Major Landmarks Research Articles

Recent Trend and Outlook of Tourist Accommodations in Spain at Various Scales: The Challenges of Touristification in Andalusian Municipalities

As a globe leader in tourism, Spain relies on this sector as a key economic pillar, contributing over 12% to its GDP. The hospitality industry has expanded steadily in response to growing demand. In parallel, recent years have witnessed an exponential rise in tourist accommodations, such as privately owned properties repurposed for short-term rentals, largely facilitated by digital platforms. This study explores the evolution and spatial distribution of these accommodations, assessing their share within the overall housing stock across different scales. The focus is on Andalusian municipalities, a region characterized by both its geographical diversity and its significant tourism footprint. This study highlights two primary areas of concentration: the region’s Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines (most notably the Costa del Sol, centered in Malaga) and internationally renowned heritage cities such as Seville, Granada, and Cordoba. By applying quantitative methods, this research assesses the clustering of tourist accommodations in relation to major cultural landmarks, including several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The findings provide an analysis of the implications of this trend, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities it presents within the tourism sector, particularly against the backdrop of mounting criticism surrounding the sustainability and socio-economic impacts of this evolving model of tourism.

Endoscopic Transorbital Extended Middle Fossa Approach: A Potential Addition to the Lateral Skull Base Surgical Armamentarium-Anatomic Feasibility Study.

Various approaches have been developed to treat diseases of the lateral skull base. The endoscopic transorbital approach has been recently used as stand-alone or as a complementary approach for selected pathologies of the anterior, middle, and posterior cranial base. However, its anatomy and applicability to structures of temporal bone (TB) at the lateral skull base have not been previously described. We propose the endoscopic transorbital approach as an alternative to access structures of the TB at the lateral skull base, a strategy introduced herein as the endoscopic transorbital extended middle cranial fossa approach (ETEMF). This study aims to evaluate its feasibility. ETEMF was carried out in 7 cadaveric heads (14 sides). The tegmen, internal acoustic canal, and petrous apex were unroofed and structures exposed. Anatomy relevant to ETEMF was examined. Structures including the crista ovale, eustachian groove, tegmen, petrous internal carotid artery, cochlea, geniculate ganglion, the superior and lateral semicircular canals, internal acoustic canal, intracanalicular, labyrinthine, and tympanic portions of facial nerve were exposed. The crista ovale, foramen ovale, foramen spinosum, eustachian groove, greater superficial petrosal nerve, and arcuate eminence served as major landmarks during the dissection. Minimal retraction of the orbital globe and dura were required. Exposure of the TB anatomy at the lateral skull base is feasible through ETEMF. This is the first study to propose this application. Major structures within the TB are accessible through this approach. Additional studies are necessary to define its role in the surgical armamentarium.

Correlation of magnetic resonance imaging morphological features and diffusion-weighted imaging to soft tissue sarcoma grading

BackgroundSoft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are a diverse group of rare malignant diseases, with over 50 histologic subtypes and a significant mortality rate. Their treatment decisions are strongly influenced by the histopathologic grade of the tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality of choice for characterizing soft tissue tumors, precise tumor localization, assessment of tumor relationship to major anatomic landmarks, and for the evaluation of tumor vascularization. However, the accurate diagnosis is invariably based on histopathologic analysis. This study aimed to correlate different MRI morphological features and DWI criteria to the histopathological grading of STSs.ResultsThe study included 46 STSs, 71.7% high-grade sarcoma (26.1% grade II and 45.6% grade III), and 28.3% low-grade (I) sarcoma according to the French federation of cancer centers sarcoma system. The most common histopathological subtypes were synovial sarcoma, myxoid liposarcoma, and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Ill-defined margins, ≥ 75% lesions’ heterogeneity, tumoral necrosis, and peritumoral enhancement showed significant correlation to high-grade STS. Peritumoral enhancement was the most logistic feature to predict high-grade lesions. High-grade STSs had significantly lower apparent diffusion coefficient values with a cut-off value of 0.75 (× 10−3mm2/s) with 81.3% sensitivity and 92.9% specificity in distinguishing low from high-grade lesions.ConclusionAmong the MRI criteria, peritumoral enhancement is the most reliable feature to predict high-grade STS.

A Cadaveric Study of the Hypoglossal Nerve Landmarks: What Does ChatGPT Know and Suggest?

Background/Objectives: The hypoglossal nerve plays a crucial role in cervical surgery, requiring precise anatomical knowledge to prevent iatrogenic injury. This study examined its position relative to key structures using cadaveric dissections and assessed ChatGPT-4’s reliability in providing anatomical insights. Methods: Ten cadavers were dissected to identify the hypoglossal nerve’s course in relation to the internal jugular vein, carotid arteries, thyro-linguo-facial trunk, hyoid bone, and digastric muscle. Measurements were taken, and ChatGPT was queried for anatomical guidance and surgical recommendations. Results: The hypoglossal nerve was consistently medial to the internal jugular vein and lateral to the carotid arteries. The measured distances to the surrounding structures showed notable variability, particularly with the thyro-linguo-facial trunk. ChatGPT accurately described major landmarks but overlooked lesser-known anatomical triangles and provided no additional dissection guidance. It primarily suggested intraoperative monitoring and preoperative imaging. Conclusions: The carotid and submandibular triangles serve as reliable landmarks for identifying the hypoglossal nerve. This study highlights an unreported variability in its relationship with the thyro-linguo-facial trunk. ChatGPT, while informative, lacked detailed surgical applicability for dissection.

Childhood Tuberculosis-Advances in Treatment and Prevention.

Tuberculosis (TB) in childhood presents a substantial global burden with nearly two million episodes of disease in children and adolescents annually. The majority of children who die from TB never receive appropriate treatment. Advancements in childhood TB treatments have been slow and there are many challenges with TB treatment in children. However, recently, there have been renewed efforts toward better options for TB treatment in children. The shortened duration of treatment (4 months) in nonsevere TB and an all-oral treatment for multidrug-resistant TB are major landmarks in childhood TB treatment. Although BCG remains the only vaccine for TB prevention, there are candidate vaccines that target infants and adolescents.

Study association among the morphological landmark of Ear print to personal identification in forensics in the Iraqi population

The external ear is a distinctive side of facial characteristics. Ear has attracted significant and elevating interest in biometrics due to its inherent characteristics compared to other traits. This study explores the external ear’s physical traits and its suitability as a tool for human identification. Through the use of photographs, evaluation and classification were done on six major human external ear landmarks: shape of ear, helix, tragus, shape of earlobe, earlobe attachment, and thickness of ear lobe. Findings of this study showed that there was variation in morphological features. We found that earlobes with medium thickness had a higher prevalence rate of 54.5% compared to thick and thin earlobes. There is a strong, statistically significant relationship at a p-value 0.01 between ear shape and earlobe shape. The present study shows that the individualistic characteristics of the ear can provide very useful information for personal identification in forensics.

Beaton and Anson Type A Classification of the Sciatic Nerve and Piriformis Complex: Clinical Considerations for Sex and Laterality

Variations of the sciatic nerve and piriformis muscle (SN-PM) relationship must be considered when discussing orthopedic procedures within the region as they may cause increased risk of SN injuries. Thirty-one formalin-embalmed, prosected donors were evaluated using the Beaton and Anson (B&A) classification system (1939). Major landmarks of the SN-PM relationship were identified, including the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS), ischial tuberosity (IT), greater trochanter (GT), and the middle of the SN as it exits under the PM (S1). Distances measured included: PSIS-IT, PSIS-GT, IT-GT, PSIS-S1, IT-S1, GT-S1, S1-Q (distance of perpendicular line connecting S1 to PSIS-IT), and S1-R (distance of perpendicular line connecting S1 to PSIS-GT). Measurements from 49 lower extremities were evaluated using a two-tailed t-test to compare by sex and laterality; a one-tailed t-test was utilized to compare groups based on anatomical sex. Six donors displayed asymmetric B&A classifications, demonstrating gross anatomical differences within a single individual; however, no measurements were significant when comparing extremities. Seven measurements were statistically significant (p < 0.05) between sexes, indicating notable sex-based differences. These data highlight sex-based differences in the SN-PM relationship, as well as consistencies within measurements among extremities, which can be utilized by clinicians when treating male and female patients needing unilateral or bilateral orthopedic procedures or injections within the gluteal region.

Bilingualism, Mind, and Brain

Abstract The topics of bilingualism, mind, and brain have come together in exciting new ways in recent years, in part because of the influence of Judith F. Kroll. In this article, we provide a biographical tour of Judy's life and career. Our personal focus reflects the personal as well as intellectual and scientific impact Judy has had, training a generation of researchers in the field and organizing venues for the sharing of research by scores of investigators around the world, plus reaching out to the public to learn from and in turn contribute to their special needs and concerns related to bilingualism and multilingualism more generally. Coupled with these contributions have been core scientific advances related to bilingual learning, both with respect to the ways new languages get hooked up to first languages in the mind and brain and also with respect to the ways newly acquired languages affect the native language. Judy's outreach has also promoted the advancement of women in cognitive science. All these contributions are covered in this special issue. In this article, we presage the coverage by providing an overview of the life and major career landmarks of the Festschrift honoree.

Using Low-cost Videoscopes to Obtain Accurate Video “Oral Selfies” as Screening for HPV-associated Oropharyngeal Cancer: A New Screening Technology?

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancers associated with sexual contact are increasing, with high rates in men who have sex with men. HPV-related cancers have the advantage of being frequently detectable through oropharyngeal visual examination and having much higher survival rates than classic oropharyngeal cancers. It has been demonstrated that gay and bisexual men can take smartphone oropharyngeal “selfies” of sufficient quality for screening. However, there is an issue with the inability to move the tongue to allow a clear view of the palatine tonsils, where a majority of oropharyngeal cancer cases occur. We attempted to investigate the feasibility of using commercially available videoscopes to visualize the oropharynx. Fourteen healthy volunteers used a provided low-cost commercial endoscope to video their oropharynx. Participants used the videoscope connected to a laptop and could visualize the oropharynx on the screen. Attempts were observed, and the process was noted. A focus group of participants was carried out immediately afterwards to ascertain barriers and facilitators to using the videoscopes. All participants were able to use the videoscope and obtain videos of sufficient clarity to note major oropharyngeal landmarks. The palatine tonsils were initially difficult to visualize because the tongue could not be sufficiently controlled. Participants were given time to practice using visual cues to control the position of the tongue, which helped in obtaining good videos. Videoscopes can be used effectively with minimal instruction and provide a better view than still images, as they illuminate and magnify the site. Low-cost commercially available videoscopes may be an improvement over smartphone “selfies”.

Assessment of verbal (conventional) training versus models training for head frame fixation in neurosurgery

Cranial immobilization is an essential first step in cranial surgeries. Complications related to head fixation frames are under-reported and given less importance during training. Authors report their experience of using verbal (Conventional) training and training by models of “head fixation frame” and “wooden head” for head frame application for cranial surgeries. Models of the “Head Fixation Frame” (Mayfield clamp) and “wooden human head” were made using metal (iron) and wood, respectively. Major craniometric landmarks and dural venous sinuses were marked on the head model. A total of 15 trainee residents of >18 months (Group A, n = 4), < 18 months (Group B, n = 5), and without neurosurgical training (Group C, n = 6) were assessed for head frame application on human cadaver heads after verbal (conventional) training (n = 8) and training on models (n = 7). Various parameters, such as time taken for pin application, selection of pin site, and quadrants, were evaluated for adequacy of pin placements and position of head. Both methods were compared for assessment of better training method. Model training for head frame fixation was found better with regard to all aspects out of which time for positioning the head and for pin application, selection of quadrants of the head, site for pin insertions, and need of intervention by faculty were significant. Training on models of “head fixation frame” and “head” is better than conventional training. It is simple and safe and will prevent pin-related complications.

Două planuri necunoscute ale Craiovei din a doua jumătate a secolului al XVIII-lea – jumătatea secolului al XIX-lea

In this study, we publish two plans of Craiova, discovered at the Military-Historical Archive of Moscow: a plan made during the occupation of Wallachia in 1771–1774 and another made either during the occupation after the 1848 revolution (1848–1851) or during the first year of the Crimean War (August 1853 – April 1854). Both plans support the idea that the town underwent organic development, which took into account the local landforms and the way man intervened. Its location in the Jiu Valley played a significant role in the emergence and evolution of this centre, as the course of the river was accompanied by an important road, Craiova being at the intersection with other major traffic routes of this region of the country. The valleys bordering the urban core had the role of delimiting the original inhabited area and the position of the “Bănia” area, with the church of St. Dumitru, as a strategic area and centre of power, on the edge of the coast overlooking the valley towards the west, is evident. Separately, across another small valley, the heart of the town developed, the market, the area with the best economic outlook, not coincidentally located at the crossroads of the main east-west and south-north axes. The medieval town evolved around these two cores, but development and population growth meant the valleys bordering it were overtaken by the 18th century. How the streets converged in the town underlines the idea of gradual growth, and the concentration of roads around the focal point that was the town market marked the layout of Craiova. Human intervention up to the 1830s and 1840s took place not only through the building of dwelling houses, shops and workshops but also through the construction of major landmarks represented by churches and monasteries, around which the neighbourhood (mahala) gravitated. Once the process of modernization began, the anthropic footprint became even more important through the extensive building actions initiated after the Organic Regulation, some of which are visible in the second plan studied. Unfortunately, we could not identify the plan’s authors among the Russian army surveyors of those periods. The two cartographic documents contribute to a better knowledge of Craiova in the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the following century, adding to the already known plans (the Austrian plan of 1790 and the Romanian one of 1845).

Defining the Temporal and Occipital Lobes: Cadaveric Study with Application to Neurosurgery of the Inferior Brain

Defining the Temporal and Occipital Lobes: Cadaveric Study with Application to Neurosurgery of the Inferior Brain

(Invited) Some Observations on the History of Electrochemistry in Europe

Modern electrochemistry is generally regarded as having its origins in the work of the Italian scientists Galvani (1737 – 1798) and Volta (1745 – 1827). Their discoveries led directly to the invention (1799) by Volta of the voltaic pile, a primitive form of what we now call a battery. This invention greatly facilitated electrical experimentation and quickly led to a host of other electrochemical discoveries such as the electrolysis of water (Nicholson and Carlisle in 1800, although it was first demonstrated in 1789 by Deiman and van Troostwijk using an electrostatic generator), isolation of elemental alkali and alkaline earth metals (Davy, 1807–1808) and electroplating (Brugnatelli, 1805). The work of Davy (1778 – 1829) and of Faraday (1791 – 1867) greatly advanced the understanding of electrochemistry and Faraday’s laws of electrolysis (1833) put the field on a quantitative basis. This was followed by a long succession of electrochemical discoveries that has continued to the present.Scientists such as Daniell (1790 – 1845), Grove (1811 – 1896), Leclanché (1839 – 1882) and Planté (1834 – 1889) made early improvements to batteries; of course, research and development of batteries remains an important area of electrochemistry. Historically, batteries were the primary source of electric current until practical electric dynamos became available in about 1870. Electroplating developed as a practical technology from about 1840, initially for electrodeposition of copper on printing plates. From 1893 to 1948, the international standard for electric current was based on electrodeposition of silver. Furthermore, an electrochemical cell invented by Weston (1850 – 1936) was adopted as the reference standard for voltage in 1903 and remained so until 1990 when it was replaced by a Josephson junction standard.The science of electrochemistry experienced rapid growth from the 19th century on, with major contributions from European scientists including Kohlrausch (1840 – 1910), Ostwald (1853 – 1932), Arrhenius (1859 – 1927), Tafel (1862 – 1918), Nernst (1864 – 1941), and Heyrovský (1890 – 1967), to mention but a few. In this talk, I will attempt to trace the evolution of electrochemistry and discuss some of the major landmarks and the European scientists who made important contributions. I will also comment on how equipment and methodology have changed over the last half-century.

Comparison between trans-vaginal and trans-abdominal ultrasound examination of the cervix in the second trimester of pregnancy: a prospective study.

To compare transvaginal (TV) and trans-abdominal (TA) ultrasound assessment of cervical length (CL) at the time of the second-trimester scan for fetal anomalies. This was a prospective study including consecutive pregnant women attending the low-risk ultrasound clinic of two fetal medicine centres in Italy. The inclusion criteria were women between 19+0 and 22+0weeks of gestation, attending the prenatal ultrasound clinic for the routine second trimester screening for fetal anomalies. The primary outcome was to compare the CL measurement obtained at TV compared to TA ultrasound; the secondary outcome was to report the inter and intra-observer variability of CL measured with the two different approaches. All women underwent TV and TA assessment of the cervix performed by two experienced certified operators, blinded to each other. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman analyses were used to analyse the data. Two hundred and fifty women were included in the analysis. All women had anteverted uterus. The mean gestational age at ultrasound was 20.7±0.7weeks; 1.2 % (3/250) scans were performed at 19weeks, 49.2 % (123/250) at 20weeks, 44.8 % (112/250) at 21weeks and 4.8 % (12/250) at 22weeks of gestations. Identification of the major landmarks of CL at TA ultrasound was achieved in all the included cases. There was good reliability between CL measured at TA (ICC 0.95, 95 % CI 0.93-0.97 for observer 1 and 0.92 %, 95 % CI0.89-0.94 for observer 2) and TV ultrasound 0.97, 95 % CI0.96-0.98 for observer 1 and 0.96, 95 % CI 0.95-0.97 for observer 2). There was also good reliability between the two observers for both the TA and TV assessment of the CL. Mean TA CL was 41.4±5.5 for observer 1 and 40.5±4.8 for observer 2 with no significant differences between the two measurements (mean difference 0.92 mm, 95 % CI-9.7 to 11.2). Likewise, there was no difference between the CL measured at TV ultrasound between the two observers (mean difference-0.83 mm, 95 % CI-5.97 to 4.30). Finally, there was no difference in the mean CL measured at TA compared to TV, either considering the overall population of women (mean difference:-0.43, 955 CI-8.65 to 7.79), or when stratifying the analysis according to the parity status and the operator. Among experienced operators, there was no difference between TV and TA ultrasound assessment of the CL at the time of the routine anomaly scan for fetal anomaly.

A New Advance on the Improvement of Forest Ecosystem Functions in the Karst Desertification Control

In recent years, after the implementation of large-scale ecological restoration projects, karst areas in the South China Karst have become global “greening” hot spots. However, the biodiversity, ecosystem quality, and security patterns in karst areas are still severely affected. The reason for this is that despite the execution of karst desertification control projects, the lag mechanism of forest ecosystem functions and services is still unclear. Therefore, we analyze the progress in the research related to desertification control and the improvement of regional forest ecosystem function through a systematic literature review approach. The results show that the major landmarks achieved so far include the following aspects: based on the karst desertification control area, we have elucidated the driving factors of forest ecosystem change, discovered the ecological security pattern of landscape optimization and reconstruction, revealed the internal mechanism of forest system structure optimization and stability enhancement, overcome the technical constraints of forest water–fertilizer coupling, introduced a strategy for regulating functional traits to improve the growth and development of vegetation, proposed strategies to enhance carbon sequestration in forests and the efficiency of microbial carbon use, and created models and paths to realize the value of forest products. The key scientific issues to be addressed in the future mainly comprise the following: the effects of spatial heterogeneity on forest ecosystems, disturbances in landscape reconfiguration caused by human activities, the work mechanisms of the combination and configuration of the niche in structural optimization, the response of species configuration to the water cycle, the coupled relationship between biodiversity and soil properties, the screening and construction of the plant germplasm resource base, the functional trade-offs/synergistic mechanisms of karst forest ecosystems, the creation of policies for forest product in terms of rights, trading, and compensation, and systematic research on the extended industrial chain of forest ecosystems, its service potential, and so on.

Spinal accessory nerve anatomy in the posterior cervical triangle: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the anatomy of the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) in the posterior cervical triangle, especially in relation to adjacent anatomical landmarks, along with a systematic review of the current literature with a meta-analysis of the data. Overall, 22 cadaveric and three prospective intraoperative studies, with a total of 1346 heminecks, were included in the analysis. The major landmarks relevant to the entry of the SAN at the posterior border of the SCM muscle (PBSCM) were found to be the mastoid apex, the great auricular point (GAP), the nerve point (NP), and the point where the PBSCM meets the upper border of the clavicle. The SAN was reported to enter the posterior cervical triangle above GAP in 100% of cases and above NP in most cases (97.5%). The mean length of the SAN along its course from the entry point to its exit point from the posterior triangle of the neck was 4.07 ± 1.13 cm. The SAN mainly gave off 1 or 2 branches (32.5% and 31%, respectively) and received either no branches or one branch in most cases (58% and 23%, respectively) from the cervical plexus during its course in the posterior cervical triangle. The major landmarks relevant to the entry of the SAN at the anterior border of the TPZ muscle (ABTPZ) were found to be the point where the ABTPZ meets the upper border of the clavicle and the midpoint of the clavicle, along with the mastoid apex, the acromion, and the transverse distance of the SAN exit point to the PBSCM. The results of the present meta-analysis will be helpful to surgeons operating in the posterior cervical triangle, aiding the avoidance of the iatrogenic injury of the SAN.

Development of a GIS based tourism infrastructure in Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi urban areas of Anambra state Nigeria

Tourism is now the greener pastures most developing countries have focused attention to due to its enormous benefits like infrastructural development, job creation, conservation of environment etc. In Nigeria, it is an important sector that has not fully developed, though; it is one of the country’s fastest growing industries. Recently, it is contributing about 3% of Nigeria GDP. Tourism is a strong revenue earner; lack of proper management of same has denied Nigeria the benefits accrued from the sector. This research is therefore aimed at the Development of a GIS-Based Tourism Infrastructure in Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi in Anambra State, with the specific objectives of; developing a comprehensive GIS database map showing tourism locations in these cities, to ascertain the pattern of distribution of the tourism infrastructure in Anambra State. This was achieved through the acquisition of base map of the study area and point picking of geometric data of tourism facilities using a handheld Global Positioning System instrument. A functional user friendly spatial database on tourism facilities was developed. ArcGIS 10.7 was used for Geospatial database creation, querying and displaying of results, while Microsoft word 2010 was used for data processing and preparation of reports. The results of database queries showed the locations of tourist locations like, hotel accommodations, relaxation and eating spots, banks and major landmarks all located within Anambra State. In conclusion this research presented the significant role that GIS can play in tourism development in Anambra State, if a complete database for tourism in the state is designed and developed.

Islam, Muslims and 2020 #EndSARS Protests in Nigeria

The 2020 #EndSARS is a youth-enthusiastic social movement in Nigeria against brutality and inhuman excesses of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad unit of the Nigerian Police Force. The protest movement started on social media and transmited to spatio-temporal platforms as numerous Nigerian youths were scattered on major streets and landmarks of the country to express their dissatisfaction with the operations and methods of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The protest was held by youths across different tribes, races and religions (with Muslims inclusive.) Just as the movement continued to increase, the participation of Nigerian Muslim youths in the protest became entwined in controversies as young Nigerian Muslim intellectuals debated the permissibility and impermissibility of protest for an ideal Muslim regardless of the circumstances. Numerous studies have examined protests, rebellions, uprisings, and coup d’états amongst other political issues affecting democracy, but they hardly study protests in the light of Islam and Muslims. This paper therefore seeks to explore this gap with a qualitative research by revisiting the history of Islamic civilization in the first few decades of Islam, approaching some Sharī‘ah principles and rereading the sensitive Islamic texts on obedience to authority in the context of contemporary realities surrounding the Nigerian Muslim ’Ummah. The paper concludes that while a protest is typically detestable under Islamic polity, it may rob Islam of its essence if such an opinion is upheld for Nigerian Muslims on 2020 #EndSARS, without considering the social, political, and constitutional factors influencing the movement in Nigeria.

Confessions of a baboon watcher: from inside to outside the paradigm

In this “tale” I summarize the major landmarks of my 50-year career watching wild olive baboons (Papio anubis). I review some major discoveries, like baboon hunting and baboon social strategies of competition and defense, that only a creature with a “mind” could manage. My efforts expanded beyond science to include community-based conservation because quite early on these baboons experienced many of the threats of the Anthropocene. My research expanded to include studying crop-raiding by naïve groups of baboons, the first scientific translocation of a primate species, and a detour to study the invasion of a non-indigenous cactus, Opuntia stricta. Throughout I worked with local communities to find solutions to problems that the baboons created, and also to develop new options for their livelihoods. As the baboon research became a long-term project, it depended on a team of Kenyan research assistants who made possible the simultaneous monitoring of up to six baboon troops as well as extensive ecological monitoring. Knowing the ecology, including the impact of the sedentarization of pastoralists in the area, meant we could interpret the process of invasion by a non-indigenous cactus for the first time. Ecological periods allowed comparisons of the same troop over time and different baboon groups during the same ecological phase. Although I began my work before hypothesis testing was the preferred approach, once the paradigm changed, I continued to study and learn what matters to baboons from their perspective. As a result of observing them for 50 years, the baboons showed me that evolution often does not work the way that I had been taught, and it took all my detours and studies to convince me that anecdotes, when they are systematic and comparative, are not stories to be discounted, but evidence, much like Darwin’s natural history. Natural history can reassemble the pieces that quantitative hypothesis testing has teased apart to provide its larger meaning. Today, the lone scientist, like me, is an anachronism because no one person has expertise in the many fields needed to understand and save the primates we care about.

Integrating social values with GPS tracks through Denali National Park and Preserve

Integrating social values with GPS tracks through Denali National Park and Preserve