Diverse Facets Research Articles

Nexus between corporate environmental disclosures and gender diversity: Interaction effects of board independence

AbstractThis study examines the impact of gender diversity (GD) in the board of directors on corporate environmental disclosures (ED). It develops an integrative theoretical framework to explore diverse facets of the nexus of GD and ED. Using Indian‐listed firms for a sample period of 2015 to 2021, panel models have been used to validate the theoretical assumptions of the study. The empirical results reveal that women directors improve ED. Moreover, the role of women in driving environmental disclosure becomes evident only after achieving a critical mass of three directors. Our research contributes to the literature using board independence as moderator, for the first time in this context, and it was found that it moderates GD–ED relationship significantly. The findings could be beneficial for policymakers and regulators to recognize how GD is vital to firms to achieve best environmental practices. More initiatives may be deployed to reinforce women's representation in boardrooms for enhancing ED. Our study is one of the foremost studies to examine the impact of board GD on ED based on gender socialization, critical mass, and resource dependency theoretical framework.

Revealing the construction of Cu[sbnd]O[sbnd]Ce interfacial sites via increased support utilization for enhanced CO2 electroreduction and Li-CO2 batteries

Leveraging designed electronic oxide-metal interactions (EOMI), cerium-supported copper demonstrates remarkable competitiveness in the carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR). Nevertheless, the limited utilization efficiency of conventional cerium oxide (CeO2) support hampers the EOMI effect. Furthermore, a comprehensive understanding of the influence of distinct crystalline surfaces of CeO2 on the loaded active copper (Cu) species remains elusive. Herein, oxide carriers with diverse crystal facets are acquire for loading to load Cu species through the incorporation of cerium-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) precursors. Simultaneously, owing to the elevated specific surface area conferred by MOF precursors, Cu/CeO2 hosts ample catalytically active sites for carbon dioxide (CO2) electrocatalytic reactions and as catalytic cathodes for lithium-CO2 (Li-CO2) batteries. Furthermore, the carbon converted from organic ligands in MOFs precursors not only proficiently immobilizes and disperses the active sites, but also enhances the inherent conductive stability of the oxide while augmenting energy utilization efficiency. Leveraging these advantages, the electrocatalyst derived from MOFs achieves a peak CO2-to-methane Faradaic efficiency of 57.9 %, whereas the assembled Li-CO2 batteries exhibit notable activity and durability, boasting a substantial full-discharge capacity of 8907 mAh/g, a discharge voltage of 2.65 V, and an extended cycle life exceeding 1000 h. Mechanistic investigations were conducted using density functional theory (DFT) calculations to thoroughly explore the impact of CeO2 carrier crystal facets, specifically (111), (100), and (110), on the loaded copper species. Notably, (110) was identified as the optimal facet due to its favorable contributions to electronic structure optimization and stability enhancement.

The analytic progress on biodiversity measures

Since the beginning of ecology as a formal science, ecologists have been intensely interested in understanding the diversity patterns and underlying mechanisms that forge diversity distribution across space and over time. Several facets of (bio)diversity were proposed to address the major conundrums in ecology, from simple taxonomic diversity to functional and phylogenetic diversity. In the biodiversity measure theatre, analytic approaches had rampant progress in the last decades, yet are still anchored in classic ecology concepts. In this brief remark, I aimed to provide insights on biodiversity measures techniques applied to ecology and conservation, especially by Latin-American mammalogists. Focusing on taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity, this remark itemised to briefly depict the status quo conceptual and analytic of biodiversity measures in ecology/conservation/mammalogy. To understand the diversity patterns — and further predict the underlying mechanisms — an agenda of research and alliances between scientists and students must be strengthened, which certainly will provide advances for Latin-American mammalogy. To do so, a vast majority of modern analysis (including some depicted here) depends on high computational capacity, typically concentrated in economically affluent regions and which urgently needs to be decentralized via institutional partnerships.

Foreword

Dear Linguistic Enthusiasts and Scholars, It is with great pleasure that we present this year’s summer issue of the scientific journal of Acta Linguistica Asiatica. With it, we embark on a journey to explore the rich and diverse linguistic tapestry of the Japanese, Chinese, and Korean languages, delving into their contemporary, pedagogical, historical, and other significance. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the authors, reviewers, and editorial team whose unwavering commitment has made this journal possible. It is our hope that the ALA journal will continue to serve as a platform to foster intellectual exchange and contribute to the advancement of linguistic knowledge in this dynamic and ever-evolving field. This issue offers 4 research articles and one book review. It opens with the article “Distant Co-occurrence Patterns of Connectives: a Corpus Study of Formulaicity in Japanese” written by Andrej BEKEŠ, Bor HODOŠČEK, NISHINA Kikuko, and ABEKAWA Takeshi. In the article, the authors examined two-item and multi-item distant co-occurrence patterns of connectives in written Japanese using corpus research methods. The analysis shows these patterns contribute to discourse development and prediction, resembling Bourdieu’s habitus. In the following article “Teaching Both Simplified and Traditional Characters to Learners of Chinese as L2”, LI Xiao examined Chinese character acquisition in second language learning. It discusses different approaches - prioritizing simplified or traditional characters, teaching both together, or delaying character learning. Results show that most learners prefer simplified characters, some equally acquired both, while fewer prefer traditional characters. Text comprehension is better with characters than with Hanyu Pinyin. The article “Exclamation in Late Archaic Chinese” by WANG Aiqing delved into exclamations in Late Archaic Chinese (LAC), which consist of sentence exclamations and exclamatives. Sentence exclamations assert propositions with or without surprise. The author proposes that exclamatives with degree adverbials he and heqi do not count as true exclamatives in LAC. The last research article in this issue, contributed by Klaudija LUKMAN and RYU Hyeonsook is entitled “Korean Honorifics in Flux: a Case Study of Seoul National University LEI Textbooks”. By examining Korean language textbooks (2000-2019), this research showed the link between society and politeness styles. Notable shifts reveal the replacement of formal hasipsioche with polite haeyoche, reflecting changes in Korean culture and society. Last but not least, Nina GOLOB reviewed the book “Uvod u znanost o japanskom jeziku: Osnovna obilježja, glasovni sustav i leksički slojevi.” Its primary contribution lies in its methodical exploration of diverse facets of the Japanese language and the accomplishments of linguistic research related to it, all while considering the perspective of Croatian and other Slavic languages. The book is ideal for Croatian-speaking Japanese students and linguistics enthusiasts. At this point, it is worth mentioning that in this era of rapid technological advancement, we wish to highlight the significant influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on linguistic studies. The emergence of AI has brought about a revolution in our methodologies, granting us the capability to analyze extensive linguistic data in real-time and fostering cross-linguistic collaborations with the aid of language translation tools. While we appreciate the immense potential that AI offers, we must tread carefully, striking a balance between leveraging AI’s potential and preserving the essence of human-driven analysis. Ethical considerations surrounding AI integration also deserve our attention. Editors and Editorial board wish the regular and new readers of the ALA journal a pleasant read full of inspiration, and a rise of new research ideas inspired by these papers. Editors

“Uvod u znanost o japanskom jeziku: Osnovna obilježja, glasovni sustav i leksički slojevi”: Book Review

“Uvod u znanost o japanskom jeziku: Osnovna obilježja, glasovni sustav i leksički slojevi” is a groundbreaking work on Japanese linguistics written in Croatian language. The book’s primary contribution lies in its methodical exploration of diverse facets of the Japanese language and the accomplishments of linguistic research related to it, all while considering the perspective of Croatian and other Slavic languages. By delving into the language’s structure, grammar, and unique characteristics from a Japanese perspective, this monograph enriches the reader’s comprehension of the Japanese language. As a valuable resource, it caters to both Croatian-speaking Japanese language students and those interested in general linguistics. The book comprises four informative chapters, along with an appendix that covers fundamental aspects of the Japanese writing system.

Local environmental variables outperform spatial and land use pattern in the maintenance and assembly of phytoplankton communities in the wetland cluster

Phytoplankton is a crucial primary producer in wetland ecosystems and is highly sensitive to changes in water quality. It has long been considered one of the most important biological indicators for monitoring water pollution. However, our understanding of the various aspects of phytoplankton communities assembly and the factors driving them remains limited. In this study, we conducted collection and analysis of phytoplankton samples from a temperate wetland cluster encompassing both lake and marsh types under the backdrop of industrial pollution from the petroleum industry. Our aim was to investigate the influence of spatial factors, land use patterns, and local environmental variables on the taxonomic and functional structure of the phytoplankton community, utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM) and variation partitioning. Our results revealed that environmental filtering exerts a greater relative impact on shaping the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton compared to mass effects. Human activities, such as industrial and agricultural production, can lead to landscape modifications that increase water nutrient levels and consequently influence the community composition. Taxonomic beta diversity is determined by both mass effects and environmental filtering. In contrast, functional beta diversity responds more to local environmental gradients, while the land use pattern was not important for facets of beta diversity in the wetland cluster. These results validate the concordance and complementarity between functional and taxonomy-based biome structures, highlighting the significance of integrating multiple ecological drivers. The results of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of wetland community assembly and the processes of biogeography, and are of crucial significance for the biological monitoring and management of freshwater ecosystem environmental pollution.

Going beyond richness: Modelling the BEF relationship using species identity, evenness, richness and species interactions via the DImodels R package

Abstract Biodiversity and ecosystem function (BEF) studies aim to understand how ecosystems respond to a gradient of species diversity. Generalised Diversity‐Interactions (DI) models are suitable for analysing the BEF relationship. These models relate an ecosystem function response of a community to the identity of the species in the community, their evenness (proportions) and interactions. The number of species in the community (richness) is included implicitly in a DI model. It is common in BEF studies to model an ecosystem function as a function of richness; while this can uncover trends in the BEF relationship, by definition, species diversity is broader than richness alone, and important patterns in the BEF relationship may remain hidden. Here, we introduce the DImodels R package for implementing DI models. We show how richness is mathematically equivalent to a simplified DI model under certain conditions, and illustrate how using the DI multidimensional definition of species diversity can provide deeper insight to the BEF relationship compared to traditional approaches. Using DI models can lead to considerably improved model fit over other methods; it does this by incorporating variation due to the multiple facets of species diversity. Predicting from a DI model is not limited to the study design points, the model can interpolate or extrapolate to predict for any species composition and proportions (assuming there is sufficient coverage of this space in the study design). Expressing the BEF relationship as a function of richness alone can be useful to capture overall trends. However, collapsing the multiple dimensions of species diversity to a single dimension (such as richness) can result in valuable ecological information being lost. DI modelling provides a framework to test the multiple components of species diversity in the BEF relationship. It facilitates uncovering a deeper ecological understanding of the BEF relationship and can lead to enhanced inference. The open‐source DImodels R package provides a user‐friendly way to implement this modelling approach.

Reclaiming the Secular Glory: A Critical Study of Ayaz Rasool Nazki’s Satisar: The Valley of Demons

Kashmir is known for diverse facets and elements, from its picturesque beauty to its age-old values and traditions passed down to generations. ‘Kashmiriyat’- a term often echoed to reverberate and reiterate the ethnic, nationalistic, and social consciousness of Kashmiris has been debated and discussed in different social, cultural, and literary circles. Ayaz Rasool Nazki’s maiden novel, Satisar: The Valley of Demons (2018), is a literary foray into the rich and glorious past of Kashmir with the undertones of repressive forces of anarchy, highlighting the destabilization of social and political equilibrium. It sheds light on the age-old cultural harmony and religious syncretism that once defined the geographical locale. The paper aims to present how literary output appeals to reclaim the secular glory lost to multiple political power structures over the years. Moreover, it will highlight the erosion of the rich cultural heritage that once delineated the essence of Kashmiriyat. The research objectives would be supported by a relevant theoretical framework to signify the importance of secularism in maintaining peace and stability in a pluralistic society like Kashmir.

Decoupled functional and phylogenetic diversity provide complementary information about community assembly mechanisms: A case study of Greek forests

Understanding the mechanisms of community assembly is of great importance to biogeography and ecology. Simultaneous investigation of the functional and phylogenetic facets of diversity has been proposed as a useful approach that allows inferences about such mechanisms. This study applies such an approach to explore diversity and structure within and among the main plant community types of mountainous forests in northern and central Greece. Functional and phylogenetic diversity and structure were measured in 25 community types of broadleaved deciduous and mountainous coniferous forests. Functional richness and Faith’s phylogenetic diversity were used to assess diversity, while mean pairwise functional and phylogenetic distances were used to investigate structure. Relationships between both facets of diversity and structure, as well as community types, were tested using boosted regression trees separately for all vascular plant taxa and taxa occurring in the forest understorey. Phylogenetic diversity was positively correlated with functional diversity, but phylogenetic structure was not a good predictor of functional structure. The understorey dataset revealed non-random structure for more vegetation plots than the dataset with all taxa. Habitat effects, represented by community types, were found to be better predictors of functional structure than phylogenetic structure, highlighting the need to account for habitat variability in studies of community assembly. In our study system, the two diversity facets provide complementary information on the structure of community types since most of the vegetation plots studied were found statistically significantly structured for one diversity facet (functionally clustered or phylogenetically overdispersed) and random for the other. Our results indicate that functional and phylogenetic measures provide different insights into the mechanisms driving the assembly of the forest community types studied.

Multiple facets of biodiversity are threatened by mining‐induced land‐use change in the Brazilian Amazon

AbstractAimMining is increasingly pressuring areas of critical importance for biodiversity conservation, such as the Brazilian Amazon. Biodiversity data are limited in the tropics, restricting the scope for risks to be appropriately estimated before mineral licensing decisions are made. As the distributions and range sizes of other taxa differ markedly from those of vertebrates—the common proxy for analysis of risk to biodiversity from mining—whether mining threatens lesser‐studied taxonomic groups differentially at a regional scale is unclear.LocationBrazilian Amazon.MethodsWe assess risks to several facets of biodiversity from industrial mining by comparing mining areas (within 70 km of an active mining lease) and areas unaffected by mining, employing species richness, species endemism, phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic endemism metrics calculated for angiosperms, arthropods and vertebrates.ResultsMining areas contained higher densities of species occurrence records than the unaffected landscape, and we accounted for this sampling bias in our analyses. None of the four biodiversity metrics differed between mining and nonmining areas for vertebrates. For arthropods, species endemism was greater in mined areas. Mined areas also had greater angiosperm species richness, phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic endemism, although less species endemism than unmined areas.Main ConclusionsUnlike for vertebrates, facets of angiosperm and arthropod diversity are relatively higher in areas of mining activity, underscoring the need to consider multiple taxonomic groups and biodiversity facets when assessing risk and evaluating management options for mining threats. Particularly concerning is the proximity of mining to areas supporting deep evolutionary history, which may be impossible to recover or replace. As pressures to expand mining in the Amazon grow, impact assessments with broader taxonomic reach and metric focus will be vital to conserving biodiversity in mining regions.

Beyond trait distances: Functional distinctiveness captures the outcome of plant competition

Abstract Functional trait distances between coexisting organisms reflect not only complementarity in the way they use resources, but also differences in their competitive abilities. Accordingly, absolute and relative trait distances have been widely used to capture the effects of niche dissimilarity and competitive hierarchies, respectively, on the performance of plants in competition. However, multiple dimensions of the plant phenotype are involved in these plant–plant interactions (PPI), challenging the use of relative trait distances to predict their outcomes. Furthermore, estimating the effects of competitive hierarchy on the performance of a group of coexisting plants remains particularly difficult since relative trait distances relate to the effects of a focal plant on another. We argue that trait distinctiveness, an emerging facet of functional diversity that characterizes the eccentric position of a species (or genotype) in a phenotypic space, can reveal the unique role played by a given individual plant in a group of competing plants. We used the model crop species Oryza sativa spp. japonica to evaluate the ability of trait distances and trait distinctiveness to predict the outcome of intraspecific PPI on the performance of single genotype and genotype mixtures. We performed a screening experiment to characterize the phenotypic space of 49 rice genotypes based on 11 above‐ground and root traits. We selected nine genotypes with contrasting positions in the phenotypic space and grew them in pots following a complete pairwise interaction design. Relative distances and distinctiveness based on traits associated with light competition were by far the best predictors of the performance of single genotypes—taller genotypes that acquired resource faster being the best competitors—while absolute trait distances had no effect. These results indicate that competitive hierarchy for light dominates PPI in this experiment. Consistently, trait distinctiveness in plant height and age at flowering had the strongest, positive effects on mixture performance, confirming that functional distinctiveness captures the effects of trait hierarchies and asymmetric PPI at this scale. Our findings shed new light on the role of trait diversity in regulating PPI and ecosystem processes and call for a greater consideration of functional distinctiveness in studies of coexistence mechanisms. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

How do distinct facets of tree diversity and community assembly respond to environmental variables in the subtropical Atlantic Forest?

This study assessed the impact of altitude, precipitation, and soil conditions on species richness (SR), phylogenetic diversity (PD), and functional diversity (FD) standardized effect sizes in subtropical Brazilian Atlantic Forest tree communities. We considered specific trait information (FDs) for FD, reflecting recent adaptive evolution, contrasting with deeper phylogenetic constraints in FD. Three functional traits (leaf area-LA, wood density-WD, and seed mass-SM) were examined for their response to these gradients. Generalized least squares models with environmental variables as predictors and diversity metrics as response variables were used, and a fourth-corner correlation test explored trait-environmental relationships. SR decreased with altitude, while PD increased, indicating niche convergence at higher altitudes. Leaf area and seed mass diversity also decreased with altitude. For LA, both FD and FDs were significant, reflecting filtering processes influenced by phylogenetic inheritance and recent trait evolution. For SM, only the specific trait structure responded to altitude. LA and SM showed significant trait-environmental relationships, with smaller-leaved and lighter-seeded species dominant at higher altitudes. Soil gradients affect diversity. Fertile soils have a wider range of LA, indicating coexistence of species with different nutrient acquisition strategies. WD variation is lower for FDs. SM diversity has different relationships with soil fertility for FDs and FD, suggesting phylogeny influences trait variation. Soil pH influences WD and LA under acidic soils, with deeper phylogenetic constraints (FD). Environmental factors impact tree communities, with evidence of trait variation constraints driven by conditions and resources. Subtropical Atlantic forests' tree assemblies are mainly influenced by altitude, pH, and soil fertility, selecting fewer species and narrower trait spectra under specific conditions (e.g., higher altitudes, pH). Functional diversity patterns reflect both phylogenetic and recent evolution constraints, with varying strength across traits and conditions. These findings highlight the intricate processes shaping long-lived species assembly across diverse environments in the Southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

Stochastic and Deterministic Processes in the Establishment of Taxonomic, Functional and Phylogenetic Diversity of Ecological Communities: A Review of Modern Concepts

The assessment of biological diversity and the processes that govern it is important for ecological research and nature conservation. This review describes the main general theories and presents the modern concept of mechanisms for the assembly of ecological communities. Deterministic (abiotic filter and biotic interactions) and stochastic (ecological drift, dispersal and speciation) processes influencing taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic facets of diversity are discussed. Impact of certain processes (influence of individual environmental factors, biotic interactions, dispersal limitation) on the - and - levels of each facet of biodiversity are shown. In turn, estimation of them makes it possible to assess the contribution of certain processes on the biodiversity of the studied local communities.

The surface and grain boundary properties of uranium boride: A DFT calculation

Uranium borides are currently being investigated as an accident tolerance fuel or advanced technology fuels (ATFs) to replace conventional UO2 fuel due to their high uranium density and high thermal conductivity. The surface properties of diverse facets of a crystal are pivotal for understanding different corrosion behaviors, fission gas bubble behaviors, and equilibrium morphologies. In this study, we employ density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the surface properties of uranium borides. The surface orientations with maximum miller index up to 4, 1, and 2 for UB2, UB4 and UB12 were analyzed, respectively. Based on the calculated surface energies, the other surface properties of uranium borides were obtained through Wulff construction, including equilibrium morphology, dominant surface orientations, area-weighted surface energy and work function. Additionally, grain boundaries (GBs) have a significant impact on material properties, such as mechanical properties, corrosion behavior, and resistance to irradiation. Therefore, we use DFT calculations to determine the GB energies and work of separation for three low-Σ (7) symmetrical tilt GBs (STGB) and two twist GBs (TGB).

Cognitive Mastery in Sports: Exploring Cognitive Psychology's Influence

This article delves into the pivotal role of cognitive psychology in sports, illuminating its profound impact on athletes' performance. Over a comprehensive survey of literature spanning the past decade, this review synthesizes key developments and applications of cognitive psychology in the athletic domain. Utilizing databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and SportDiscus, the study employs a meticulous selection process, focusing on peer-reviewed articles that significantly contribute to the understanding of cognitive training, assessment, and rehabilitation in sports. The review explores diverse facets of cognitive psychology in sports, including the theoretical underpinnings of cognitive functions, innovative cognitive training interventions, and the crucial role of mental processes in injury recovery. It presents an analysis of the effectiveness of various cognitive strategies in enhancing athletic performance and resilience. Additionally, it addresses the challenges and potential future directions of cognitive psychology applications in sports. This article aims to bridge the gap between cognitive psychological theory and practical sports applications, offering insights for athletes, coaches, and sports psychologists. By highlighting the symbiotic relationship between the mind and athletic prowess, "The Mind Game" underscores the transformative potential of cognitive psychology in elevating sports performance to new heights.

Effects of land cover and habitat condition on the bird community along a gradient of agricultural development within an arid watershed of Chile

Agricultural activities are a major cause of change in avifauna, frequently resulting in diminished diversity and biotic homogenization, and ultimately compromising ecosystem functioning and resilience. Arid ecosystems, which provide habitat for numerous native and endemic bird species, are vulnerable to global change and valuable in predicting future ecosystem shifts in regions undergoing aridification as a result of climate change. However, the impacts of agriculture on bird communities in arid ecosystems are understudied. Here, we evaluate these impacts in the arid Limarí watershed in north-central Chile, a region that has experienced extensive land use conversion to agriculture over the past 50 years. Specifically, we investigated current spatial patterns of avian beta diversity and the impact of landscape context on this diversity facet. Moreover, we evaluated how bird species respond to land cover and habitat conditions and the role of specific bird traits in this regard. To achieve this, we evaluated taxonomic and functional beta diversity across 26 sites distributed along a gradient of agricultural development, applied a beta diversity decomposition procedure, and carried out hierarchical joint species distribution modeling. Our study revealed high taxonomic but low functional beta diversity of the avifauna in the Limarí watershed, potentially indicative of past functional homogenization. Contrary to our initial expectations, present agricultural practices did not decrease beta diversity. While human-related landscape elements and agricultural features mostly had neutral or positive effects on bird occurrence, they negatively affected endemic species and certain bird traits related to diet and habitat. Riparian vegetation cover and quality, unrelated to agricultural and urban development, emerged as key factors structuring the regional bird community, and influenced beta diversity. Our results underscore the profound influence of land use change on the avian community in this arid region and the vital role of riparian ecosystems in this regard. Balancing conservation objectives with agricultural development is key to ensuring both the persistence of several functional groups in the region as well as the ecosystem services they provide.

Genomic and species diversity patterns across multiple trophic levels in riverscapes

Testing whether intra‐ and interspecific biodiversity facets co‐vary spatially across trophic levels is of utmost importance to generalize processes driving biodiversity patterns in natural landscapes. Similar processes are expected to act on intra‐ and interspecific diversity, which should lead to positive co‐variation between genetic and species diversity. Although this prediction has been verified within trophic levels, it has rarely been tested across multiple trophic levels. To meet this challenge, we focused on a riverine freshwater ecosystem in which we sampled intra‐ (genomic diversity) and interspecific (species diversity) data across three trophic levels: riparian trees, benthic macroinvertebrates and fishes. For each trophic level, we quantified α‐ and β‐diversity at both the intra‐ (SNP diversity within populations of Alnus glutinosa, Gammarus sp. or Phoxinus dragarum) and interspecific levels (species diversity within communities). We first tested for a global spatial co‐variation of diversity across trophic levels and diversity facets. We then tested whether relevant environmental parameters similarly affected each biodiversity estimate and explained potential spatial co‐variation among biodiversity components. We did not evidence any spatial co‐variation of biodiversity across trophic levels and diversity facets, neither for α‐ nor for β‐diversity. We found that sites situated in the Western part of the sampling area had higher α‐diversities, and that highly connected sites had lower β‐diversities, which holds true for all trophic levels and diversity facets. Nonetheless, the effects of other environmental predictors were specific to each biodiversity component, likely explaining the absence of spatial co‐variation among biodiversity components. Our study demonstrates that global biodiversity patterns in rivers can be hard to generalize and are rather idiosyncratic, even though a few processes might have consistent impacts on biodiversity components across trophic levels.

Hydrological connectivity shapes multiple diversity facets of snail (Mollusca: Gastropoda) assemblages in freshwater floodplain wetlands

Hydrological connectivity is crucial for supporting aquatic biodiversity and serving ecosystem function in river floodplain wetlands. Although the effects of longitudinal connectivity in the composition of snail (Mollusca: Gastropoda) assemblages is well understood, the effects of lateral connectivity are less evaluated. Here, we evaluated the effects of lateral and longitudinal connectivity on multiple facets of alpha and beta diversity (i.e., taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic) of freshwater snails in 38 floodplain wetlands in the Da Xing'an Mountains of Northeast China. A total of 9,784 snails subjected to 5 orders, 14 families, 24 genera, and 42 species were collected. Overall, the snail alpha diversity was higher in the nearly isolated wetlands and downstream areas. Multivariate analyses revealed that the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic structures of snail assemblages in floodplain wetlands differed significantly across the lateral and longitudinal gradients. Waterscape and climate variables appeared to equivalently explain a large proportion of variations in the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic structures of snail assemblages. Lateral connectivity and river order were paramount variables that explain the greatest variation in taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic structures of the snail assemblages. Our study suggests that hydrological connectivity is a key factor controlling the multiple facets of snail diversity in floodplains. Attention should be paid to the effects of changing climate and waterscape on the multi-faceted diversity of snail assemblages. Due to the extant patterns in assemblage structures, floodplain restoration and management should consider the full spectrum of longitudinal and laterally connectedness to maximize aquatic biodiversity.

Sexual Pleasure Matters – and How to Define and Assess It Too. A Conceptual Framework of Sexual Pleasure and the Sexual Response

Objective Sexual pleasure is central to current understandings of sexual function, health, and wellbeing. In this article, we suggest that we lack a sufficiently specific, yet encompassing, definition of sexual pleasure and that we therefore lack comprehensive assessments of sexual pleasure. We introduce a definition of sexual pleasure and position it centrally in an adapted framework of the sexual response. In the framework, we include a taxonomy of rewards which can be retrieved from sex and thereby aim to capture the multifaceted nature of sexual pleasure. Methods/Results Through narrative review, we arrive at the definition, framework, and taxonomy by integrating theories of sexual motivation and response with the literature on sexual pleasure and basic rewards. We position this literature within theories of affect and personality which allows us to differentiate between the experience of and the tendency to experience sexual pleasure (i.e., state versus trait sexual pleasure). We discuss how this conceptualization of sexual pleasure could be reflected in self-report assessments to quantitatively assess sexual pleasure. Conclusions The framework may aid to understand the role of the diverse facets of sexual pleasure in sexual function, health, and wellbeing and contribute to giving sexual pleasure the center position it deserves in sex research and therapy.

Intensity and Variable Attention: Counter Narrating ADHD, from ADHD Deficits to ADHD Difference

Abstract Literature on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has historically come from a cognitive deficit approach and lacked community authorship. In contrast, this article utilises a neurodiversity framework to explore ADHD as a cognitive difference through ADHDers’ experiences. Specifically, here we analyse collective autoethnographic writings from neurodivergent academic researchers writing to one other about their experiences of intensity and variable attention or interest-based attention. Through the process of collective writing, we started to rename and restory our experiences, which has enabled us to understand intensity and variable attention as a valuable facet of human diversity, with both strengths and challenges. This project offers an example of how community-based research can elucidate individual experiences as ADHD/AuDHD researchers, facilitate exploration of varied experiences with intensity and attention and increase self-awareness and ability to give and receive neuroaffirmative support.