Earlier Studies Research Articles

Enhancing practical skills of TVET students using mathematics as a tool: A case study in some selected TVET schools in Kwahu

Ghana, a developing nation, is no exception to the growing global popularity of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) education. However, the idea of making TVET more applicable and work-oriented in Ghana has only been briefly considered. This investigation examines how mathematics is used as a tool to enhance the practical skills of TVET students. 316 respondents, consisting of 234 males and 82 females, were chosen as the target group by a straightforward random selection procedure. Using the purposive sampling technique, second-year students from three TVET institutions in Kwahu were chosen as the target respondents. For the purpose of investigation, an exploratory survey approach was utilized. Typically, questionnaires were administered to a sample of students at a specific period in order to record their attitudes, beliefs, actions, perceptions, or qualities for descriptive analysis. The data-collection techniques employed in this study, which concentrated on aspects including TVET students’ attitudes toward mathematics (ATTI), TVET students’ interest in mathematics, and TVET students’ practical skills, were modified from those used in earlier studies conducted by other researchers. The acquired data was examined making use of Amos version 23’s structural equation modeling software. The study’s findings showed that TVET students’ attitudes about mathematics significantly influenced their interest in the subject. The outcomes also revealed that ATTI had a positive effect and were statistically significant for their practical skills.

The commercialisation of NTFPs and conservation of forest: a systematic review for forestry policy

PurposeThis current review examines the scientific literature report on non-timber forest products (NTFPs) commercialisation and forest conservation in different jurisdictions.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review using Scopus-indexed articles on NTFP commercialisation and forest conservation was done using the PRISMA framework.FindingsThe review categorised the factors influencing the commercialisation of NTFPs and forest conservation into five broad factors and sub-factors: socioeconomic, market-based, ecosystem, cultural and institutional factors. The scholarly publications on NTFP commercialisation and forest conservation have been undulating, with two years recording no publication on the subject matter under review. Besides, China and India in Asia are leading in the number of publications on NTFPs’ commercialisation. The review revealed ambivalence and symbiotic relationship among the factors influencing the commercialisation of NTFPs and forest conservation. Specifically, tenure arrangement, strict regulations to forest entry, market information asymmetry, bureaucracy in certification acquisition, seasonality and distance were identified as barriers to NTFPs’ commercialisation. While market demands for NTFPs increased, NTFPs’ prices and unsustainable harvesting activities were threats to forest conservation. Policymakers should focus on safeguarding customary property rights and indigenous knowledge in forest conservation, designing workable capacity-building schemes for NTFP entrepreneurs and reducing the cost and processes in certification acquisition.Originality/valueThere are reviews on NTFPs’ commercialisation and livelihoods, but a synergy between NTFPs’ commercialisation and forest conservation for forest policy direction is yet to be done in the literature. Also, while earlier studies systematically reviewed literature on NTFPs’ commercialisation, they did not relate the studies to forest conservation.

California’s AB 101

In 2021, California governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 101, which requires that all students graduating high school by 2029–2030 must take an ethnic studies course. California is the only state in the nation with this graduation requirement. This article explores the historical and contemporary factors that pushed California to legislate and implement AB 101. We utilize a historical case study approach focusing on different student-led movements that embraced ethnic studies to combat educational inequalities. To do so, we pinpoint three historical phases in which ethnic studies became implemented throughout the state. In the first phase, influential scholars in the early and mid-twentieth century produced scholarship about historically marginalized people of color, which became foundational for the study of Black, Chicana/o, Asian American, and Indigenous people. The second phase involved students of color fighting for a culturally relevant curriculum, as demonstrated by the 1968 Third World Liberation Front, the 1968 East Los Angeles Chicano walkouts, El Plan de Santa Bárbara, and Chicanx/Latinx student hunger strikes in the 1990s. Lastly, the third phase consists of contemporary students, parents, educators, and activists successfully petitioning their local school districts to mandate ethnic studies as a high school graduation requirement. Despite these gains, far-right organizations in cities like Santa Barbara have mobilized to push back against both the ethnic studies requirement and progressive social justice groups like Just Communities Central Coast. This resistance initially derailed AB 331, an earlier ethnic studies bill that Governor Newsom vetoed based on accusations that it was “anti-Semitic.” A revised version, AB 101, was then introduced and passed. While momentous, we contend, AB 101 is still limited; reaching its full potential would require greater teacher credentialing and the expansion of ethnic studies to K–8 students.

Facilitators and challenges of implementing a digital patient education programme for rheumatoid arthritis into clinical practice

BackgroundThe integration of telehealth interventions into clinical practice is frequently delayed, hindering the full adoption. Previously, we developed a digital patient education (PE) programme for self-management in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While the programme design considered crucial factors to ensure the likelihood of success in clinical practice, there is a need for a systematic evaluation of implementation perspectives. The purpose of this study was to explore perspectives crucial to implementation of a digital PE programme in clinical practice.MethodsThe non-adoption, abandonment, scale-up, spread and sustainability (NASSS) framework was used to evaluate the successes and challenges of implementing the digital PE programme. We included a data set consisting of qualitative focus group discussions involving study nurses, rheumatologists, and leaders from rheumatology departments. Data analysis was guided by a deductive content analysis approach. Further we included data from earlier studies pertaining to the programme’s implementation, comprising the programme development process, a randomized controlled trial evaluating the programme’s effectiveness, and a qualitative study exploring patients’ perspectives of the programme.ResultsFacilitators and challenges of importance to implementation of digital PE were identified. While a wide range of patients could benefit from using digital PE, future implementation should aim for an even broader group than those studied. Both patients and healthcare providers embraced the technology, and the fact that it did not require specific technical skills enhances its potential for success. However, offering digital PE should be based on individual assessments, and expanding its use will require organizational adjustments. An adaptable structure is needed to accommodate unforeseen care needs that may arise following the use of digital PE at home. There was indication of some reluctance among healthcare providers toward the programme shown by concerns about changing roles, which could impact the adoption of the program.ConclusionsThe design and ease of use of the technology, the program’s effectiveness, its availability, and the potential to release healthcare resources may encourage the implementation of digital patient education. Challenges associated with implementing this mode of care pertains to the condition and the patient population, user adoption of the technology, and the organization of patient education.Trial registrationThe study is registered by the Central Denmark Region Scientific Committee (no. 1-16-02-52-19).

The impact of extent and variety in active learning methods across online and face-to-face education on students’ course evaluations

IntroductionIn recent years, numerous studies have compared traditional face-to-face (F2F) learning on campus with online learning, seeking to establish how the learning environment (online vs. F2F) affects outcomes such as student satisfaction and achievement. In a separate line of research, scholars have examined various facets of active learning—an approach that makes use of interactive learning methods—separately in online and F2F environments. However, few studies have compared the effects of active learning in classes taught online vs. F2F. The present study addresses this gap. It follows an earlier study in which we examined the effects of active learning in an online environment, particularly how the extent and variety of interactive teaching methods used affect students’ course evaluations (overall evaluations and perceived clarity of the teaching).MethodsThe present study repeats the setup of that previous study in a F2F environment, allowing us both to gain new insights into the effects of active learning in this context and to directly compare the examined outcomes in F2F vs. online learning.ResultsThe results reveal consistent trends in both studies: more extensive and more varied use of interactive learning methods improves overall student evaluations and perceptions of the clarity of teaching in the course. Crucially, minimal use of interactive teaching methods results in notably lower student evaluations and perceptions of teaching clarity in F2F settings compared to online classes.DiscussionThe findings highlight the essential need for instructors to adopt diverse interactive methods in F2F environments to improve educational outcomes and reinforce the effectiveness of active learning.

Development and validation of MyCommunication—Adults, a self‐report communicative participation measure

AbstractBackgroundPeople with communication problems experience challenges in participation. Optimizing communicative participation for this population is an important outcome of speech and language therapy. Participation experiences are best assessed from the patient's perspective, using a patient‐reported outcome measure (PROM). The Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB) has been developed to identify perceived problems in communicative participation. However, previous research has shown that the item bank does not cover all domains and concepts of communicative participation, contains general communication items, and is not suitable for all people with communication problems.AimsTo develop a comprehensive PROM aimed at measuring communicative participation for all adults with communication problems and test its content validity.Methods & ProceduresAn initial pool of 242 items was based on three sources: relevant content from an earlier literature review and concept elicitation study, and the translation of the items of the CPIB. This item pool was pilot‐tested for comprehensibility and comprehensiveness using cognitive debriefing interviews in adults with different communication problems (speech, language, voice, hearing and cognitive communication disorders). This resulted in a second version of the item bank. The content validity of this version was tested in a group of professionals. The last (third) version of 133 items was tested for content validity in a second, new group of adults with various communication problems.Outcomes & ResultsThe initial pool of 242 items was developed and pilot‐tested in 27 adults with different communication problems. After modifications, 161 items remained, which were tested in a content validity study with 25 people with different communication problems and five professionals (in the field of speech and language therapy and speech and language research). The professionals considered 91.9% of the item bank relevant and comprehensible, and comprehensive by adding two items. The item bank was then considered relevant, comprehensible and comprehensive by the group of adults with communication problems. A total of 133 items remained in the item bank, related to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Activities and Participation domains ‘mobility’, ‘self‐care’, ‘domestic life’, ‘interpersonal interactions and relationships’, ‘major life areas’ and ‘community, social and civic life’.Conclusions & ImplicationsMyCommunication—Adults is an item bank for measuring communicative participation in adults with communication difficulties. The next step is to test the psychometric properties of the item bank, in order to establish a final item bank. The refined description of the construct of communicative participation can already be used for participation‐focused goal‐setting between individuals with communication problems and speech and language therapists.WHAT THIS PAPER ADDSWhat is already known on the subject The CPIB was developed to measure communicative participation in community‐dwelling adults with communication problems. The item bank does not cover all domains and concepts of communicative participation, contains general communication items and not all questions seem to be relevant for specific target groups (e.g., hearing population).What this paper adds to the existing knowledge This study presents a refined description of the construct of communicative participation and the development of a new comprehensive PROM aimed at measuring this construct for all adults with communication difficulties. The development of the PROM is based on a previously conducted literature review and concept elicitation study. This study describes the development process of this new PROM, called MyCommunication‐Adults, and the assessment of its content validity.What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? The refined description of the construct of communicative participation can be used for participation‐focused goal‐setting between individuals with communication problems and speech and language therapists.

Blockade of the CCR3 receptor reduces neutrophil recruitment to the lung during acute inflammation

Abstract Neutrophils represent one of the host's first lines of defense against invading pathogens. However, an aberrant activation can cause damage to the host. In the case of respiratory infections with viral or bacterial pathogens, one of the most common complications is the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), in which neutrophil infiltration into the lung is a hallmark. Neutrophils gain expression of chemokine receptors under inflammatory conditions, and their activation can amplify the neutrophil responses. Earlier studies showed that neutrophils recruited to the lung mucosa during bacterial infection upregulate expression of CCR3 and ex vivo stimulation of CCR3 results in an increased neutrophil activation. Therefore, the modulation of effector functions or migration of neutrophils to target sites through chemokine receptors constitutes an opportunity for pharmacological intervention. We aimed to determine whether the blockade of the CCR3 using the specific antagonist SB-328437 reduces neutrophil recruitment and inflammation in the lung in the LPS-induced lung injury model and influenza infection in mice. We found that neutrophils acquire CCR3 expression in the lung alveolar space. The intraperitoneal administration of SB-328437 reduced neutrophil recruitment to the lung alveolar space and reduced tissue damage in both the LPS-induced lung injury model and influenza infection. Moreover, treatment with SB-328437 reduced the percentage of neutrophils producing TNFα and neutrophil activation in the alveolar space. Together, these data suggest that CCR3 blockade might be a pharmacological strategy to prevent the aberrant neutrophil activation that results detrimental for the host but preserves sufficient effector response to control the pathogen.

Understanding Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Neurochemical Changes Using Alzheimer’s Disease Biofluid, PET, Postmortem Pathology Biomarkers, and APOE Genotype

In vivo proton (1H) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a powerful non-invasive method that can measure Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related neuropathological alterations at the molecular level. AD biomarkers include amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau neurofibrillary tangles. These biomarkers can be detected via postmortem analysis but also in living individuals through positron emission tomography (PET) or biofluid biomarkers of Aβ and tau. This review offers an overview of biochemical abnormalities detected by 1H MRS within the biologically defined AD spectrum. It includes a summary of earlier studies that explored the association of 1H MRS metabolites with biofluid, PET, and postmortem AD biomarkers and examined how apolipoprotein e4 allele carrier status influences brain biochemistry. Studying these associations is crucial for understanding how AD pathology affects brain homeostasis throughout the AD continuum and may eventually facilitate the development of potential novel therapeutic approaches.

Numerical study of unsteady flow behavior of Cu-ethylene glycol nanoparticle on radially stretching sheet with Joule Heating effect

This article proposes a mathematical investigation of unsteady flow and heat transfer in the presence of Joule Heating over a radially stretching sheet using a nanofluid of Cu-Ethylene glycol. With an extensive numerical study, we reveal the novel interaction between the shape factors of nanoparticles and surface deformations brought about by stretching. As opposed to earlier studies that have mostly concentrated on traditional nanoparticle forms, our investigation methodically looks at the unique behaviors of Cu-EG nanoparticles on stretching surfaces. The research findings offer great potential for numerous practical applications, in addition to providing insight into basic concepts related to fluid dynamics and heat transfer. The solution to this issue is significant for enhancing thermal management in manufacturing environments, such as cooling systems used in aerospace and electronics. Therefore, our work establishes a foundation for novel methods of creating materials with customized qualities, opening the door for the creation of next-generation technologies that are more sustainable and functional. A numerical solution of the highly non-linear ordinary differential equation is attained with suitable boundary conditions by applying BVP4C in MATLAB. Impact of pertinent parameters on Cu-Ethylene glycol nanofluid Joule Heating concentration, as well as Eckert, Prandtl, and Biot-number on flow and heat transport, are studied. Important results show that the Joule Heating effect raises the total heat transfer rate by roughly 15 %, and the addition of Cu nanoparticles improves thermal conductivity by around 22 %. The findings show that the combined influences of Joule Heating and nanoparticle concentration greatly increase the heat transfer efficiency, offering important new information for the optimization of cooling systems in a range of industrial applications. Finding of the current study is that the shape factor of platelets effectively transfers heat and flow, with sphere forms convey the least amount of heat.

Impact of natural disasters on educational attainment in India: a panel data analysis

Natural disasters are known to adversely affect welfare, especially education. This can lead to a loss in human capital, reducing future growth and development. We use data from two of the latest rounds of the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) and employ a panel difference in difference regression model with continuous treatment fixed effects at the individual level. This allows us to examine the impact of natural disasters on education outcomes between 2004-05 and 2011-12 at the individual level. Our estimates improve upon all earlier studies on this theme that have relied on cross-section or pseudo-panel data at the district level. We provide first estimates of the impact of natural disasters on educational attainment disaggregated by social (including caste, religion, and gender) and economic groups (consumption quintiles). Natural disasters significantly and negatively affected education for women and three Consumption Quintiles (including those below poverty), Other Backward Castes, Scheduled Castes, Muslims, and other Minorities. We also find that the number of household assets, the number of children in the household, school fees, school type, Confidence intensity, health insurance, and life insurance influence educational years. Our results have significant implications in the context of quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), and climate change (SDG 13). The study evaluates the impact of the rising incidence of climate extremes vis-a-vis natural disasters as external shocks on educational outcomes. Educational attainment is directly linked to earnings and is well-established in the literature. We thus believe the negative impact of natural disasters on educational attainment, especially for the marginalized, may have long-term disruptive effects beyond immediate losses and may last through generations.

Subsidizing as a tool to ensure economic sovereignty: a quantitative analysis

Objective: to assess the relationship between the basic monetary instrument of state support for industry – subsidies – and basic macro-indicators of its effectiveness in the context of economic sovereignty. Methods: content analysis of publications, statistical analysis of macroeconomic indicators, econometric analysis on a wide sample of countries. Results: 1) the analysis of mentioning the category “subsidies” in Russian, English and Chinese printed publications confirmed the high interest to subsidies in China; 2) the analysis of correlation between the level of subsidies and the basic macro-indicators by countries on IMF data showed statistically significant correlations of the level of subsidies with the level of current account balance (low correlation) and GDP per capita (moderate correlation); 3) the evaluation showed no significant relationship between the level of subsidies and GDP per capita. According to the study results, conclusions were drawn about the absence of dependence between the level of transfers provided and the decrease of dependence on import. Scientific novelty: the hypothesis was checked that the level of subsidies in the state has a statistically significant impact on the country’s current account balance. The model is based on earlier studies with the added analysis of the role of subsidies in reaching the economic development goals. The novelty of this study consists in the absence of a significant relationship between the level of subsidies and the current account balance. Practical significance: the study results can be useful to specialists in the field of industrial policy. They provide a basis for a fuller understanding of the tools to ensure technological sovereignty. Modifications of the regression model can be used in further studies of the factors of the current account balance.

Information-theoretic quantities as effective descriptors of electrophilicity and nucleophilicity in density functional theory.

Electrophilicity and nucleophilicity are two vastly important chemical concepts gauging the capability of atoms in molecules to accept and donate the maximal number of electrons. In our earlier studies, we proposed to simultaneously quantify them using the Kullback-Leibler divergence from the information-theoretic approach in density functional theory. However, several issues with this scheme remain to be clarified such as its general validity, predictability, and relationship with other information-theoretic quantities. In this work, we revisit the matter with bigger datasets and deeper theoretical insights. Five information-theoretic quantities including Kullback-Leibler divergence, Hirshfeld charge, Ghost-Berkowitz-Parr entropy, and second and third orders of relative Onicescu information energy are found to be reliable and robust descriptors of electrophilicity and nucleophilicity propensities. Employing these five descriptors, we design a list of new compounds and predict their electrophilicity and nucleophilicity scales. This work should markedly improve our confidence and capability in applying information-theoretic quantities to evaluate electrophilicity and nucleophilicity propensities and henceforth pave the route for more applications of these quantities from information-theoretic approach in density functional theory in the future. All structures were fully optimized at the M06-2X/6-311 + G(d) level of DFT functional using the Gaussian 16 package (version C01) with integration grids and tight self-consistent-field convergence. The solvent effect was taken into account by using the implicit solvent model (CPCM) in the CH2Cl2 solvent, and all 3D contour surfaces of Fukui function, local temperature, and ITA (information-theoretic approach) quantities were generated by GaussView. The Multiwfn 3.8 program was used to calculate the ITA indexes and atomic charges.

A combined transcriptomics and proteomics approach reveals S100A4 as a potential biomarker for Graves’ orbitopathy

BackgroundThere are no reliable biomarkers to identify Graves’ disease patients who will develop severe Graves’ orbitopathy (GO). We hypothesize that integrating various omics platforms can enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms and uncover potential biomarkers. This study aimed to (1) elucidate the differential gene expression profile of orbital fibroblasts in GO during early adipogenesis to better understand disease mechanisms and (2) compare tear protein profiles from our earlier study and the transcriptome profiles of orbital fibroblasts (OFs) to identify possible biomarkers of the disease.MethodsOFs were grown from orbital adipose tissue obtained from nine GO patients (three for discovery and six for validation experiments). Total RNA was extracted from OFs on day 0 as the baseline for each sample and from differentiated OFs on days 4 and 8. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis and functional enrichment analysis were also carried out. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the RNA sequencing experiments were then compared to the full tear proteome profile from the author’s previous study, which examined the tear protein changes of GO patients based on fold change > 1.6 or < −1.6. FDR < 0.05 was applied within all datasets. Further validation of S100 calcium-binding protein A4 (S100A4) downregulation in GO was performed via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR).ResultsThe whole transcriptomic analysis revealed 9 upregulated genes and 15 downregulated genes in common between the discovery and validation experiments. From the PPI network analysis, an interaction network containing six identified DEGs (ALDH2, MAP2K6, MT2A, SOCS3, S100A4, and THBD) was observed. The functional enrichment network analysis identified a set of genes related to oxysterol production. S100A4 was found to be consistently downregulated in both our transcriptome studies and the full-tear proteome profile from the author’s previous study.ConclusionOur study identified several DEGs and potential gene pathways in GO patients, which concurred with the results of other studies. Tear S100A4 may serve as a biomarker for the propensity to develop thyroid eye disease (TED) in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) before clinical manifestation and should be confirmed in future studies.

Peculiar velocities in Friedmann universes with nonzero spatial curvature

We extend the earlier linear studies of cosmological peculiar velocities to Friedmann universes with nonzero spatial curvature. In the process, we also compare our results with those obtained in cosmologies with Euclidean spatial sections. Employing relativistic cosmological perturbation theory, we first provide the differential formulas governing the evolution of peculiar velocities on all Friedmann backgrounds. The technical complexities of the curved models, however, mean that analytic solutions are possible only in special, though characteristic, moments in the lifetime of these universes. Nevertheless, our solutions exhibit persistent patterns that make us confident enough to generalize them. Thus, we confirm earlier claims that, compared to the Newtonian and the quasi-Newtonian studies, the relativistic analysis supports considerably stronger linear growth rates for peculiar-velocity perturbations. This result holds irrespective of the background curvature. Moreover, for positive curvature, the peculiar growth rate is found to be faster than that obtained in a spatially flat Friedman universe. In contrast, linear peculiar velocities appear to grow at a slower pace when their Friedmann host is spatially open. Extrapolating them to the present, our results seem to suggest faster bulk peculiar motions in overdense, rather than in underdense, regions of the Universe. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Testing Cluster Membership of Planetary Nebulae with High-precision Proper Motions. I. HST Observations of JaFu 1 Near the Globular Cluster Palomar 6

If a planetary nebula (PN) is shown to be a member of a star cluster, we obtain important new constraints on the mass and chemical composition of the PN’s progenitor star, which cannot be determined for PNe in the field. Cluster membership can be tested by requiring the projected separation between the PN and cluster to be within the tidal radius of the cluster, and the objects to have nearly identical radial velocities (RVs) and interstellar extinctions, and nearly identical proper motions (PMs). In an earlier study, we used PMs to confirm that three PNe, which had already passed the other tests, are highly likely to be members of Galactic globular clusters (GCs). For a fourth object, the PN JaFu 1, which lies in the Galactic bulge near the GC Palomar 6 on the sky and has a similar RV, the available PM measurement gave equivocal results. We have now obtained new high-resolution images of the central star of JaFu 1 with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), which, combined with archival HST frames taken 14 and 16 yr earlier, provide a high-precision PM. Unfortunately, we find that the PM of the central star differs from that of the cluster with high statistical significance. Nevertheless, JaFu 1 is of astrophysical interest because its nucleus appears to be a member of the rare class of “EGB 6-type” central stars, which are associated with compact emission-line knots.

Here Comes Revenge: Peer Victimization Relates to Neural and Behavioral Responses to Social Exclusion.

The aim of this study was to examine whether repeated victimization relates to differential processing of social exclusion experiences. It was hypothesized that experiences of repeated victimization would modulate neural processing of social exclusion in the insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and lateral prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, we hypothesized that repeated victimization relates positively to intentions to punish excluders. Exploratively, associations between neural processing and intentions to punish others were examined. The sample consisted of children with known victimization in the past two years (n = 82 (behavioral) / n = 73 (fMRI), 49.4% girls, Mage = 10.6). The participants played Cyberball, an online ball-tossing game, which was manipulated so that in the first block participants were equally included and in the second block they were excluded from play. Victimization was not related to neural activation during social exclusion, although there were indications that victimization may be related to increased insula activation during explicit exclusion. Behaviorally, repeated victimization was related to more intention to punish excluders. Neural activation during social exclusion did not predict intentions to punish excluders, but results tentatively suggested that increased insula activation during social exclusion may be related to increased intentions to punish. Together, these results provide a replication of earlier Cyberball studies and point toward differential processing of social exclusion by children who are victimized.

Untangling the colonization history of the Australo-Pacific reed warblers, one of the world's great island radiations.

Island radiations, such as those of the Australo-Pacific, offer unique insight into diversification, extinction, and early speciation processes. Yet, their speciation and colonization histories are often obscured by conflicting genomic signals from incomplete lineage sorting or hybridization. Here, we integrated mitogenomes and genome-wide SNPs to unravel the evolutionary history of one of the world's most geographically widespread island radiations. The Australo-Pacific reed warblers (Acrocephalus luscinius complex) are a speciose lineage including five species that have become extinct since the 19th century and ten additional species of conservation concern. The radiation spans over 10,000 km across Australo-Papua, Micronesia and Polynesia, including the Mariana, Hawaii and Pitcairn Island archipelagos. Earlier mtDNA studies suggested a stepping-stone colonization process, resulting in archipelago-level secondary sympatry of divergent mtDNA lineages in the Mariana Islands and Marquesas. These studies hypothesised that morphologically similar species on neighbouring islands arose from ecological convergence. Using hDNA from historical museum specimens and modern genetic samples, we show that incomplete lineage sorting and/or gene flow have shaped the radiation of Australo-Pacific reed warblers rather than secondary sympatry. The nuclear genome reconstructs a simpler biogeographic history than mtDNA, showing close relationships between species in the Mariana Islands and Marquesas despite their paraphyletic mtDNA lineages. Gene flow likely involved early and late colonizing waves of the radiation before the loss of ancestral dispersive ability. Our results highlight how collection genomics can elucidate evolutionary history and inform conservation efforts for threatened species.

A growth-effective age-based periodic site-index for the estimation of dynamic forest site productivity under environmental changes

Key messageA novel periodic site index is introduced for the quantification of dynamic forest site productivity. The measure is age-independent, sensitive to environmental changes and efficient for the estimation and prediction of stand height and stand volume increment.ContextAccurate and up-to-date prediction of site productivity is crucial for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems, especially under environmental changes.AimsThe aim of this study was to introduce a novel concept: a periodic site index based on growth-effective age for the quantification of dynamic forest site productivity.MethodsThe growth-effective age based periodic site index is estimated from repeated or multi-temporal measurements of stand dominant height. Furthermore, a recursive procedure to update the underlying site index model is presented by using repeated measurements of stand dominant height. The database used in this study comprised repeated measurements of 945 Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) experimental plots at 508 different locations in Southwest Germany.ResultsThe evaluation shows that periodic site index is statistically superior to the conventional site index, based on chronological stand age, for estimating stand height and stand volume increment. The analysis of temporal differences between growth-effective stand age and chronological stand age and between periodic site index and conventional site index in the period 1900 to 2020 reveals trends referring to stand age and site productivity, which corroborate earlier regional studies on forest growth trends due to environmental changes.ConclusionsThe periodic site index is a better indicator for site productivity than conventional site index. Under conditions of environmental changes, conventional site index is biased, whereas the growth-effective age based site index provides an unbiased estimate of stand height development. With the more widespread application of remote sensing techniques, such as airborne laser scanning, the availability of multi-temporal stand height data will increase in the near future. The novel concept provides an adaptive modeling approach perfectly suited to these data for an improved estimation and prediction of forest site productivity under environmental changes and can straightforwardly be applied also to uneven-aged and multi-species stands.

Bootstrap inference for linear time-varying coefficient models in locally stationary time series

Time-varying coefficient models can capture evolving relationships. However, constructing asymptotic confidence bands for coefficient curves in these models is challenging due to slow convergence rates and the presence of various nuisance parameters. A residual-based sieve bootstrap method has recently been proposed to address these issues. While it successfully produces confidence bands with accurate empirical coverage, its applicability is restricted to strictly stationary processes. We introduce a new bootstrap scheme, the local blockwise wild bootstrap (LBWB), that allows for locally stationary processes. The LBWB can replicate the distribution of the parameter estimates while automatically accounting for nuisance parameters. An extensive simulation study reveals the superior performance of the LBWB compared to various benchmark approaches. It also shows the potential applicability of the LBWB in broader scenarios, including time-varying cointegrating models. We then examine herding effects in the Chinese renewable energy market using the proposed methods. Our findings strongly support the presence of herding behaviors before 2016, aligning with earlier studies. However, contrary to previous research, we find no significant evidence of herding between around 2018 and 2021. Online supplementary materials are available for this article.

Producing annual Australia-wide vegetation height images from GEDI and Landsat data

ABSTRACT Vegetation height, and its spatial and temporal changes, is an important environmental parameter required for understanding natural habitats, estimating carbon stores and monitoring forestry activities. Recent satellite LiDAR altimetry sensors have discontinuous spatial coverage but can be combined with spatially complete remote sensing data to extrapolate to large regions. Earlier studies have focused on producing a single spatially continuous vegetation height product. This research builds on past studies, using Landsat (annual surface reflectance and fractional cover products) and the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) data to generate annual vegetation height layers from 1988 to 2022. GEDI data for 2019 were used to train and validate the model, resulting in a root mean square error (RMSE) of 5.45 m, mean absolute error (MAE) of 3.82 m, and coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.63. This accuracy reduces when the modelled height for 2020, 2021, and 2022 is compared to GEDI data for the same years (RMSE = 6.08–6.29 m, MAE = 4.36–4.73 m, and R2 = 0.48–0.54). Validation with independent field measurements across Australia from 2011 to 2021 shows an RMSE, MAE, and R2 of 8.2 m, 5.2 m, and 0.48, respectively. One source of error is the saturation of the Landsat signal in tall, closed canopy vegetation. While model accuracy is correlated with plot-based vegetation height measurements, results indicate that accuracy reduces for the years outside of the model calibration year (i.e. 2019). When compared to other vegetation height products (also produced using GEDI and spatial remote sensing data) from three independent published studies (one for 2009, one for 2019, and one for 2020), the model developed here tends to estimate 2–4 m taller than the first two studies and around 5 m shorter when compared to the third study. This investigation demonstrates the potential to produce multiyear vegetation height at a continental scale but also highlights the large uncertainty in modelled estimates especially when extrapolating to years other than the model calibration year.