by PCR and showed hematological alterations such as anemia and leukocytosis. Clinical signs were non-specific and associated to traumatic lesions. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the hemoplasma detected was positioned between 'Ca. Mycoplasma haemodidelphis' detected in D. virginiana from North American and hemoplasmas recently detected in D. aurita from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This study indicates the existence of hemoplasma infections in D. aurita from the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, and reinforce the need for new epidemiological inquiries to clarify the participation of these in the dynamics of circulation of tick-borne pathogens.

The neural correlates of context driven changes in the emotional response: An fMRI study.

Emotional flexibility reflects the ability to adjust the emotional response to the changing environmental context. To understand how context can trigger a change in emotional response, i.e., how it can upregulate the initial emotional response or trigger a shift in the valence of emotional response, we used a task consisting of picture pairs during functional magnetic resonance imaging sessions. In each pair, the first picture was a smaller detail (a decontextualized photograph depicting emotions using primarily facial and postural expressions) from the second (contextualized) picture, and the neural response to a decontextualized picture was compared with the same picture in a context. Thirty-one healthy participants (18 females; mean age: 24.44 ± 3.4) were involved in the study. In general, context (vs. pictures without context) increased activation in areas involved in facial emotional processing (e.g., middle temporal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, and temporal pole) and affective mentalizing (e.g., precuneus, temporoparietal junction). After excluding the general effect of context by using an exclusive mask with activation to context vs. no-context, the automatic shift from positive to negative valence induced by the context was associated with increased activation in the thalamus, caudate, medial frontal gyrus and lateral orbitofrontal cortex. When the meaning changed from negative to positive, it resulted in a less widespread activation pattern, mainly in the precuneus, middle temporal gyrus, and occipital lobe. Providing context cues to facial information recruited brain areas that induced changes in the emotional responses and interpretation of the emotional situations automatically to support emotional flexibility.

Distraction by deviant sounds is modulated by the environmental context

Evidence shows that participants performing a continuous visual categorization task respond slower following the presentation of a task-irrelevant sound deviating from an otherwise repetitive or predictable auditory context (deviant sound among standard sounds). Here, for the first time, we explored the role of the environmental context (instrumentalized as a task-irrelevant background picture) in this effect. In two experiments, participants categorized left/right arrows while ignoring irrelevant sounds and background pictures of forest and city scenes. While equiprobable across the task, sounds A and B were presented with probabilities of .882 and .118 in the forest context, respectively, and with the reversed probabilities in the city context. Hence, neither sound constituted a deviant sound at task-level, but each did within a specific context. In Experiment 1, where each environmental context (forest and city scene) consisted of a single picture each, participants were significantly slower in the visual task following the presentation of the sound that was unexpected within the current context (context-dependent distraction). Further analysis showed that the cognitive system reset its sensory predictions even for the first trial of a change in environmental context. In Experiment 2, the two contexts (forest and city) were implemented using sets of 32 pictures each, with the background picture changing on every trial. Here too, context-dependent deviance distraction was observed. However, participants took a trial to fully reset their sensory predictions upon a change in context. We conclude that irrelevant sounds are incidentally processed in association with the environmental context (even though these stimuli belong to different sensory modalities) and that sensory predictions are context-dependent.

Understanding implicit sensorimotor adaptation as a process of proprioceptive re-alignment.

Multiple learning processes contribute to successful goal-directed actions in the face of changing physiological states, biomechanical constraints, and environmental contexts. Amongst these processes, implicit sensorimotor adaptation is of primary importance, ensuring that movements remain well-calibrated and accurate. A large body of work on reaching movements has emphasized how adaptation centers on an iterative process designed to minimize visual errors. The role of proprioception has been largely neglected, thought to play a passive role in which proprioception is affected by the visual error but does not directly contribute to adaptation. Here, we present an alternative to this visuo-centric framework, outlining a model in which implicit adaptation acts to minimize a proprioceptive error, the distance between the perceived hand position and its intended goal. This proprioceptive re-alignment model (PReMo) is consistent with many phenomena that have previously been interpreted in terms of learning from visual errors, and offers a parsimonious account of numerous unexplained phenomena. Cognizant that the evidence for PReMo rests on correlational studies, we highlight core predictions to be tested in future experiments, as well as note potential challenges for a proprioceptive-based perspective on implicit adaptation.

Context matters: Leveraging anthropology within one health

Anthropologists develop long-term engagements with communities, animals, and the ecosystems they all share. This approach can provide important context that is necessary for One Health research, which may otherwise overlook the perspectives and lived experiences of community members. This paper presents two case studies that illustrate the importance of leveraging long-term, holistic, engagements with communities in moving the One Health concept forward. The first illustrates the complexity of understanding the health of people and animals within the context of environmental change in South India. The second provides insights into how the conservation of endangered species requires considering the entanglements of people, domestic animals, and the landscapes they share with wildlife in Madagascar. We demonstrate the value of integrating anthropological perspectives within interdisciplinary One Health research and interventions to better understand the complexity of systems.

Examining combinations of stimulus and contingency changes with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and pigeons

Resurgence and renewal are relapse phenomena in which behavior undergoing extinction returns as a result of worsening of reinforcement conditions or changes in environmental context, respectively. The present experiments examined laboratory models of resurgence and renewal in isolation and in combination to assess the potential influences of these effects during treatments with differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA). Experiment 1 demonstrated a greater return in arbitrary target responding in children diagnosed with autism when both changing context and removing alternative reinforcement compared with only a change in context. Experiment 2 evaluated a similar comparison by exposing pigeons to changes in context and changes in the contingency for alternative responding in isolation or combination. Consistent with Experiment 1, target responding increased most when combining contingency and context changes. Experiment 3 demonstrated greater increases in target responding with pigeons when returning to the training context and omitting higher compared with lower percentages of alternative reinforcers. This study replicated and extended previous findings that revealed resurgence of target behavior is greater when combining context changes and greater reductions in alternative reinforcement. These findings imply that context changes can exacerbate relapse with DRA treatments resulting from decreases in alternative reinforcement either through breakdowns in treatment integrity or planned maintenance strategies.

The Effect of Task and Environment Constraints on Aquatic Locomotor Behavior: Qualitative Data Analysis

Many constraints (environmental, organismic, and task) act on all patterns of motor coordination, although their effects on swimming is less well understood. To this end, we carried out the current study with fifty-six participants, ages ranging from six to twelve years. The experimental tasks were created from the original task in which changes in task speed and environmental context were manipulated. Four aspects in the results were notable: a) a main trend was one of performance with the same developmental status among the tasks; b) when behaviour changed, this occurred due to environmental constraints, leading to more rudimentary patterns of locomotion; c) the developmental status presented initially was associated with greater adaptative capacity in the task combining change in direction and speed; in this case participants with more advanced developmental status presented changes in sequencing as well as parameters; and d) when only speed was increased, changes were restricted to the parameters.

How Facial Attractiveness Affects Time Perception: Increased Arousal Results in Temporal Dilation of Attractive Faces.

Time perception plays a fundamental role in people’s daily life activities, and it is modulated by changes in environmental contexts. Recent studies have observed that attractive faces generally result in temporal dilation and have proposed increased arousal to account for such dilation. However, there is no direct empirical result to evidence such an account. The aim of the current study, therefore, was to clarify the relationship between arousal and the temporal dilation effect of facial attractiveness by introducing a rating of arousal to test the effect of arousal on temporal dilation (Experiment 1) and by regulating arousal via automatic expression suppression to explore the association between arousal and temporal dilation (Experiment 2). As a result, Experiment 1 found that increased arousal mediated the temporal dilation effect of attractive faces; Experiment 2 showed that the downregulation of arousal attenuated the temporal dilation of attractive faces. These results highlighted the role of increased arousal, which is a dominating mechanism of the temporal dilation effect of attractive faces.

How do invasion syndromes evolve? An experimental evolution approach using the ladybird Harmonia axyridis

Experiments comparing native to introduced populations or distinct introduced populations to each other show that phenotypic evolution is common and often involves a suit of interacting phenotypic traits. We define such sets of traits that evolve in concert and contribute to the success of invasive populations as an ‘invasion syndrome’. The invasive Harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis displays such an invasion syndrome with, for instance, females from invasive populations being larger and heavier than individuals from native populations, allocating more resources to reproduction, and spreading reproduction over a longer lifespan. Invasion syndromes could emerge due to selection acting jointly and directly on a multitude of traits, or due to selection on one or a few key traits that drive correlated indirect responses in other traits. Here, we investigated the degree to which the H. axyridis invasion syndrome would emerge in response to artificial selection on either female body mass or on age at first reproduction, two traits involved in their invasion syndrome. To further explore the interaction between environmental context and evolutionary change in molding the phenotypic response, we phenotyped the individuals from the selection experiments in two environments, one with abundant food resources and one with limited resources. The two artificial selection experiments show that the number of traits showing a correlated response depends upon the trait undergoing direct selection. Artificial selection on female body mass resulted in few correlated responses and hence poorly reproduced the invasion syndrome. In contrast, artificial selection on age at first reproduction resulted in more widespread phenotypic changes, which nevertheless corresponded only partly to the invasion syndrome. The artificial selection experiments also revealed a large impact of diet on the traits, with effects dependent on the trait considered and the selection regime. Overall, our results indicate that direct selection on multiple traits was likely necessary in the evolution of the H. axyridis invasion syndrome. Furthermore, they show the strength of using artificial selection to identify the traits that are correlated in different selective contexts, which represents a crucial first step in understanding the evolution of complex phenotypic patterns, including invasion syndromes.