Diverse Strategies Research Articles

Delving into preschool teachers’ revenge – a mediated-moderated model that explores the deeper nuances of hot and cold revenge among preschool teachers

AbstractWhile revenge has captured the attention of researchers, certain nuances have been disregarded. Some studies have recognized the existence of two distinct forms of revenge — “hot” or “cold” — but the specific conditions underlying these variants have been overlooked. The present two studies delve into the boundary conditions that differentiate hot and cold revenge. By analyzing data collected from 172 and 107 preschool teachers in studies one and two, respectively, this research confirms the presence of both emotional (hot) and calculated (cold) revenge responses. Furthermore, it uncovers the mechanisms driving these two revenge types and identifies a trade-off between vertical solidarity motivated by pragmatic ambitions and revenge, representing divergent resource acquisition strategies. The findings' relevance for decreasing vindictive behaviours and future research avenues are discussed.

The role of different types of knowledge and expertise in explaining recognition justice in flood defence and flood risk prevention

AbstractFlood risks worldwide are rising and it is increasingly recognised that the impacts of floods are not neutral. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics determine people's capacity to deal with flood events. These differences in social vulnerability to floods need to be considered in flood risk management (FRM) to prevent the most vulnerable groups from being disproportionately impacted. However, due to a diversification of FRM strategies and the involvement of various policy domains, the experts working on FRM are no longer a homogeneous group. Where FRM was previously dominated by engineers, now various experts are involved that have different disciplinary backgrounds, knowledge bases and approaches to FRM. As a result, they also differ in their recognition of social vulnerability to floods. In this paper, we explore the different types of knowledge and expertise in FRM in three countries (England, Flanders and France), focussing on the strategies of flood defence and flood risk prevention. We characterise the epistemic communities supporting the domains and study to what extent experts differ in their recognition of social vulnerability to floods. We also dive into the mechanisms employed to stimulate integration between experts and consider the extent to which this integration can strengthen recognition justice.

Development of a Divergent Synthesis Strategy for 5-Sulfonyl-Substituted Uracil Derivatives.

An efficient, diversity-orientated synthesis of 5-sulfone-substituted uracils was established. The use of protecting groups to synthesize sulfones from N-heterocycles was avoided. Various heterocycles were synthesized for the first time from favorable, easily accessible starting materials. Diversity-orientated syntheses are important for the medicinal chemistry of virostatics and chemotherapeutics. This approach provides a broad substrate tolerance and excellent yields of up to 98%.

Mapping N2O production pathways in estuarine and coastal sediments through coupled 15N tracing and N2O isotopocules analysis

Estuarine and coastal zones are important sources of atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O). Previous studies have explored the overarching roles of nitrification and denitrification in N2O production from these critical zones, yet the specific productions of various pathways within these processes remain elusive. Using dual 15N tracers (15NH4+ and 15NO3-) coupled with N2O isotopocules analysis, we quantified the contributions of multiple nitrification (both autotrophic and heterotrophic) and denitrification (bacterial, fungal, and chemical) pathways to N2O production in estuarine and coastal sediments. Furthermore, we leveraged microecology theory to dissect the biogeochemical mechanisms that govern the spatiotemporal dynamics of these pathways. Results showed that denitrification was the dominant process, accounting for over 70 % of N2O production. The remainder was attributed to autotrophic nitrification (5.80–23.92 %) and heterotrophic nitrification (1.07–7.10 %). Isotopocules analyses further showed that fungal denitrification was the primary source at freshwater sites (40.47–49.99 %), whereas bacterial denitrification prevailed at high-salinity sites (51.37–52.55 %). Moreover, these processes displayed contrasting spatial variability along the estuarine salinity gradient. Mechanistic investigation informed by microecology theory demonstrated that distinct assembly processes governed bacterial and fungal communities across this gradient, resulting in divergent ecological adaptation strategies of bacterial and fungal denitrifiers and, consequently, the contrasting contribution patterns of bacterial and fungal denitrification. Collectively, our work presents a comprehensive and refined picture of N2O sources and dynamics, offering essential insights for improving predictive models and formulating effective mitigation strategies targeting N2O emissions from estuarine and coastal zones.

NATO’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Interoperability Challenges: The Case of Turkey

ABSTRACT The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly changed military applications, creating new competitive advantages and shifting the global balance of power. This article examines NATO’s AI strategy and the associated interoperability challenges, with a particular focus on Turkey. NATO’s AI strategy seeks to enhance interoperability among its member states by fostering the integration of AI technologies into military capabilities. However, achieving this goal is complicated by the varying levels of AI technological advancement, divergent national AI-military strategies and differing geopolitical considerations among member countries. Using Turkey as a case study, this paper explores how the rapid development of AI-based military drones contributes to Turkey’s strategic autonomy and enhances regime resilience while also highlighting certain interoperability considerations within NATO. The analysis underlines the need for a cohesive approach to AI integration that addresses these disparities to maintain NATO’s collective defence capabilities.

Single-cell heterogeneity in ribosome content and the consequences for the growth laws.

Across species and environments, the ribosome content of cell populations correlates with population growth rate. The robustness and universality of this correlation have led to its classification as a "growth law." This law has fueled theories about how evolution selects for microbial organisms that maximize their growth rate based on nutrient availability, and it has informed models about how individual cells regulate their growth rates and ribosomal content. However, due to methodological limitations, this growth law has rarely been studied at the level of individual cells. While populations of fast-growing cells tend to have more ribosomes than populations of slow-growing cells, it is unclear whether individual cells tightly regulate their ribosome content to match their environment. Here, we employ recent groundbreaking single-cell RNA sequencing techniques to study this growth law at the single-cell level in two different microbes, S. cerevisiae (a single-celled yeast and eukaryote) and B. subtilis (a bacterium and prokaryote). In both species, we observe significant variation in the ribosomal content of single cells that is not predictive of growth rate. Fast-growing populations include cells exhibiting transcriptional signatures of slow growth and stress, as do cells with the highest ribosome content we survey. Broadening our focus to non-ribosomal transcripts reveals subpopulations of cells in unique transcriptional states suggestive that they have evolved to do things other than maximize their rate of growth. Overall, these results indicate that single-cell ribosome levels are not finely tuned to match population growth rates or nutrient availability and cannot be predicted by a Gaussian process model that assumes measurements are sampled from a normal distribution centered on the population average. This work encourages the expansion of growth law and other models that predict how growth rates are regulated or how they evolve to consider single-cell heterogeneity. To this end, we provide extensive data and analysis of ribosomal and transcriptomic variation across thousands of single cells from multiple conditions, replicates, and species.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Divergence in C(sp3)-H Functionalization of 9H-Fluorene: A Streamlined Approach Utilizing Alcohols.

Sustainable chemical production demands the creation of innovative catalysts and catalytic technologies. While the development of coherent and robust catalytic systems using earth-abundant transition metals is essential, it remains a significant challenge. Herein, an expedient divergence strategy for tandem dehydrogenative C(sp3)-H alkylation and cyclization reactions of 9H-fluorene using a newly developed N,N-bidentate cobalt catalytic system is developed. This method capitalizes on the use of abundant and readily accessible alcohol. Demonstrating wide-ranging applicability, the catalytic protocol successfully integrated a diverse array of fluorenes and alcohols. This includes benzylic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic primary and secondary alcohols, amassing a total of 75 distinct examples. When applied to sterically bulky alcohols, the reaction preferentially undergoes alkenylation, yielding a tetrasubstituted olefin as the main product. In the case of diols, the expected outcome is Dual-fluorescence at both terminal positions. This process leads to difluorination, followed by a cyclization step, culminating in the formation of a relatively unprecedented spiro compound. The scalability of this method has been validated through gram-scale synthesis. Control experiments have shed light on the reaction mechanism, indicating that it progresses through an unsaturated intermediate and adheres to the borrowing hydrogen pathway.

Visual representation of tourism landscapes: A comparative analysis of DMOs in a cross-border destination

This paper introduces a framework for analyzing and interpreting the visual content of tourism landscapes, particularly focusing on the comparative representation of these landscapes by destination management organizations (DMOs) in the cross-border context of Usedom Island, shared by Poland and Germany. Drawing on a literature review and employing visual content analysis, this study categorizes elements of tourism landscapes as depicted in DMO-produced photographs, highlighting the differences in how these landscapes are presented to potential visitors by Polish and German DMOs. Key findings reveal significant disparities in the portrayal of cultural and natural heritage, suggesting divergent marketing strategies that may influence tourists’ perceptions and destination choices. This research not only contributes to the theoretical discourse on destination imaging and branding but also offers practical insights for DMOs in leveraging landscape elements effectively.

Divergent Synthesis and Antigenicity Evaluation of Core Oligosaccharides of the Lipopolysaccharides from Acinetobacter baumannii SMAL and ATCC 19606.

Acinetobacter baumannii poses a serious threat to human health. Pathogenic bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) are potent immunogens for the development of antibacterial vaccines. To investigate the antigenic properties of A. baumannii LPS, five well-defined core oligosaccharide fragments from the LPS of A. baumannii SMAL and ATCC 19606 were synthesized. A divergent synthesis strategy based on orthogonally protected α-(2 → 5)-linked Kdo dimer 6 was developed. Selective exposure of different positions in this key precursor and then elongation of sugar chains via stereocontrolled formation of both 1,2-trans and 1,2-cis-2-aminoglycosidic linkages permitted the efficient synthesis of the targets. The synthetic route also highlights a 4-O and then 7-O glycosylation sequence for assembly of the novel 4,7-branched Kdo framework. Antigenicity assay using the glycan microarray technique disclosed that tetrasaccharide 3 featuring both 4,7-branch and α-(2 → 5)-Kdo-Kdo structural elements was a potential antigenic determinant.

Local cryptic diversity in salinity adaptation mechanisms in the wild outcrossing Brassica fruticulosa

It is normally supposed that populations of the same species should evolve shared mechanisms of adaptation to common stressors due to evolutionary constraint. Here, we describe a system of within-species local adaptation to coastal habitats, Brassica fruticulosa, and detail surprising strategic variability in adaptive responses to high salinity. These different adaptive responses in neighboring populations are evidenced by transcriptomes, diverse physiological outputs, and distinct genomic selective landscapes. In response to high salinity Northern Catalonian populations restrict root-to-shoot Na+ transport, favoring K+ uptake. Contrastingly, Central Catalonian populations accumulate Na+ in leaves and compensate for the osmotic imbalance with compatible solutes such as proline. Despite contrasting responses, both metapopulations were salinity tolerant relative to all inland accessions. To characterize the genomic basis of these divergent adaptive strategies in an otherwise non-saline-tolerant species, we generate a long-read-based genome and population sequencing of 18 populations (nine inland, nine coastal) across the B. fruticulosa species range. Results of genomic and transcriptomic approaches support the physiological observations of distinct underlying mechanisms of adaptation to high salinity and reveal potential genetic targets of these two very recently evolved salinity adaptations. We therefore provide a model of within-species salinity adaptation and reveal cryptic variation in neighboring plant populations in the mechanisms of adaptation to an important natural stressor highly relevant to agriculture.

The Bee Fertilizes the Flower She Robs: Analysing the Diplomatic Games of Carrot, Soft Power and National Interests for Access to Natural Resources in Papua New Guinea

Purpose: This paper conducts a nuanced exploration of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) intricate diplomatic landscape through the metaphor "The Bee Fertilizes the Flower She Robs." This conceptual framework elucidates the complex interplay between soft power, national interests, and resource access among global powers - namely Australia, China, and the United States - in the strategically significant Asia-Pacific region. By situating PNG within this geopolitical contest, this study aims to deepen understanding of how these states navigate power dynamics, particularly regarding PNG's abundant natural resources. Materials and Method: Employing a qualitative methodological approach, this research employs case analysis as its primary investigative tool. Selected case studies critically examine the diplomatic strategies executed by Australia, China, and the United States in PNG, focusing on soft power mechanisms such as cultural diplomacy, development assistance, and foreign direct investment. The analysis is grounded in a comprehensive review of primary and secondary sources, including diplomatic documents and investment reports, to capture the multifaceted nature of international relations in PNG. Findings: The findings reveal a paradox: while foreign investment catalyses economic development in PNG, it simultaneously engenders dependencies that can jeopardize sovereignty. The divergent strategies of Australia, China, and the United States manifest as a blend of cooperation and competition, accompanied by significant ethical considerations regarding environmental sustainability and community displacement. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: This study advances the discourse surrounding soft power, urging a re-evaluation of its role as both an instrument of influence and a potential source of dependency. Policymakers in PNG are encouraged to establish regulatory frameworks that ensure transparency, prioritize local agency, and promote sustainability, thereby navigating complex international engagements while safeguarding their sovereign interests.

Exploring the genome-wide transcriptomic responses of Bulinus truncatus to Schistosoma haematobium infection: An important host-parasite system involved in the transmission of human urogenital schistosomiasis

Freshwater snails of the genus Bulinus are critical hosts for Schistosoma haematobium, the causative agent of urogenital schistosomiasis. Among the 37 recognized Bulinus species, B. truncatus is a key vector. Using RNA sequencing (RNAseq), we investigated the genome-wide transcriptional responses of B. truncatus to S. haematobium infection. Our findings suggest that snails employ a complex defense strategy against the parasites by up-regulating genes involved in immune response, stress reaction, structural integrity, metabolism, and detoxification. In response, schistosome parasites appear to manipulate the snail’s defense system, as evidenced by the suppression of immune-related genes such as ficolin, peptidoglycan recognition protein, and C-type lectin domain-containing protein genes. The down-regulation of biomphalysin 9, compared to its function in Biomphalaria glabrata, indicates divergent immune strategies among snail hosts. Additionally, we compared transcriptome profiles between embryos and juveniles, providing insights into developmental processes. This study offers valuable genomic data for Bulinus snails, illuminating the molecular interactions between bulinids and schistosomes, and advancing our understanding of their developmental biology.

Linking fine‐root diameter across root orders with climatic, biological and edaphic factors in the Northern Hemisphere

The importance of fine‐root diameter for ecosystem functioning is increasingly recognized, yet much remains to be learned about the variation in fine‐root diameter at large scales. We conducted an analysis of fine‐root diameter for five root orders for 1163 plant species to detect patterns in relation to resource availability (e.g. carbon, nitrogen, water and net primary production (NPP)), stress intensity (e.g. plant/soil biodiversity and soil bulk density) and temperature. First‐ to fourth‐order root diameters showed non‐linear relationships with mean annual temperature (except for first‐order root diameter) and/or with latitude. The diameters of the five root orders decreased with increasing mean annual precipitation, but increased with greater NPP, which was the strongest determinant of fine‐root diameter. Increasing soil biodiversity was associated with decreasing diameters of fourth‐ and fifth‐order roots, while greater plant biodiversity was associated with decreasing diameters of first‐ to third‐order roots. Soil total nitrogen concentration had a positive effect on first‐order root diameter but a negative effect on fourth‐ and fifth‐order root diameters. The patterns reversed for soil total phosphorus concentration. First‐ to third‐order and fifth‐order root diameters increased with greater soil bulk density. Second‐ to fourth‐order root diameters increased with higher soil pH. Overall, the variables related to climatic, biological and edaphic factors explained 44–63% of the total variance in the diameters of the different root orders. The unique patterns of plasticity observed in fine‐root diameter across root orders in response to varying environmental conditions contributes to a diversification of plant strategies for nutrient/water acquisition and transport under climate change.

Are Shade-Tolerant Plants Also Drought-Tolerant

This study examines the relationship between drought and shade tolerance in herbaceous plants, which is traditionally assumed to be mutually exclusive due to divergent resource allocation strategies. By collecting and analyzing relevant biochemical and morphological traits on a variety of plants native to grasslands in south eastern Ontario, a quantitative approach to analyzing the relationship between these two stress responses can be employed. This research aims to enhance our characterization of the interplay and relationship of drought and shade tolerance in relation to these plant species.

Understanding diversification of strategies and tactics in Swedish mining resistance: the fanning-out effect of goals and contextual opportunities

Europe is witnessing increasing protests against mining. Social movements mobilizing against resource extraction projects, (i.e. anti-extraction movements) are typically heterogeneous actor networks using diverse tactics to stop projects and promote other forms of societal development. I investigate two prominent anti-extraction movements in Sweden and explore how movement actors’ goals and interpretations of contextual opportunities shape their strategies and tactics. I study tactics over eleven years and use frame analysis to explore actors’ goals, interpretations, and strategies. Results show how diverse goals lead to diversification of tactics in movements by prompting movement actors to relate to different policy areas, that is, issue-specific contexts. Furthermore, actors’ experiences of interacting in different issue-specific contexts created differences in actors’ retrospective reasoning, which reinforced variation in tactics by informing interpretations of contextual opportunities. The study contributes to social movement theory by explicating how the content of goals shape interpretations of contextual opportunities and by extension diversify movement actors’ strategies and tactics. This adds to the understanding of how socio-political context influence tactical choices in concert with other explanations such as action traditions, diffusion, and available resources. Understanding diversification of movement tactics is important for handling increasingly complex conflicts over natural resources.

Facile synthesis of Bis(1,2,3-triazole) and 1,1’-azobis-1,2,3-triazole via divergent one-step oxidation of glyoxal dihydrazone

ABSTRACT Here we present a novel divergent one-step oxidation strategy for the synthesis of bis(1,2,3-triazole) and 1,1’-azobis-1,2,3-triazole using readily available glyoxal dihydrazone as the starting material. Using MnO2 as the oxidant, bis(1,2,3-triazole) could be obtained in 50% yield employing CCl4 as solvent at 18°C. Changing the oxidant to KMnO4 and the solvent to CH2Cl2 produced 1,1’-azobis-1,2,3-triazole as the main product. This provides an efficient strategy for the generation of bis(1,2,3-triazole) and 1,1’-azobis-1,2,3-triazole. We propose that this approach may be used for the construction of other long N-chain structures.

Promoting the Nation: Conflicting Theories of Tourism during Decolonization in Papua New Guinea, 1960–70s

ABSTRACT This article delves into the development of tourism in Papua New Guinea during the decolonization era from 1960 to the 1970s. It argues that divergent theories and strategies emerged regarding the promotion of tourism. One perspective, championed by the Australian colonizers, viewed the exotic aspects of the Indigenous savage culture as the primary attraction for tourists. On the contrary, another faction led by nationalist Papuans and New Guineans advocated for a focus on respect and dignity of the Indigenous people, aligning with the nation’s journey towards self-governance and eventual independence. This article highlights the significance of promoting a positive image and upholding respect, particularly in a nation grappling with perceptions of ‘otherness’ and a legacy of colonialism. As Papua New Guinea progressed towards self-rule and sovereignty, tourism development became intertwined with broader national development objectives that prioritized economic empowerment and the welfare of its citizens over the pursuit of a competitive destination in the Pacific.

Stereoselective C-B and C-H Bonds Functionalization of PolyBorylated Alkenes.

Alkenes are fundamental functional groups which feature in various materials and bioactive molecules; however, efficient divergent strategies for their stereodefined synthesis are difficult. In this regard, numerous synthetic methodologies have been developed to construct carbon-carbon bonds with regio- and stereoselectivity, enabling the predictable and efficient synthesis of stereodefined alkenes. In fact, an appealing alternative approach for accessing challenging stereodefined alkene molecular frameworks could involve the sequential selective activation and cross-coupling of strong bonds instead of conventional C-C bond formation. In this study, we introduce a series of programmed site- and stereoselective strategies that capitalizes on the versatile reactivity of readily accessible polymetalloid alkenes (i.e. polyborylated alkenes), through a tandem cross-coupling reaction, which is catalyzed by an organometallic Rh-complex to produce complex molecular scaffolds. By merging selective C-B and remote C-H bond functionalization, we achieve the in situ generation of polyfunctional C(sp2)-nucleophilic intermediates. These species can be further modified by selective coupling reactions with various C-based electrophiles, enabling the formation of C(sp2)-C(sp3) bond for the generation of even more complex molecular architectures using the readily available starting polyborylated-alkenes. Mechanistic and computational studies provide insight into the origins of the stereoselectivities and C-H activation via a 1,4-Rh migration process.

Stereoselective C−B and C−H Bonds Functionalization of PolyBorylated Alkenes

AbstractAlkenes are fundamental functional groups which feature in various materials and bioactive molecules; however, efficient divergent strategies for their stereodefined synthesis are difficult. In this regard, numerous synthetic methodologies have been developed to construct carbon–carbon bonds with regio‐ and stereoselectivity, enabling the predictable and efficient synthesis of stereodefined alkenes. In fact, an appealing alternative approach for accessing challenging stereodefined alkene molecular frameworks could involve the sequential selective activation and cross‐coupling of strong bonds instead of conventional C−C bond formation. In this study, we introduce a series of programmed site‐ and stereoselective strategies that capitalizes on the versatile reactivity of readily accessible polymetalloid alkenes (i.e. polyborylated alkenes), through a tandem cross‐coupling reaction, which is catalyzed by an organometallic Rh‐complex to produce complex molecular scaffolds. By merging selective C−B and remote C−H bond functionalization, we achieve the in situ generation of polyfunctional C(sp2)‐nucleophilic intermediates. These species can be further modified by selective coupling reactions with various C‐based electrophiles, enabling the formation of C(sp2)−C(sp3) bond for the generation of even more complex molecular architectures using the readily available starting polyborylated‐alkenes. Mechanistic and computational studies provide insight into the origins of the stereoselectivities and C−H activation via a 1,4‐Rh migration process.

Empirically testing for niche sports

ABSTRACT Although niching has been well explored across the marketing, strategy, and consumer behaviour literature, its application in the sport context to date has been atheoretical, resulting in pervasive inconsistencies within the sport marketing literature. Such inconsistency has derived from sport scholarship’s adoption of anecdotal and subjective descriptions of “niche sports.” This shortcoming is addressed first through an analysis of extant niche literature, to articulate a conceptual framework to realign and guide future niche marketing sport research. This framework is underpinned by marketing’s empirical generalisations and Dirichlet modelling, offering a parsimonious methodology to identify niche brands. An analysis of Australian sport participation is then performed, to empirically test for the presence of niche sports utilising the advocated framework. Data was obtained from Australia’s large-scale national population tracking survey AusPlay, with a final sample of 70,858 respondents and included 124 discrete sport and recreational activities. The empirical analysis reveals several sports and recreation activities to exhibit characteristics of niche positioning: Crossfit, Mixed Martial Arts, Equestrian, and Walking. These activities feature a base of participants who exhibit an exceedingly high participation frequency, elevated rates of sole loyalty to the respective activity and a disposition for the chosen activity to fulfil a disproportionate share of their overall product category requirements. In practice, such niche sport brands require divergent marketing strategies focused upon product quality, maintaining customer relationships and reinforcing internal dynamic capabilities. The study concludes with a discussion of niche sport’s potential idiosyncratic features, to provide a roadmap for future research.