Large-scale Changes Research Articles

The Problem with the Concept of Complexity

The concept of complexity is one of the most fundamental of big history fundamentals. The concept of complexity has great potential for understanding the shared qualities of otherwise disparate systems, explaining large-scale change, and comparing different types of complex systems, including human societies. Given this potential, it seems extraordinary that the concept has not penetrated the academic zeitgeist more thoroughly. I argue that four key roadblocks are holding the concept of complexity, and by extension, big history, from broader acceptance in the academy: first, the term “complexity” in its technical usage is not intuitive to people outside the fields of big history and complexity science; second, there is a lack of consensus even among big history scholars on the definition of complexity; third, measuring large-scale change over thousands, millions, or billions of years may lead to imprecision and oversimplification; and fourth, complexity, while an objective indicator of change, is closely tied to contested, subjective, culturally-specific notions of human progress. This paper argues that the concept of complexity, despite these roadblocks, has significant utility in fields that consider large-scale change. Ultimately, this paper aims to provide more clarity and precision around the concept of complexity to strengthen one of the key foundations of big history.

Large-scale photovoltaic solar farms in the Sahara affect solar power generation potential globally

Globally, solar projects are being rapidly built or planned, particularly in high solar potential regions with high energy demand. However, their energy generation potential is highly related to the weather condition. Here we use state-of-the-art Earth system model simulations to investigate how large photovoltaic solar farms in the Sahara Desert could impact the global cloud cover and solar generation potential through disturbed atmospheric teleconnections. The results indicate negative impacts on solar potential in North Africa (locally), Middle East, Southern Europe, India, Eastern China, Japan, Eastern Australia, and Southwestern US, and positive impacts in Central and South America, the Caribbean, Central & Eastern US, Scandinavia and South Africa, reaching a magnitude of ±5% in remote regions seasonally. Diagnostics suggest that large-scale atmospheric circulation changes are responsible for the global impacts. International cooperation is essential to mitigate the potential risks of future large-scale solar projects in drylands, which could impact energy production.

Declines in ice cover are accompanied by light limitation responses and community change in freshwater diatoms.

The rediscovery of diatom blooms embedded within and beneath the Lake Erie ice cover (2007-2012) ignited interest in psychrophilic adaptations and winter limnology. Subsequent studies determined the vital role ice plays in winter diatom ecophysiology as diatoms partition to the underside of ice, thereby fixing their location within the photic zone. Yet, climate change has led to widespread ice decline across the Great Lakes, with Lake Erie presenting a nearly "ice-free" state in several recent winters. It has been hypothesized that the resultant turbid, isothermal water column induces light limitation amongst winter diatoms and thus serves as a competitive disadvantage. To investigate this hypothesis, we conducted a physiochemical and metatranscriptomic survey that spanned spatial, temporal, and climatic gradients of the winter Lake Erie water column (2019-2020). Our results suggest that ice-free conditions decreased planktonic diatom bloom magnitude and altered diatom community composition. Diatoms increased their expression of various photosynthetic genes and iron transporters, which suggests that the diatoms are attempting to increase their quantity of photosystems and light-harvesting components (a well-defined indicator of light limitation). We identified two gene families which serve to increase diatom fitness in the turbid ice-free water column: proton-pumping rhodopsins (a potential second means of light-driven energy acquisition) and fasciclins (a means to "raft" together to increase buoyancy and co-locate to the surface to optimize light acquisition). With large-scale climatic changes already underway, our observations provide insight into how diatoms respond to the dynamic ice conditions of today and shed light on how they will fare in a climatically altered tomorrow.

Pairing remote sensing and clustering in landscape hydrology for large-scale change identification: an application to the subarctic watershed of the George River (Nunavik, Canada)

Abstract. For remote and vast northern watersheds, hydrological data are often sparse and incomplete. Landscape hydrology provides useful approaches for the indirect assessment of the hydrological characteristics of watersheds through analysis of landscape properties. In this study, we used unsupervised geographic object-based image analysis (GeOBIA) paired with the fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithm to produce seven high-resolution territorial classifications of key remotely sensed hydro-geomorphic metrics for the 1985–2019 time period, each with a frequency of 5 years. Our study site is the George River watershed (GRW), a 42 000 km2 watershed located in Nunavik, northern Quebec (Canada). The subwatersheds within the GRW, used as the objects of the GeOBIA, were classified as a function of their hydrological similarities. Classification results for the period 2015–2019 showed that the GRW is composed of two main types of subwatersheds distributed along a latitudinal gradient, which indicates broad-scale differences in hydrological regimes and water balances across the GRW. Six classifications were computed for the period 1985–2014 to investigate past changes in hydrological regime. The time series of seven classifications showed a homogenization of subwatershed types associated with increases in vegetation productivity and in water contents in soil and vegetation, mostly concentrated in the northern half of the GRW, which were the major changes occurring in the land cover metrics of the GRW. An increase in vegetation productivity likely contributed to an augmentation in evaporation and may be a primary driver of fundamental shifts in the GRW water balance, potentially explaining a measured decline of about 1 % (∼ 0.16 km3 yr−1) in the George River’s discharge since the mid-1970s. Permafrost degradation over the study period also likely affected the hydrological regime and water balance of the GRW. However, the shifts in permafrost extent and active layer thickness remain difficult to detect using remote-sensing-based approaches, particularly in areas of discontinuous and sporadic permafrost.

Change of deep subduction seismicity after a large megathrust earthquake

Subduction zones are home to the world’s largest and deepest earthquakes. Recently, large-scale interactions between shallow (0-60 km) and intermediate (80-150 km) seismicity have been evidenced during the interseismic period but also before and after megathrust earthquakes along with large-scale changes in surface motion. Large-scale deformation transients following major earthquakes have also been observed possibly due to a post-seismic change in slab pull or to a bending/unbending of the plates, which suggests the existence of interactions between the deep and shallow parts of the slab. In this study, we analyze the spatio-temporal variations of the declustered seismicity in Japan from 2000 to 2011/3/11 and from 2011/3/11 to 2013/3/11. We observe that the background rate of the intermediate to deep (150-450 km) seismicity underwent a deceleration of 55% south of the rupture zone and an acceleration of 30% north of it after the Tohoku-oki earthquake, consistent with the GPS surface displacements. This shows how a megathrust earthquake can affect the stress state of the slab over a 2500 km lateral range and a large depth range, demonstrating that earthquakes interact at a much greater scale than the surrounding rupture zone usually considered.

Intraoperative changes in large-scale thalamic circuitry following laser ablation of hypothalamic hamartomas

Background and objectivesGelastic seizures due to hypothalamic hamartomas (HH) are challenging to treat, in part due to an incomplete understanding of seizure propagation pathways. Although magnetic resonance imaging-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) is a promising intervention to disconnect HH from ictal propagation networks, the optimal site of ablation to achieve seizure freedom is not known. In this study, we investigated intraoperative post-ablation changes in resting-state functional connectivity to identify large-scale networks associated with successful disconnection of HH. MethodsChildren who underwent MRgLITT for HH at two institutions were consecutively recruited and followed for a minimum of one year. Seizure freedom was defined as Engel score of 1A at the last available follow-up. Immediate pre- and post- ablation resting-state functional MRI scans were acquired while maintaining a constant depth of general anesthetic. Multivariable generalized linear models were used to identify intraoperative changes in large-scale connectivity associated with seizure outcomes. ResultsTwelve patients underwent MRgLITT for HH, five of whom were seizure-free at their last follow-up. Intraprocedural changes in thalamocortical circuitry involving the anterior cingulate cortex were associated with seizure-freedom. Children who were seizure-free demonstrated an increase and decrease in connectivity to the pregenual and dorsal anterior cingulate cortices, respectively. In addition, children who became seizure-free demonstrated increased thalamic connectivity to the periaqueductal gray immediately following MRgLITT. DiscussionSuccessful disconnection of HH is associated with intraoperative, large-scale changes in thalamocortical connectivity. These changes provide novel insights into the large-scale basis of gelastic seizures and may represent intraoperative biomarkers of treatment success.

Cultural foundations of the educational system and legal upbringing in the conditions of contemporary political and legal reality transformation

The article focusses on the special nature of system structural changes occurring in modern Russian society, which directly reflect large-scale changes associated with internal and external aspects of integration of social, political, and legal institutions in the modern political and legal reality of the state, which significantly expands the instrumental sphere in the system of legal regulation, both in the general social context and in the strategic directions of the functioning of the Russian state. The authors have defined educational and legal-educational environment special spheres of modern state-legal space as the object of research because the most important system elements of the modern state function in the conditions of transformational changes in socio-economic, political-legal and socio-cultural plan. The aim of the work is the necessity to actualise a new concept of education in general, and higher education in particular, since in the modern world the institution of higher education is considered to be the most important factor in the development of human resources, in view of the fact that the factor of education in the future will be considered almost the main criterion for sustainable and successful development of any state. The methodological context of this paper is based on a combination of classical general scientific methodology and special techniques and means of scientific knowledge: comparative-legal, historical-legal, and concrete-sociological study of the problems posed in the paper.

Radical timetable innovations in long-distance railway passenger transport: How might these affect railway passenger demand?

The positive impact of coordinated timetable innovations throughout national railway networks has been shown exemplarily in the 1970 s and 80 s, when so-called integrated periodic timetables (IPT) were installed in the Netherlands and in Switzerland and then gradually improved. After large-scale changes of the former train offer, rail passenger demand increased significantly. A similar timetable innovation was recently decided for the German railway network. However, the project’s impact on overall demand is uncertain. To approach this question, an elasticity-based forecast of long-distance passenger demand is proposed and adopted to a modelized railway network section that has changed to an IPT. Massive travel time reductions turned out as the most important factor for demand growth followed by demand effects due to the increase of train frequency and changes of a modelized ticket price system. Additional factors influencing nationwide rail passenger demand are conceivable but difficult to generalize.

Analysis of the dynamics of changes in landscape ecological structure using geographic information system (GIS) technology in Badung regency, Bali

The development of land use in Badung Regency in the period 2013-2021 has an impact on changes in the ecological structure of the landscape. Changes in the ecological structure of the landscape occur in the three parameters, namely patch, matrix and corridor, which are indicated by changes in the area and function of the three parameters. The addition of matrix area in the settlement land use class and golf course patches causes changes in the area of the matrix of mixed gardens, rice fields and mangroves as well as corridors of non-volcanic coastal sand that dominantly have ecological functions. The objectives to be achieved in this study are to analyze the dynamics of changes in the ecological structure of the landscape caused by land use development in Badung Regency. The dynamics of changes in the ecological structure of the landscape due to large-scale changes is a driving factor in the deviation of spatial utilization and a decrease in the quality of the environment in Badung Regency. The research concluded that landscape ecology analysis is an important aspect in the development of regional zones in Badung Regency that takes into account the principles of sustainable development. This research found a new formulation in the analysis of ecological zone development that integrates the landscape ecology approach with the spatial approach and regional approach. The ecological zones of Badung Regency are grouped into 4 (four), namely: very high ecological zone, high ecological zone, medium ecological zone and low ecological zone.

Hotel enterprises in Nizhny Novgorod in 1918-1939.

The market reforms that began in the late Soviet period and continued after the collapse of the USSR radically changed the country's hotel industry. The changes have affected literally all aspects of the industry. Similar large-scale changes were already taking place in the hospitality industry at the beginning of the twentieth century, after the socialist revolution of 1917. Therefore, it is interesting to find out how the young Soviet state, in the most difficult conditions of the civil war and foreign intervention, was able to practically rebuild the country's hotel industry. Because of this, the experience of hotel construction in the first two decades of Soviet power can be useful. The subject of the research in this article was the development of hotel enterprises in Nizhny Novgorod, such as communal hotels, "Peasant Houses", night shelters during this period. The paper provides an analysis of the main directions of development of the Nizhny Novgorod hotel industry from 1918 to 1939. The article is based on materials from regional archives (TSANO and GOP NO), periodicals, and scientific literature. The article uses historical-systemic and historical-comparative methods, as well as general scientific methods such as description and comparison. The conducted research showed that the hotel industry of the city was in a difficult situation by 1918. The change in the social system in the state, the decline in the standard of living of the population, and the refugees provoked a crisis in the hotel industry of Nizhny Novgorod. The mass closure of enterprises was avoided only by nationalization and municipalization of enterprises. The opening of the Peasant's House in 1925 was able to alleviate the acute shortage of hotel stock for a short period. But in the 1930s, due to the growth of foreign tourism, the problem of a shortage of high-class hotels worsened. The construction of the Volna, Rossiya and Intourist hotels partially solved this problem. But for ordinary Soviet citizens, hotels are still inaccessible. At the same time, the level of service was at an extremely low level.

M2-YOLOX: A Novel Method for Object Detection Based on an Improved YOLOX Algorithm Introducing a Global Attention Mechanism and a Feature Enhancement Module

Deep learning-based algorithms for detecting objects in remote sensing images have produced excellent results recently. However, the target recognition and classification process of remote sensing images has problems such as dense targets, uneven distribution, large-scale changes and complex backgrounds. In order to improve the effectiveness of existing detection methods, based on the YOLOX algorithm, a remote sensing image object detection algorithm introducing Global Attention Mechanism (GAM) and Feature Enhancement Module (FEM) proposed, named the M2-YOLOX(GAM+FEM+YOLOX) algorithm. First, a novel GAM module is developed that employs a sequential channel-space attention mechanism and redesigns the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM), to address the issues of low effective information extraction and weak information representation of the feature map in the backbone network. CBAM is capable of amplifying global dimensional interaction features while reducing information dispersion as well. Second, the goal of the FEM is to improve the target feature extraction capabilities of the backbone feature extraction network by fusing numerous perceptual field features in lower-level feature maps. Then, the Flexible Rectified Linear Unit (FReLU) activation function is introduced under the action of feature fusion and global attention mechanism. Four-way feature map output in Feature Pyramid Networks (FPN) with Non-Maximum Suppression (NMS) and score filtering for object detection and output results. In comparison to the YOLOX algorithm, the experimental results show that the mAP value of the M2-YOLOX algorithm is improved by 0.0123, the LAMR value is decreased by 0.0150, the Precision rate value is increased by 0.105450, the Recall value is increased by 0.053250, and the mF1 value is increased by 0.0425.

THE COSTITUTION IN A NEW EDITION: ISSUES OF DEVELOPMENT OF INTERSTATE REGIONAL COOPERATION

Today, ensuring the implementation of important tasks for pursuing an open, pragmatic and active foreign policy ofour country, identified in the priority areas of the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan, is becoming increasingly important. Uzbekistan's participation in regional and international processes has increased significantly. Large-scale changes and reforms taking place in the country are reflected in foreign policy. Uzbekistan today is pursuing a more active and pragmatic foreign policy compared to previous times, and this is recognized by the international community. At the same time, cooperation with thecountries of Central Asia has expanded like never before.

Evaluating Chromosome Instability and Genotoxicity Through Single Cell Quantitative Imaging Microscopy.

Across eukaryotes, genome stability is essential for normal cell function, physiology, and species survival. Aberrant expression of key genes or exposure to genotoxic agents can have detrimental effects on genome stability and contribute to the development of various diseases, including cancer. Chromosome instability (CIN), or ongoing changes in chromosome complements, is a frequent form of genome instability observed in cancer and is a driver of genetic and cell-to-cell heterogeneity that can be rapidly detected and quantitatively assessed using surrogate markers of CIN. For example, single cell quantitative imaging microscopy (QuantIM) can be used to simultaneously identify changes in nuclear areas and micronucleus formation. While changes in nuclear areas are often associated with large-scale changes in chromosome complements (i.e., ploidy), micronuclei are small extra-nuclear bodies found outside the primary nucleus that have previously been employed as a measure of genotoxicity of test compounds. Here, we present a facile QuantIM approach that allows for the rapid assessment and quantification of CIN associated phenotypes and genotoxicity. First, we provide protocols to optimize and execute CIN and genotoxicity assays. Secondly, we present the critical imaging settings, optimization steps, downstream statistical analyses, and data visualization strategies employed to obtain high quality and robust data. These approaches can be easily applied to assess the prevalence of CIN associated phenotypes and genotoxic stress for a myriad of experimental and clinical contexts ranging from direct tests to large-scale screens of various genetic contexts (i.e., aberrant gene expression) or chemical compounds. In summary, this QuantIM approach facilitates the identification of novel CIN genes and/or genotoxic agents that will provide greater insight into the aberrant genes and pathways underlying CIN and genotoxicity.

Римско-самнитская борьба за Апулию в 326–290 гг. до н.э.

Introduction. In the IV century BC in ancient Italy there were large-scale changes associated with the displacement of «centres of power», that was leading to major military clashes in various regions. One such episode was the struggle for Apulia between two new centres of power in the person of the Samnites and Romans. However, despite the historical significance of their confrontation, the researchers did not pay special attention to this topic, and within the framework of general works they overlooked the latest archaeological discoveries. Materials and Methods. The research uses an integrated approach aimed at studying the interests of all involved sides in the context of the hierarchy of centres of power in the Apennine Peninsula. To analyse various aspects of the Roman-Samnite struggle the author uses both longknown written and numismatic sources and new archaeological data, previously not widely involved for the study of militarydiplomatic relations in ancient Italy. Analysis. The long-term military confrontation in Apulia began as a result of Rome invasion into the exclusive sphere of Samnite influence in the Daunian lands after the conclusion of an alliance with the rebellious Arpi in 326 BC. During the most active period of the struggle in 323-317 BC the Romans were able to establish control over majority of the large settlements, such as Teanum and Canusium, as well as the strategically important Lucería. The Romans skilfully took advantage of the diplomatic and military miscalculations of the Samnites that, together with the creation of spheres of responsibility and colonies in northern Apulia allowed them, to firmly establish themselves in new territories. In subsequent years, all attempts by the Samnites to regain lost positions, primarily in Luceria, failed to achieve any significant success. While Rome continued to expand its strategic foothold in Apulia, until it suppressed the last strongholds of Samnite power in the region after the capture of Silvium in 306 BC and Venusia in 291 BC. Results. The Roman-Samnite struggle in its primary basis was a consequence of the changing conditions of international relations in ancient Italy in the IV century BC. Both sides sought to establish control over the local centres of power in Apulia, but Rome eventually won the confrontation that opened it the way for expansion in southern Italy and deprived the Samnites of the opportunity to influence affairs in the region.

Workforce Implications of Large-scale Land-use Change in Aotearoa New Zealand

Workforce Implications of Large-scale Land-use Change in Aotearoa New Zealand

Simulations of a PKA RIα homodimer reveal cAMP-coupled conformational dynamics of each protomer and the dimer interface with functional implications.

Protein kinase A (PKA) is a ubiquitous cAMP-dependent enzyme in mammalian tissues. The inactive PKA holoenzyme disassociates into a homodimer of regulatory (R) subunits and two active catalytic (C) subunits upon cAMP binding to two tandem domains (termed CBD-A and CBD-B) in R subunits. The release of cAMP facilitates reassociation of R and C subunits, resetting PKA to its basal state. The cAMP-mediated structural changes in the activation-termination cycle remain partially understood. The multimeric states of PKA complicate the issue and are particularly less studied. Therefore, we computationally investigated the conformational dynamics of the PKA RIα homodimer in different cAMP-bound states. The absence of cAMP in two CBDs differently affects the conformational dynamics of protomers. Moreover, such disparate responses are extended to the dimer interface constituted by the N-terminal helical sub-domains termed N3A motifs. The removal of cAMP from CBD-A induces large-scale structural changes of individual R subunits towards the holoenzyme state, consistent with previous simulations of a single R subunit. Meanwhile it keeps the structural heterogeneity of the N3A-N3A' dimer interface observed in the fully bound state. By contrast, the removal of cAMP from CBD-B does not affect individual R subunits but alters the conformational space of the N3A-N3A' dimer interface. The cAMP-coupled structural changes of each protomer and conserved conformational space of the N3A-N3A' dimer interface are essential for the transition between the fully cAMP-bound R2 homodimer and the R2C2 holoenzyme as suggested by their crystal structures. Our work provides structural insights into the regulatory mechanism of cAMP in PKA signaling.

Influence of ion and hydration atmospheres on RNA structure and dynamics: insights from advanced theoretical and computational methods.

RNA, a highly charged biopolymer composed of negatively charged phosphate groups, defies electrostatic repulsion to adopt well-defined, compact structures. Hence, the presence of positively charged metal ions is crucial not only for RNA's charge neutralization, but they also coherently decorate the ion atmosphere of RNA to stabilize its compact fold. This feature article elucidates various modes of close RNA-ion interactions, with a special emphasis on Mg2+ as an outer-sphere and inner-sphere ion. Through examples, we highlight how inner-sphere chelated Mg2+ stabilizes RNA pseudoknots, while outer-sphere ions can also exert long-range electrostatic interactions, inducing groove narrowing, coaxial helical stacking, and RNA ring formation. In addition to investigating the RNA's ion environment, we note that the RNA's hydration environment is relatively underexplored. Our study delves into its profound interplay with the structural dynamics of RNA, employing state-of-the-art atomistic simulation techniques. Through examples, we illustrate how specific ions and water molecules are associated with RNA functions, leveraging atomistic simulations to identify preferential ion binding and hydration sites. However, understanding their impact(s) on the RNA structure remains challenging due to the involvement of large length and long time scales associated with RNA's dynamic nature. Nevertheless, our contributions and recent advances in coarse-grained simulation techniques offer insights into large-scale structural changes dynamically linked to the RNA ion atmosphere. In this connection, we also review how different cutting-edge computational simulation methods provide a microscopic lens into the influence of ions and hydration on RNA structure and dynamics, elucidating distinct ion atmospheric components and specific hydration layers and their individual and collective impacts.

Everyday Anthropocene and Multispecies Kinship in Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island

The Anthropocene, a term increasingly embraced across disciplines, is often used to denote the current geological epoch that signifies the profound impact humans have exerted on the Earth’s geology and ecosystems. This concept challenges the traditional delineation of geological epochs, suggesting that human activity has caused significant environmental changes that are substantial enough to mark the commencement of a new geological era. Central to the Anthropocene theory is the recognition of human-inducedalterations that span across climate change, biodiversity loss, and the transformation of land through deforestation, urbanisation, and agriculture, alongside the proliferation of man-made materials like plastics and concrete.The idea of the ‘everyday Anthropocene’ brings this concept closer to our daily lives, emphasising how ordinary, everyday human actions contribute to these large-scale environmental changes. It recognises that the cumulative effects of daily human activities —such as driving cars, using plastic, consuming energy, and producing waste —play a crucial role in shaping our planet’s future. At the same time, the everyday Anthropocene refers to the ways we experience the effects of environmental changes in our day-to-day lives. This notioncompels us to recognise the Anthropocene not as a distant or abstract epoch but as an immediate reality, manifesting in the climate we experience, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we consume. In her essay, “Climate Change and the Struggle for Genre,” Stephanie LeMenager refers to the ‘everyday Anthropocene’ as “the present tense, lived time of the Anthropocene” that calls for paying attention to what it means to live, day by day, through climate shift and the economic and sociological injuries that underwrite it” (225). She presents this concept as a critique of epochal thinking. The conventional perspective on the Anthropocene as a geological epoch detaches us from the immediate, tangible effects of our actions on the environment and ourselves. Epochs, as large-scale historical markers, can lead to a kind of forgetting, abstracting the very real and ongoing depletion and suffering of living bodies and ecosystems into broad, impersonal spans of time. The everyday Anthropocene, in contrast, calls for attention to “a more granular and personal account” of those living through the anthropogenic changes of our planet (225). She emphasises the importance of recognising and addressing the slow, often unnoticed wear on bodies and environments caused by systemic issues like bio-deregulation and slow violence. She highlights the role of the Anthropocene novel as a medium to focus closely on what it means to live amidst climate change, capturing the day-to-day reality of existing in a world under threat. She views such narratives as tools for preparing and adapting to change, advocating for a re-evaluation of our daily lives and our collective home in a more empathetic and sustainable manner.

Trans-Disciplinary Communication in Collaborative Co-Design for Knowledge Sharing

This article examines the importance of Trans-disciplinary Communication (TDC) in knowledge sharing when utilizing collaborative co-design (CCD) as a tool for large-scale collective change social innovation projects. The article describes CCD and important frameworks like "Collaborative Infrastructure" and the "Collaborative Convergence Pyramid." Next, the paper discusses knowledge sharing in this context as an essential mechanism to engage the participants effectively. As the co-design process is initiated and the work progresses, several tools of TDC are imperative, such as listening, translation, and facilitation. Then, the article presents how the tools of TDC allow for the effective CCD to progress and be led by the author. Finally, some practical, real-world examples of TDC in action for CCD will be shared. By illustrating practical, real-world examples of TDC in an effort for CCD, the article offers an insightful overview of this empowering process, not merely as a theoretical construct but as a dynamic and practical approach. This article underscores the innovative potential that TDC brings to knowledge creation and dissemination, making it an essential read for academics, practitioners, and policy-makers interested in collaboration, inclusivity, and transformative change.

Soil nutrient content dominates short-term vegetation changes in alpine tundra of Changbai Mountains.

Alpine tundra, covering 3% of the Earth's land surface, harbors approximately 4% of higher plant species. Changes in this vegetation significantly impact biodiversity and ecosystem services. Recent studies have primarily focused on large-scale and long-term vegetation changes in polar and high-latitude regions. However, the study of short-term vegetation changes and their primary drivers has received insufficient attention in alpine tundra. This study aimed to investigate vegetation changes and their dominant drivers in the alpine tundra of Changbai Mountains-located at the southern edge of the alpine tundra distribution in Eastern Eurasia-over a short period by re-surveying permanent plots in 2019 and comparing them with data from 2014. The results showed that significant changes were observed in alpine tundra vegetation during the study period. The importance values of typical alpine tundra plants such as Rhododendron chrysanthum, Vaccinium uliginosum, and Dryas octopetala decreased noticeably, while those of herbaceous species such as Deyeuxia angustifolia and Sanguisorba sitchensis increased significantly. Species richness, diversity, and evenness at different altitudinal gradients showed varying degrees of increase. A distinct expansion trend of herbaceous species was observed in the alpine tundra, contributing to a shift in plant community composition toward herbaceous dominance. This shift might result in the meadowization of the dwarf shrub tundra. Our findings further revealed that soil nutrients rather than climate factors, dominated the changes of plant communities over a short period. These findings provide scientific references for the conservation and management of biodiversity, as well as for projecting future vegetation dynamics in alpine tundra.