Local Cooperation Research Articles

Local and global context cooperation for temporal action detection

Local and global context cooperation for temporal action detection

Individual variation in the functional lateralization of human ventral temporal cortex: Local competition and long-range coupling.

The ventral temporal cortex (VTC) of the human cerebrum is critically engaged in computations related to high-level vision. One intriguing aspect of this region is its asymmetric organization and functional lateralization. Notably, in the VTC, neural responses to words are stronger in the left hemisphere, whereas neural responses to faces are stronger in the right hemisphere. Converging evidence has suggested that left-lateralized word responses emerge to couple efficiently with left-lateralized frontotemporal language regions, but evidence is more mixed regarding the sources of the right-lateralization for face perception. Here, we use individual differences as a tool to adjudicate between three theories of VTC organization arising from: 1) local competition between words and faces, 2) local competition between faces and other categories, 3) long-range coupling with VTC and frontotemporal areas subject to their own local competition. First, in an in-house functional MRI experiment, we demonstrated that individual differences in laterality are both substantial and reliable within a right-handed population of young adults. We found no (anti-)correlation in the laterality of word and face selectivity relative to object responses, and a positive correlation when using selectivity relative to a fixation baseline, challenging ideas of local competition between words and faces. We next examined broader local competition with faces using the large-scale Human Connectome Project (HCP) dataset. Face and tool laterality were significantly anti-correlated, while face and body laterality were positively correlated, consistent with the idea that generic local representational competition and cooperation may shape face lateralization. Last, we assessed the role of long-range coupling in the development of VTC laterality. Within our in-house experiment, substantial correlation was evident between VTC text laterality and several other nodes of a distributed text-processing circuit. In the HCP data, VTC face laterality was both negatively correlated with frontotemporal language laterality, and positively correlated with social perception laterality in the same areas, consistent with a long-range coupling effect between face and social processing representations, driven by local competition between language and social processing. We conclude that both local and long-range interactions shape the heterogeneous hemispheric specializations in high-level visual cortex.

Productive and reproductive performances of buffaloes in Bhola district of Bangladesh

This study aimed to evaluate the productive and reproductive performance of buffaloes across five sub-districts (Burhanuddin, Lalmohan, Char Fasson, Bhola Sadar, and Tazumuddin) in the Bhola district of Bangladesh. A face-to-face survey was conducted with 309 buffalo farmers. Daily milk yield ranged from 1.2 to 4.3 liters/cow/day, with over 90% of farmers selling to Goalas (local milk collectors) at BDT 87±22/liter. Lower milk prices were often reported due to pre-arranged advance loans from milkmen. Significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in milk yield across lactation stages, with the highest yields (2.9–3.9 L/day/buffalo) during the first 90 days. Most farmers (82%) relied solely on grazing in the Bathan system, without supplemental concentrate feed. Reproductive parameters showed significant variation (p < 0.05) across the sub-districts, with Lalmohan having the lowest age at sexual maturity (2.98±0.08 years) and the shortest postpartum heat period (57.1±13.62 days). Bhola Sadar had the shortest calving intervals (11.92±0.43 months) and gestation periods (297.10±6.97 days). Burhanuddin had the lowest number of services per conception (1.46±0.50). To improve buffalo farming outcomes, it is decisive to establish local cooperatives for fair milk pricing, introduce supplemental feeding, enhance access to breeding resources, and bolster financial support, educational programs, and infrastructure. Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science 53(3): 111-120, 2024

한국과 일본의 중앙지방협력회의법의 비교연구

The National-Local Cooperation Council Act is the “Act on the Composition and Operation between the National and Local Government Cooperation Council (hereinafter referred to as the National-Local Cooperation Council” in Korea, and the “Act on Place of consultation between National and Local Government” in Japan. The purpose of enacting the National-Local Government Cooperation Council Act in Korea is to determine matters necessary for the composition and operation between the National and Local Government Cooperation Council, which is established to strengthen communication and cooperation between the state and local governments and to deliberate on important policies related to balanced development between local autonomy and regions. The purpose of enacting the Act on the Place of Japanese Consultation is to promote effective and efficient national and local government policies in consultation with relevant ministers and local representatives on the planning, formulation and implementation of national policies affecting local autonomy. The venue for consultation in Japanese law means a place of opportunity for the state (National government) and provinces to exchange opinions on an equal footing, that is, a “place of joint decision” through mutual consultation (meeting), and does not refer to a specific administrative agency. Korea's National and Local Government Cooperation Council is used in the same sense as the venue for Japan's consultation. Comparing the purpose of enacting the two laws, Japan, as the legal name implies, focuses on the meaning that the National and Local governments consult to effectively and efficiently promote specific policies, while Korea includes balanced regional development beyond the scope of discussing other policies, including the purpose of Japan's enactment. It can be said that the purpose of enacting the law is much wider and more diverse. Although Korea and Japan have slightly different legal names, this study aims to analyze the pros and cons of the National and Local Government Cooperation Council Act, which has similar legislative objectives and contents, and derive suggestions for Korean law.

Free-rider or contributor: A dilemma in spatial threshold public goods games

Late movers refer to individuals who adjust their strategies after observing the choices of others in a public goods game, can significantly impact the likelihood of public goods provision. This creates a social dilemma: late movers act as free-riders to rely on others to contribute, yet they also risk the public good not being provided if contributions fall short. To address this dilemma, we utilize a spatial threshold public goods game model to examine how the behaviors of late movers influence overall cooperative levels within a population. We propose a probabilistic rule for late movers that captures the dilemma between cooperating to enhance the collective good and free-riding to maximize individual benefits. Our findings indicate that strategic late movers can significantly enhance cooperation by adapting to local cooperation levels. However, an excessively high proportion of late movers may reduce the overall level of cooperation. Additionally, the formation of clusters by late movers results in higher cooperative levels compared to random distribution. Our study provides novel insights into the dynamics of cooperation within the framework of spatial threshold public goods games. By incorporating the role of late movers, we highlight how adaptive strategies can mitigate the free-rider problem and promote cooperative behaviors.

Blue Carbon as a Nature-Based Mitigation Solution in Temperate Zones

Concern for the future requires local steward-led cooperation between natural and social scientists and decision-makers to develop informed and policy-relevant nature-based mitigation solutions, including blue carbon (BC), which can help secure the future. Salt marshes, kelp forests, and seagrass meadows (and to a lesser extent mangroves) are significant BC ecosystems in temperate areas. We discuss the concept of blue carbon stocks and the scientific approaches to building BC stocks considering the variability in local conditions and the co-benefits of blue carbon ecosystems to improve climate change mitigation and adaptation mechanisms. The study examines (1) methods to assess the potential of BC ecosystems and the impact of disturbances, while (2) building relevant policy based on socio-economic assessments of impacted communities. We highlight economic and social approaches to rebuilding BC using financial tools such as blue bonds, development plans, cost-benefit analyses, cross-ecosystem restoration projects, AI and blockchain, and economic accounts of coastal ecosystems, while emphasizing that cutting carbon emissions is more important than (re)building BC stocks.

Media coverage and local cooperation in immigration enforcement

ABSTRACT Public concern about immigrant criminality in the U.S. is reflected in news coverage of immigration, which tends to associate the topic with ‘illegality’ and crime. Although these media characterizations have increased in recent years as local policy action on immigration has intensified, little research has examined whether or how these two phenomena are connected. This study assesses whether local television news coverage of immigration and crime increases the likelihood of county sheriffs adopting 287(g) agreements deputizing officers to enforce immigration law. Employing fixed effect logistic regressions, this study finds that sheriffs’ departments in counties exposed to more news coverage of immigration and crime are more likely to adopt 287(g) agreements. These increases are particularly pronounced in counties with Republican sheriffs as well as areas experiencing above-average immigrant population growth, suggesting that news media may act as an external, politicizing agent that turns seemingly innocuous demographic changes into events that warrant punitive policy action. These findings position news media as an important context of immigrant reception that can trigger threatened responses in local immigration policy.

RESILIENCE AND LESSONS LEARNED IN COLOMBIAN FAMILY FARMING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

<p><strong>Background: </strong>A health crisis exposes people to food vulnerability by restricting the mobilization and commercial exchange of food. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an ample food supply was available to ensure the basic consumption of the population, prompting two questions: What resilient practices did farmers adopt to produce under conditions of high sanitary restriction, and what lessons did they derive to confront future crises? <strong>Objective:</strong> The article presents and collects the experiences of 59 small family farmers in Colombia in implementing good practices for economic and financial resilience and the lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, constituting a new source of knowledge to understand human behaviors and actions in the face of adversity and the experiential learnings gained to act in future crisis scenarios. <strong>Methodology</strong>: To characterize the resilient practices of agricultural producers in the department of Norte de Santander, Colombia, amid the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, researchers conducted interviews with 59 smallholder farmers from 12 municipalities. The study encompassed 11 agricultural products and 6 animal products, ultimately identifying three overarching categories: economic resilience, financial resilience, and lessons learned.<strong> Main Results: </strong>The results indicate strategies for diversification of production, use of local resources, solidarity-based family work, short marketing chains and an economy of scarcity in family spending. <strong>Implications: </strong>These lessons can inform future policies and practices to better prepare for and respond to similar challenges. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study's findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and small farmers, emphasizing the importance of local resource utilization, community cooperation, and adaptive strategies to enhance resilience and sustain livelihoods during crises. </p>

Local residents’ willingness to allow deer herd reduction and other CWD operations on their property

ABSTRACT Herd reduction or reducing the population density of deer in infested areas is a widely considered method to combat CWD. However, the viability of this method relies on interest and cooperation from local residents that may have different values, attitudes towards such methods. This paper summarizes key findings from a recent survey of local residents in CWD infested area in West Tennessee to explain the barriers and opportunities in securing local cooperation for this method of CWD management. State wildlife agencies and their conservation partners will benefit from these findings in designing appropriate communication, outreach and incentive mechanism towards a successful CWD management.

Schengen visa marketing in China: the street-level competition to attract tourists to Europe

ABSTRACT Before COVID-19, visitors from China, were a prime target for the European tourism industries. Yet, their mobility was constrained by the Schengen visa requirement for any trip to a European Union (EU)’s Member States. While the literature on Schengen visa policy has highlighted the repressive practices of street-level bureaucrats processing visa applications abroad, this article seeks to understand how Schengen visa policy is implemented when the objective is to attract potential visitors rather than drive them away. The paper argues that the economic imperative to attract Chinese tourists to Europe is turning local consular cooperation from Schengen into local consular competition. To support this claim and using ethnographic methods as well as a relational approach to implementation, the paper develops the concept of visa marketing to analyse the race to attractiveness between French and Italian consulates based in Beijing, the capital of China. Visa marketing refers to the use of visa procedures (receipt conditions, reliability, processing speed, etc.) by consulates as sales arguments to advertise the destination they represent. In essence, the article presents a case of domestic actors appropriating common visa regimes, engaging in competition to entice foreign consumers to their territories.

Identification of dust sources inside and outside of Iran affecting air quality in the Tehran region

Introduction: Recent climate changes and droughts have exacerbated the impact of dust sources globally, necessitating a thorough understanding of their influence on air quality. In Tehran, the interaction between internal dust sources from Iran and external sources from neighboring countries significantly affects air quality. Materials and methods: This study spans a 20-year period (2003-2022), utilizing satellite data and advanced algorithms to analyze dust event trends and patterns. The material and methods section outlines the use of Aqua satellite MODIS sensor data alongside two algorithms to identify dust sources, focusing on Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) data during peak dust event seasons. Statistical analysis of dust events in 2022 supplements the investigation. Results: The analysis reveals distinct patterns in dust particle origin and transport, highlighting the predominant contribution of internal dust sources from Iran's southern Semnan province and significant input from external sources in Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia. Examining meteorological conditions during severe dust events highlights the role of synoptic conditions, particularly the presence of a tropospheric trough, in facilitating dust transport. Increased convective motions and downburst occurrences in specific regions further exacerbate the spread of dust particles, particularly those originating from external countries and provinces. Conclusion: The conclusion emphasizes the complex interplay between internal and external dust sources and the necessity of understanding dust emission dynamics for effective mitigation strategies. It calls for proactive measures involving local and regional cooperation to mitigate dust pollution's adverse effects on air quality in Tehran and similar urban centers.

Plague and local response in North China, 1900-28.

Breakthroughs in international biomedical science circa 1900 meant that plague could be contained through strict quarantine regulations. These measures were successfully deployed with help from local governments during outbreaks of pneumonic plague in Manchuria (1910-11), Shanxi (1918), and elsewhere in North China. This containment shows the effectiveness of uniting international knowledge and local cooperation in disaster response. Yet, in later outbreaks in similar locations, control measures identical to those instituted a decade earlier were rejected, and plague spread largely unchecked. Historical case studies of the control and spread of infectious disease in North China reveal the complexities of the relationship between global knowledge and its broader, local integration, variation in what constitutes effective 'local' cooperation in adopting international knowledge, and the paramount importance of the locality to the landscape of disaster response. History can reveal critical issues in localisation of disaster response still salient today.

PRODUCT DIVERSIFICATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY INSPIRED BY TRADITIONAL ROGAN PRINTING OF GUJARAT

The age-old artistic practice of rag painting, which is practiced in Gujarat, Peshawar, and Sindh. It involves using a stylus to expertly apply a thick paste made of vegetable colours and castor or linseed oil onto fabric. The Persian origin of the term "Rogan" means "oil-based," emphasizing the process of heating and forming castor oil in cold water to create a viscous material. This art form was once quite popular among the Muslim Khatris group in Gujarat, and it is historically credited to the Afridis, a community of Syrian descent. After the first impression, the cloth is carefully folded to create a mirrored design. The artists used their palms to apply body-temperature paint. Rogan painting, which is well-known for its rich colours and intricate designs that frequently incorporate floral themes, animals, and regional cultural features, has faced challenges due to low awareness and the rise of low-cost, automated textiles. However, there has been a resurgence in recent years, contributed to increased tourists, support from non-profits and local cooperatives, and the prestige of winning awards and recognition. This paper gave insights into the ideation of incorporating and being inspired by Rogan art motifs into product diversification with contemporary designs through embroidery for garment collections.

Exploring International Legal Challenges For Unhcr In Dealing With Rohingya Refugees In Aceh, Indonesia

The difficulties the UNHCR has managing Rohingya refugees in Indonesia are the main topic of this article. This article focuses on the challenges faced by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in managing Rohingya refugees in Indonesia. As the primary international agency tasked with refugee management globally, the UNHCR plays a crucial role in preventing statelessness, determining refugee status, and providing comprehensive remedies. However, the study reveals that despite receiving approval from the Indonesian government to operate, the UNHCR encounters difficulties in fulfilling its mandate to assist Indonesia's ethnic Rohingya refugees. This limitation is attributed to the escalating number of asylum seekers in Indonesia requiring aid. The research utilizes content analysis to delve into UNHCR's struggles with Rohingya refugees, gathering and analyzing various sources such as reports, studies, news, and policies related to Rohingya refugees in Aceh. Through this method, the study uncovers patterns and challenges encountered by the UNHCR, including managing crises and navigating international and local cooperation. Ultimately, this research provides a detailed understanding of the complexities surrounding the Rohingya refugee crisis in Aceh.

Mediating Power-to-X: A case study of green imaginaries and environmental conflicts in local Danish news media

Abstract Recently, Power-to-X (PtX) has come to play a prominent role in the public discussion of a green energy future, with high hopes expressed by political and business players. In the Danish news media, PtX has experienced a steep rise in attention, which calls for studies of how PtX is made sense of as a societal, not only a technological, phenomenon. Informed by the notion of sociotechnical imaginaries, this article investigates the local introduction of PtX in Frederica, one of the forerunner towns for PtX in Denmark, as represented in the coverage of the daily newspaper Fredericia Dagblad. The study analyses how PtX is made sense of by being connected to local actors, circumstances, and imagined futures. Two diverging sociotechnical imaginaries are identified, centring on 1) local (business) cooperation for green energy solutions towards a PtX adventure, and 2) concerns for scarce nature in a densely industrialised area. The findings show both similarities with and differences to already known mediatised environmental conflicts and point to dynamics between media, market, politics, and civil society in future mediatised environmental conflicts.

Study on the New Path of Local Government Co-operation and Development in the Coastal Areas of China and South Korea - An analysis of rootedness based on Guangdong’s international cooperation projects

Study on the New Path of Local Government Co-operation and Development in the Coastal Areas of China and South Korea - An analysis of rootedness based on Guangdong’s international cooperation projects

Pelatihan Penganggaran Material: Studi Kasus Pelalu UMKM Di Kabupaten Majene

This service aims to provide knowledge to MSME players to be able to increase the competitiveness and sustainability of their businesses, as well as strengthen their role in the local economy. Apart from that, MSME players can also build efficient local distribution relationships by partnering with local producers or cooperatives to supply raw materials directly, thereby reducing dependence on supplies from outside the city. To overcome these problems, targeted support is needed for MSMEs. This support includes increasing knowledge in budget management, optimizing the use of raw materials, implementing effective procurement strategies, and using modern financial management technology and tools. With concrete and sustainable solutions, it is hoped that MSMEs can increase production capacity, strengthen the local economy, and achieve greater and more sustainable success. Overall, this training succeeded in building a collaborative and sustainable learning community, where participants can continue to share knowledge and experiences for their professional development.

Building resilience to multiple climate change-related risks in QwaQwa using the community capitals approach

ABSTRACT QwaQwa, in South Africa, experiences high exposure to multiple climate change impacts. The area is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. As such, this paper aims to assess community resilience, estimate the risk of multiple climate change impacts in QwaQwa, and propose strategies to reduce risk and build resilience. Data were collected using a household survey and key informant interviews with a sample of 349 participants. An indicator method, based on the Community Capitals Framework, was used to measure resilience and estimate risk. The composite resilience indicators were weighted using Principal Component Analysis. The Cronbach's alpha (α) test indicated a very good internal consistency in the scaled items. The results indicated that medium resilience to climate change impacts in QwaQwa was mostly driven by access to all six capitals measured in this study: natural, human, social, financial, political, and infrastructural capitals. The multi-hazard risk estimate resulted in a very high index of 4.1. These results were validated at a stakeholder workshop. Strategies that use nature-based solutions, training and education for people of all ages, sectors and professions, and increased community and local government cooperation were deemed essential for boosting resilience and reducing disaster risks in the area.

An ethnography of construction and characteristics of curriculum for inheritance of intangible cultural heritage martial arts in universities.

Inheriting excellent traditional Chinese culture is a prerequisite for ensuring the continuity of the cultural genes of the Chinese nation. However, with the historical mission of shaping the national character of the descendants of the Chinese nation, intangible cultural heritage martial arts face the problem of an unclear curriculum content construction mechanism in university inheritance and make it difficult for these martial arts to shoulder the responsibility of cultural inheritance in the era. Educational ethnography as a research method is conducive to the in-depth exploration of the mechanism of curriculum content construction in the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage martial arts in universities. Research suggests that the construction of curriculum content for the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage martial arts in universities relies on the form of cooperation between universities and inheritors, and form three models of curriculum content construction: off campus, on campus, and on-campus cooperation. The construction of curriculum content for off-campus inheritors belongs to the "attachment style" model, which is based on the actual needs of the inheritors and the selection of boxing types. The construction of curriculum content for inheritors on campus belongs to the "reshaping" model, which is the inheritor's "simplification and reorganization" based on traditional routines and subjective and objective conditions of inheritance. The construction of course content in school local cooperation belongs to the "integrated" model, which is the reintegration of course content by universities based on their own development characteristics and the characteristics of various martial arts. In the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage martial arts in universities, emphasis is placed on local knowledge, core skills, cultural traditions, and other characteristics, highlighting the excellence of its cultural inheritance. In the future, the focus of the inheritance of these martial arts in universities should be to cultivate innovative talents who are familiar with both traditional and modern martial arts.

Resource Policy of the Third Reich in the Reichskommissariat Ukraine: Waste Recycling in 1941-1943

This article explores the assortment and primary methods of waste collection within the Reichskommissariat Ukraine during the occupation by Nazi forces. The Ukrainian occupational press serves as the primary source for this article. It demonstrates that the extraction of various resources and the plundering of material valuables were directed towards supporting the economic and military power of the Third Reich, with waste collection policies being one of its facets. To facilitate this activity in this realm, the Nazis utilized existing infrastructure within the territory of Ukraine, including warehouses, factories, and offices of Soyuzutyl, established on the eve of the Second World War, as well as the infrastructure of the consumer cooperative system. It is shown that the specificity of Ukraine lies in assigning waste collection duties to consumer cooperatives, which transformed into the primary suppliers of various raw materials for the needs of the Third Reich. Local administrations and individual cooperatives actively participated in this endeavor, and special associations were also established. Additionally, the occupying authorities sought to involve schoolchildren and the broader population, developing various incentive systems for this purpose, although the participation of these actors was minimal. The article examines the peculiarities of waste collection propaganda within the territory of the Reichskommissariat Ukraine, which was based on ideological motives such as gratitude for liberation from Soviet rule, as well as economic motives related to the need for waste to produce consumer goods for the local population by enterprises of the Nazi regime. It is argued that primary attention was given to collecting scrap black and colored metals, as well as bones, paper, and rags. The author suggests that the scale of economic plundering of Ukraine was much larger than commonly believed, yet acknowledges that this requires further in-depth research involving a wide range of archival sources.