Human Adaptation Research Articles

Non-optimal temperature-attributable mortality and morbidity burden by cause, age and sex under climate and population change scenarios: a nationwide modelling study in Japan

Future temperature effects on mortality and morbidity may differ. However, studies comparing projected future temperature-attributable mortality and morbidity in the same setting are limited. Moreover, these studies did not consider future population change, human adaptation, and the variations in subpopulation susceptibility. Thus, we simultaneously projected the temperature-related mortality and morbidity by cause, age, and sex under population change, and human adaptation scenarios in Japan, a super-ageing society. We used daily mean temperatures, mortality, and emergency ambulance dispatch (a sensitive indicator for morbidity) in 47 prefectures of Japan from 2015 to 2019 as the reference for future projections. Future mortality and morbidity were generated at prefecture level using four shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios considering population changes. We calculated future temperature-related mortality and morbidity by combining baseline values with future temperatures and existing temperature risk functions by cause (all-cause, circulatory, respiratory), age (<65 years, ≥65 years), and sex under various climate change and SSP scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5). Full human adaptation was simulated based on empirical evidence using a fixed percentile of minimum mortality or morbidity temperature (MMT), while no adaptation was simulated with a fixed absolute MMT. A future temporal decline in mortality burden attributable to non-optimal temperatures was observed, driven by greater cold-related deaths than heat-related deaths. In contrast, temperature-related morbidity increased over time, which was primarily driven by heat. In the 2050s and 2090s, under a moderate scenario, there are 83.69 (95% empirical confidence interval [eCI] 38.32-124.97) and 77.31 (95% eCI 36.84-114.47) all-cause deaths per 100,000 population, while there are 345.07 (95% eCI 258.31-438.66) and 379.62 (95% eCI 271.45-509.05) all-cause morbidity associated with non-optimal temperatures. These trends were largely consistent across causes, age, and sex groups. Future heat-attributable health burden is projected to increase substantially, with spatiotemporal variations and is particularly pronounced among individuals ≥65y and males. Full human adaptation could yield a decreasing temperature-attributable mortality and morbidity in line with a decreasing population. Our findings could support the development of targeted mitigation and adaptation strategies to address future heat-related impacts effectively. This includes improved healthcare allocations for ambulance dispatch and hospital preventive measures during heat periods, particularly custom-tailored to address specific health outcomes and vulnerable subpopulations. Japan Science and Technology Agency and Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency and Ministry of the Environment of Japan.

Clade I mpox virus genomic diversity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018–2024: Predominance of zoonotic transmission

Recent reports raise concerns on the changing epidemiology of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). High-quality genomes were generated for 337 patients from 14/26 provinces to document whether the increase in number of cases is due to zoonotic spillover events or viral evolution, with enrichment of APOBEC3 mutations linked to human adaptation. Our study highlights two patterns of transmission contributing to the source of human cases. All new sequences from the eastern South Kivu province (n= 17; 4.8%) corresponded to the recently described clade Ib, associated with sexual contact and sustainedhuman-to-human transmission. By contrast, all other genomes are clade Ia, which exhibits high genetic diversity with low numbers of APOBEC3 mutations compared with clade Ib, suggesting multiplezoonotic introductions. The presence of multiple clade I variants in urban areas highlights the need for coordinated international response efforts and more studies on the transmission and the reservoir of mpox.

Meta-learning of human motor adaptation via the dorsal premotor cortex

Meta-learning enables us to learn how to learn the same or similar tasks more efficiently. Decision-making literature theorizes that a prefrontal network, including the orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortices, underlies meta-learning of decision making by reinforcement learning. Recently, computationally similar meta-learning has been theorized and empirically demonstrated in motor adaptation. However, it remains unclear whether meta-learning of motor adaptation also relies on a prefrontal network. Considering hierarchical information flow from the prefrontal to motor cortices, this study explores whether meta-learning is processed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or in the dorsal premotor cortex (PMd), which is situated upstream of the primary motor cortex, but downstream of the DLPFC. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was delivered to either PMd or DLPFC during a motor meta-learning task, in which human participants were trained to regulate the rate and retention of motor adaptation to maximize rewards. While motor adaptation itself was intact, TMS to PMd, but not DLPFC, attenuated meta-learning, impairing the ability to regulate motor adaptation to maximize rewards. Further analyses revealed that TMS to PMd attenuated meta-learning of memory retention. These results suggest that meta-learning of motor adaptation relies more on the premotor area than on a prefrontal network. Thus, while PMd is traditionally viewed as crucial for planning motor actions, this study suggests that PMd is also crucial for meta-learning of motor adaptation, processing goal-directed planning of how long motor memory should be retained to fit the long-term goal of motor adaptation.

Harnessing the power of adaptation: a pre-registered systematic review on executive functions and the adaptation to new technologies

ABSTRACT Given the pervasive integration of technology into everyday life and its importance in mitigating the negative consequences of global crises, an understanding of human adaptation and preceding cognitive abilities remains highly relevant. A systematic review synthesising empirical findings on the association of executive functions (EFs) and the adaptation to new technologies is currently lacking in the literature. The presented pre-registered, systematic review adheres to PRISMA 2020 guidelines and aims to extract the current state of research on this topic [Registration DOI:10.17605/OSF.IO/MKA82]. Empirical studies investigating the influence of EFs on human adaptation were eligible for inclusion, resulting in 11 studies and 3,733 participants among PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. Results suggest an enhancing influence of EFs on the adaptation to new technologies, although findings were partially mixed. Inconsistent findings and the performed risk of bias assessment point toward a need for further high-quality research, e.g. on the influence of technological context. A model of possible covariates was proposed that provides guidance for a structured investigation of the process of human adaptation to technology. This review contributes to a better understanding of the association between EFs and human adaptation to new technologies.

Quantifying human thermal adaptation for indoor environments through field surveys and climate chamber experiments

ABSTRACT Thermal comfort boundaries established through climate chamber experiments are often found to significantly vary in real-world conditions based on the potential for thermal adaptation. In this context, this research aims to quantify the extent of thermal adaptation using a personalized ventilation system. We hypothesize that a personalized ventilation system can enhance thermal adaptation compared to real-world settings with limited opportunity for thermal adaptation. The study is based on thermal comfort surveys in mixed-mode open-plan office spaces of a humid subtropical region (Cwa), and a controlled climate chamber with a provision for personalized ventilation. We obtained 5629 subjective thermal responses through longitudinal field surveys accompanied by environmental measurements. In a climate chamber, 16 acclimatized volunteers were subjected to 140 different set-points with air temperature (Ta), relative humidity (RH), and air velocity (Va) variations yielding 19,200 subjective responses. A thermo-neutral temperature (Tn) of 26.5°C with an acceptability band of ±5.9°C was obtained through the field surveys. The Tn obtained from climate chamber surveys varied from 28.0°C to 29.3°C with an acceptability band of ±3.6°C depending on the ventilation rate. An empirical relationship between thermal sensation vote (TSV) and multiple environmental variables (Calidity) suggests 2°C higher Tn for Caliditychamber, Thermal adaptation correction factor of 2.1°C for warm-dry indoor environment and 1°C for warm-humid indoor environment were deduced through comparative analysis.

Personalized Model-Driven Interventions for Decisions From Experience.

Cognitive models that represent individuals provide many benefits for understanding the full range of human behavior. One way in which individual differences emerge is through differences in knowledge. In dynamic situations, where decisions are made from experience, models built upon a theory of experiential choice (instance-based learning theory; IBLT) can provide accurate predictions of individual human learning and adaptivity to changing environments. Here, we demonstrate how an instance-based learning (IBL) cognitive model, implemented in a cognitive architecture (Adaptive Control of Thought-Rational), can be used to model an individual's decisions in a cybersecurity defense task, accounting for both population average and individual variances. The same IBL model structure with identical architectural parameters generates the full range of human behavior through stochastic memory retrieval processes operating over and contributing to unique experiences. Recurrence quantification analyses allow us to look beyond average behavior between and within individuals to sequential patterns of trial-to-trial behavior. We show how model-tracing and knowledge-tracing techniques can be used to align the model to an individual in real time to drive adaptive and personalized signaling algorithms for a cybersecurity defense system. We also present a method for introspecting into the cognitive model to gain further insight into the cognitive salience of features factored into individual decisions. The combination of techniques provides a blueprint for personalized modeling of individuals. We discuss the results and implications of this adaptive and personalized method for cybersecurity defense and more generally for intelligent artifacts tailored to individual differences in domains such as human-machine teaming.

Extensive longevity and DNA virus-driven adaptation in nearctic Myotis bats.

The rich species diversity of bats encompasses extraordinary adaptations, including extreme longevity and tolerance to infectious disease. While traditional approaches using genetic screens in model organisms have uncovered some fundamental processes underlying these traits, model organisms do not possess the variation required to understand the evolution of traits with complex genetic architectures. In contrast, the advent of genomics at tree-of-life scales enables us to study the genetic interactions underlying these processes by leveraging millions of years of evolutionary trial-and-error. Here, we use the rich species diversity of the genus Myotis - one of the longest-living clades of mammals - to study the evolution of longevity-associated traits and infectious disease using functional evolutionary genomics. We generated reference genome assemblies and cell lines for 8 closely-related (∼11 MYA) species of Myotis rich in phenotypic and life history diversity. Using genome-wide screens of positive selection, analysis of structural variation and copy number variation, and functional experiments in primary cell lines, we identify new patterns of adaptation in longevity, cancer resistance, and viral interactions both within Myotis and across bats. We find that the rapid evolution of lifespan in Myotis has some of the most significant variations in cancer risk across mammals, and demonstrate a unique DNA damage response in the long-lived M. lucifugus using primary cell culture models. Furthermore, we find evidence of abundant adaptation in response to DNA viruses, but not RNA viruses, in Myotis and other bats. This is in contrast to these patterns of adaptation in humans, which might contribute to the importance of bats as a reservoir of zoonotic viruses. Together, our results demonstrate the utility of leveraging natural variation to understand the genomics of traits with implications for human health and suggest important pleiotropic relationships between infectious disease tolerance and cancer resistance.

The evolving three-dimensional landscape of human adaptation.

Over the past 3 million years, humans have expanded their ecological niche and adapted to more diverse environments. The temporal evolution and underlying drivers behind this niche expansion remain largely unknown. By combining archeological findings with landscape topographic data and model simulations of the climate and biomes, we show that human sites clustered in areas with increased terrain roughness, corresponding to higher levels of biodiversity. We find a gradual increase in human habitat preferences toward rough terrains until about 1.1 million years ago (Ma), followed by a 300 thousand-year-long contraction of the ecological niche. This period coincided with the Mid-Pleistocene Transition and previously hypothesized ancestral population bottlenecks. Our statistical analysis further reveals that from 0.8 Ma onward, the human niche expanded again, with human species (e.g., H. heidelbergensis, H. neanderthalensis, and H. sapiens) adapting to rougher terrain, colder and drier conditions, and toward regions of higher ecological diversity.

3,600 years of human adaptation to drought intensification on the southern Tibetan Plateau

The development of adaptive survival strategies is crucial for human occupation of the high-altitude areas of the Tibetan Plateau (TP). However, the history of this adaptation and its driving mechanisms are poorly understood. We used records of pollen, coprophilous fungal spores, and charcoal from a well-dated, high-resolution lake sediment core from the Southern Tibetan Plateau (STP) to investigate the history of high-altitude survival strategies, including arable agriculture and pastoralism, spanning the past 3600 years. The results revealed that survival strategies were dominated by arable agriculture, supplemented by pastoralism, from ~3600 to 1800 cal yr BP. However, after 1800 cal yr BP, this strategy shifted to low-level arable agriculture with intensified pastoralism. Comparison of our findings with regional paleoclimatic and archaeological records revealed that this transformation was an adaptive response to drought intensification. This adaptive resilience was a key aspect of human occupation of the high-altitude regions of the TP during the late Holocene.

Collaborative timber joint assembly: Augmented reality for multi-level human-robot interaction

This research introduces an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) workflow for Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) in timber construction. The approach leverages human dexterity and adaptability alongside the strength and precision of robotic arms to assemble timber structures connected by wood-wood connections. While research in the field of automated construction generally focuses on singular interactions, such as robot agents carrying components and human agents attaching them, this paper explores multiple degrees of interaction involving cooperation or collaboration between agents. A new algorithmic framework is developed to automate the generation of holographic instructions and allocate assembly tasks to human and robot agents according to their abilities. The application to a full-scale demonstrator reveals that certain elements necessitate collaboration for assembly, while others can exclusively be assembled manually or robotically. Ultimately, the research also highlights the benefits of AR in assisting manual assembly, simulating robot trajectories, and increasing safety during collaborative tasks.

The association between the serotonin receptor gene and anxiety as a factor in human adaptation to extreme conditions in Yakutia

This study investigates the genetic predisposition to anxiety and its impact on adaptation to the extreme conditions of the North-East region of Russia, particularly concerning the Yakut population. Special attention was given to the polymorphism of the serotonin receptor gene HTR2A (rs6311) and its association with levels of situational anxiety (SA) and personal anxiety (PA). The study involved 261 Yakuts (n = 261) who are permanently residing in Yakutia, do not exhibit any psychoneurological symptoms, and provided voluntary informed consent. Anxiety level was assessed using the Spielberger-Khanin scale. Genotyping was performed using PCR and RFLP, followed by detection through electrophoresis in an agarose gel. The findings indicate that the sample was characterized by a predominance of individuals with moderate levels of SA (60.9 %) and PA (57.5 %). However, in the group of women, individuals exhibited a high level of PA (53.8 %). The highest percentage of agreement in anxiety levels (69.7 %) was observed among individuals with moderate SA and PA. Given that the serotonergic system is involved in regulating behavior, emotions, and various physiological functions, and plays a crucial role in mitigating the negative behavioral consequences of stressors, a study on the polymorphism of the serotonin receptor gene HTR2A (rs6311) was conducted. The analysis of the distribution characteristics of the genotypes and alleles associated with the polymorphism of the serotonin receptor gene HTR2A (rs6311) in the Yakut population revealed a significant predominance of carriers with the homozygous genotype GG (60.2 %), and the G allele (0.782). Futhermore, when examining the distribution of allelic variants of the studied polymorphism based on the level and type of anxiety, it was observed that the AG and GG genotypes were more prevalent among individuals with high PA and low SA. These results confirm the significance of genetic factors in adaptation to the extreme conditions of the North.

Indicators of morphofunctional adaptation of modern youth from three regions of the world: Bantu (Tanzania), Russians and Buryats

Introduction. The problem of human adaptation to modern realities, including living in cities, changing the traditional diet, and significantly reducing physical stress on the body in everyday life is becoming increasingly relevant all over the world. In this vein, experts from various fields of science pay attention to the study of general secular trends and a more detailed analysis of individual components of this phenomenon, including body composition and other somatic characteristics of specific social and/or gender and age groups of the population. Of particular interest are data on urban populations that have recently migrated from rural areas, against the background of significant socio-economic transformations in the countries of the Global South, as well as a comparison of data from different regions of the world to identify common and population-specific indicators of adaptation. Materials and methods. The paper presents data on students from three populations (684 individuals, 343 of them men and 341 women): Tanzanian (natives of the Bantu peoples from Dodoma), Russian (residents of Tula) and Buryat (residents of Ulan-Ude). The age ranges from 17 to 30 years, the average age was 21.28±2.75 y. A number of anthropometric characteristics and body composition were measured. Results. Our data indicate the presence of sexual dimorphism in each of the studied populations according to the complex of morphological characteristics and body composition. It is noteworthy that Russian students (Caucasians) had more pronounced sexual dimorphism compared to Tanzanians (Negroids) and Buryats (Mongoloids). Conclusion. Summing up, data on three populations representing samples of young people who are similar in social status and level of education, but differ in their racial and ethnic origin, as well as the environmental characteristics of the regions of residence, indicate the presence of distinct differences between the sexes in body size and its component composition. These differences were unidirectional in the three samples studied, and may reflect the generalized outcome of natural and sexual selection for Homo sapiens.

Holocene paleoenvironment of the Nihewan Basin, China, inferred from high-resolution luminescence dating and a multiproxy analysis of gully sediments

As a pivotal region for studying early human occupation in East Asia, the Nihewan Basin has witnessed numerous studies on Paleolithic sites and associated paleoenvironmental records. However, little attention has been given to the Holocene period, despite the basin being a crossroads for the exchange of NE China Neolithic cultures. In the central part of the Nihewan Basin, we found a gully sediment section with a thickness of ∼9 m, which exhibits clear parallel bedding throughout. The section is composed of ten sediment layers (Layers 10–1 from bottom to top), from which three distinct dark-colored soil layers (Layers 8, 4 and 2) and two erosion surfaces (between Layers 10 and 9, and Layers 2 and 1) were identified. Forty-four sediment samples from the section were optically dated, and the obtained ages were refined using Bayesian statistical modeling. The age-depth relationship and sedimentary characteristics suggest that the sedimentation process of Layers 9–2 was continuous. To reconstruct the paleoenvironment, the grain-size distribution, magnetic susceptibility, and pollen content of the sediments were analyzed. The three soil layers exhibit high magnetic susceptibility values. Based on these climatic proxies, five climate stages were recognized. From ∼12.7 to ∼6.8 ka, the climate in the basin region was cold and dry. The period between ∼6.8 and ∼5.4 ka was marked by optimal climate conditions that led to soil formation. Subsequently, the climate was colder and drier during the period of ∼5.4 – ∼4.0 ka, and transitioned to warm and wet conditions again from ∼4.0 to ∼2.7 ka. Another stage of soil formation occurred between ∼2.7 and ∼1.7 ka, during which the climate was predominantly warm and humid, albeit punctuated by a brief interval of colder and drier conditions. These climate variations coincided with cultural evolution stages within the basin, highlighting a close relationship between environmental change and human adaptation.

Enhancing Radiologist Reading Performance by Ordering Screening Mammograms Based on Characteristics That Promote Visual Adaptation.

Background Mammographic background characteristics may stimulate human visual adaptation, allowing radiologists to detect abnormalities more effectively. However, it is unclear whether density, or another image characteristic, drives visual adaptation. Purpose To investigate whether screening performance improves when screening mammography examinations are ordered for batch reading according to mammographic characteristics that may promote visual adaptation. Materials and Methods This retrospective multireader multicase study was performed with mammograms obtained between September 2016 and May 2019. The screening examinations, each consisting of four mammograms, were interpreted by 13 radiologists in three distinct orders: randomly, by increasing volumetric breast density (VBD), and based on a self-supervised learning (SSL) encoding (examinations automatically grouped as "looking similar"). An eye tracker recorded radiologists' eye movements during interpretation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of random-ordered readings were compared with those of VBD- and SSL-ordered readings using mixed-model analysis of variance. Reading time, fixation metrics, and perceived density were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results Mammography examinations (75 with breast cancer, 75 without breast cancer) from 150 women (median age, 55 years [IQR, 50-63]) were read. The examinations ordered by increasing VBD versus randomly had an increased AUC (0.93 [95% CI: 0.91, 0.96] vs 0.92 [95% CI: 0.89, 0.95]; P = .009), without evidence of a difference in specificity (89% [871 of 975] vs 86% [837 of 975], P = .04) and sensitivity (both 81% [794 of 975 vs 788 of 975], P = .78), and a reduced reading time (24.3 vs 27.9 seconds, P < .001), fixation count (47 vs 52, P < .001), and fixation time in malignant regions (3.7 vs 4.6 seconds, P < .001). For SSL-ordered readings, there was no evidence of differences in AUC (0.92 [95% CI: 0.89, 0.95]; P = .70), specificity (84% [820 of 975], P = .37), sensitivity (80% [784 of 975], P = .79), fixation count (54, P = .05), or fixation time in malignant regions (4.6 seconds, P > .99) compared with random-ordered readings. Reading times were significantly higher for SSL-ordered readings compared with random-ordered readings (28.4 seconds, P = .02). Conclusion Screening mammography examinations ordered from low to high VBD improved screening performance while reducing reading and fixation times. © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Grimm in this issue.

Catalytic evolution of cooperation in a population with behavioral bimodality.

The remarkable adaptability of humans in response to complex environments is often demonstrated by the context-dependent adoption of different behavioral modes. However, the existing game-theoretic studies mostly focus on the single-mode assumption, and the impact of this behavioral multimodality on the evolution of cooperation remains largely unknown. Here, we study how cooperation evolves in a population with two behavioral modes. Specifically, we incorporate Q-learning and Tit-for-Tat (TFT) rules into our toy model and investigate the impact of the mode mixture on the evolution of cooperation. While players in a Q-learning mode aim to maximize their accumulated payoffs, players within a TFT mode repeat what their neighbors have done to them. In a structured mixing implementation where the updating rule is fixed for each individual, we find that the mode mixture greatly promotes the overall cooperation prevalence. The promotion is even more significant in the probabilistic mixing, where players randomly select one of the two rules at each step. Finally, this promotion is robust when players adaptively choose the two modes by a real-time comparison. In all three scenarios, players within the Q-learning mode act as catalyzers that turn the TFT players to be more cooperative and as a result drive the whole population to be highly cooperative. The analysis of Q-tables explains the underlying mechanism of cooperation promotion, which captures the "psychological evolution" in the players' minds. Our study indicates that the variety of behavioral modes is non-negligible and could be crucial to clarify the emergence of cooperation in the real world.

Prospects for increasing the functionality of milk-containing products through the use of non-traditional plant raw materials

It is an undeniable fact that nutrition is an important and integral part of human life. Unfortunately, nutrition is not always complete and balanced. It has been established that only rational nutrition is the lever by which it is possible to ensure normal growth and development of the body. Food industry enterprises are trying to create exactly such conditions for adequate human adaptation to the regalia of the surrounding world, namely, they develop and produce specialized products that contribute not only to disease prevention, but also to a stable increase in mental and physical performance. Moreover, these activities do not contradict the state policy in terms of improving the health of the population, through the introduction of healthy nutrition products into the retail network, through various assistance to manufacturing enterprises (subsidies, grant support). Regarding manufacturers of milk-containing food products, the importance of which is undeniable, they quite actively promote product lines for certain segments of the population, for example, children, pregnant and lactating women and the elderly. The main objective of the research is to develop a technology for a milk-containing product (drinking yoghurt) that includes several functions important for humans, namely, functional, diabetic, probiotic ones. The product is given the specified functions by including scientifically substantiated components in the recipe, including those from non-traditional raw materials. Standard and individual research methods have been used to confirm the quality indicators of the finished product. The main results of the research include determining the type of plant material that meets the specified requirements and characteristics and contributes to giving the finished product additional properties (prebiotic, functional, diabetic). The final result of the research is obtaining a product that helps increase the body resistance to the negative environmental effects. The use of secondary plant materials for food purposes, which contributes to the design of a food product with a certain quality composition and specified consumer properties, in comparison with existing analogues, can be considered the novelty of the research.

Vegetable growing in Atyrau region: status and prospects

The aim is to substantiate the development of vegetable growing industry in the process of diversification of the economy of Atyrau region. In the methodological aspect, the research on vegetable crops cultivation was carried out on the basis of the deduction method, the consequence of which is the logical conclusion that vegetable production of farms in the region is environmentally safe. Methods of analysis and synthesis were used in determining the competitive parameters of production and the level of its intensification in the period of rising prices for fuels and lubricants. Results - the current state of the vegetable sector of the region, problems and potential opportunities were analyzed, the profitability of the vegetable subcomplex was shown. Recommendations aimed at expanding the scope of management, providing agricultural enterprises with timely and objective information important for making management decisions have been developed. Conclusions - it is necessary to constantly intensify research and development work on the development of new vegetable varieties, their approbation and introduction into practice, which will increase productivity at lower costs. Sectors should pay attention to the quality of vegetable products, their shelf life, useful properties for human health and adaptation to local climatic conditions. The authors note the feasibility of establishing workshops for processing biomass waste and rejected low-grade products. It is concluded that the vegetable market has a high capacity and is characterized by stable demand, which makes it attractive for investment. Investments are the decisive factor of technological, economic and social renewal of economic entities. In dynamics, the innovation activity of agricultural entities is increasing, although it is lower than in the economic system as a whole. The state should become the coordinator of innovation processes in the industry. There are all prerequisites for building up the competitive advantages of the industry.

Beyond environmental determinism? Analysing studies on environmental migration in the Greater Mekong Subregion and the Ganges‐Brahmaputra Delta Region

AbstractCurrent studies often present environmental and climate migration in three ways: in an environmentally deterministic way, as an adaptation strategy or as a ‘wicked’ phenomenon. This bibliometric and thematic analysis analysed 147 studies from January 2015 until August 2020 on environmental migration in the Greater Mekong Subregion and the Ganges‐Brahmaputra Delta Region (India and Bangladesh) to determine to what extent dominant discourses on environmental migration and mobilities have moved away from environmental determinism. Results of this study suggest that most analysed studies, which clearly framed environmental migration, tend to remain rather environmentally deterministic. Further, the spatial level of analysis in the studies, whether it was local or non‐local, did not correspond to different theoretical and conceptual approaches to environmental migration. While 17.0% of the studies presented environmental migration as a form of adaptation, relevant discussions on the concepts of resilience, vulnerability and adaptation were largely lacking. This is problematic as recent global studies on environmental migration are increasingly adopting the adaptation paradigm. Additionally, relatively few studies have adopted more critical or pluralistic approaches to human mobility, climate change and adaptation. Lastly, studies on Bangladesh were more often presenting climate change as a primary driver of migration than studies in other localities within the study region.

Assessment of human adaptation processes of different age groups of the population depending on the state of urban ecosystems using blood microcirculation analysis by Laser Doppler Flowmetry.

Assessment of human adaptation processes of different age groups of the population depending on the state of urban ecosystems using blood microcirculation analysis by Laser Doppler Flowmetry.

Impact of Technological Anxiety and Alien Invasion in H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds.

The term science fiction is applied to those narratives in which unlike in pure fantasy an explicit attempt is made to render plausible the fictional world by reference to known, or imagined scientific principles, or to a projected advance in technology, or to a drastic change in the organization of society A Glossary of Literary Terms, Pg. 355. The science fiction has always a very important thematic topic about Alien invasion and their repercussions. Alien has always plundered or made humans slave while invading Earth in most of the books and movies. The book The War of the World’s speculates on this particular theme of Alien invasion on Earth by H. G. Wells. In the book The War of the Worlds a meteor lands on Earth in Horsell Common near to narrator’s house which later turns out to be an artificial cylinder launched towards Earth having Aliens in them. They invade earth to plunder the resources and to reign on Earth. The research paper will work on the title The Impact of Technological Anxiety and Alien Invasion in H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds while looking for sub themes like, Technological Anxiety in the 19th Century, alien technologies, Comparative Analysis of Technological and Extraterrestrial Threats, and human adaptation. At the end the research paper we will see how Wells’s narrative ultimately reflects the broader anxieties of his time, revealing how technological progress and the unknown can together reshape our life.