Movement For Survival Research Articles

Research on the practical ways of party-building work of universities in a new era under the perspective of campus culture

National South-West Associated University (NSAU), known as a miracle in the history of education, cultivated the pillars of the nation under exceptionally difficult material conditions. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the school accounted for one-third of the Party members in Yunnan Province and actively carried out the national salvation and survival movement, which has great significance for the party construction work of universities in the new era. With this background, firstly, this paper elaborates on the deep connection between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and NSAU. Secondly, we analyze the campus culture construction of NSAU and extract the key points that the party construction of universities can make use of to learn from. Finally, this paper combined with the problems of the party construction work of colleges and universities proposes practical ways for the party construction work of universities in the new era from the perspective of campus culture construction.

Effects of wind, ambient temperature and sun position on damselfly flight activity and perch orientation

Many animals rely on movement for survival and reproduction. Directed movements incur metabolic costs, however, and animals adjust their behaviour to optimize energy expenditures in different abiotic conditions. Physical flows and solar radiation vary over time and space and influence animal behaviour at multiple spatiotemporal scales. Here, I quantify the effects of wind speed, wind direction, ambient temperature and sun position on the fine-scale movement ecology and perch orientation of a widespread damselfly, Enallagma doubledayi. Through field observations, I found that damselflies fly, forage and engage competitors in territorial interactions more often in calm rather than windy conditions. Furthermore, perched damselflies exhibit rheotaxis, in which individuals typically face into the wind, presumably to minimize biomechanical costs associated with drag and possibly to detect inbound prey on the water surface and in the air column. In contrast, ambient temperature and the position of the sun were largely unassociated with activity levels and damselfly orientation. At higher ambient temperatures, however, perched odonates faced the sun with increasing consistency, perhaps to thermoregulate by minimizing exposure to solar radiation. Taken together, these findings suggest that damselflies preferentially fly when the ratio of animal speed to wind speed is high and adjust their perch orientation to minimize energy loss. These findings strengthen conceptual links between activity budgets and perch orientation strategies among animals in variable abiotic conditions.

My Encounter with Grothendieck

Submissions should be uploaded to http://tmin.edmgr.com or sent directly to Marjorie Senechal, mi.editor1@gmail.com I n the summer of 1970 I was at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. I was in the process of obtaining my Ph.D. in math under Paulo Ribenboim when I met Grothendieck and joined the ‘‘Survival’’ movement. I had never really joined anything before. It was not with any idea of changing my life plan that I went to a conference at l’Universite de Montreal—just the prospect of hearing about some new mathematics and seeing the famous Alexander Grothendieck in action, fresh from receiving the Fields Medal in Nice. It was quite a shock to find myself coming home from this conference in the almost absurd roles of (1) cofounder of the movement ‘‘Survivre—et Vivre’’ (or in English, the ‘‘Survival’’ movement) along with Grothendieck and two other people whom I have never seen since, and (2) editor of the English-language edition of the movement’s newsletter, which instantly had subscribers in thirteen countries—those folks attending the conference who had signed up on the spot. Grothendieck is a very strong-willed individual. I was much moved by his passionate manifesto (written in French) entitled Scientists and the Military Apparatus, which led me to join the Survival movement. The movement was based on a perception that four billion years of evolution are in jeopardy because of the scientific and technological forces unleashed by one species—humans— most obviously through all-out nuclear war, whether accidental or malicious. The movement called on scientists to put the survival of the planet first, ahead of the short-term agendas of corporate or political sponsors or employers. Scientists were urged to become activists, working together urgently on an equal basis with nonscientists, helping to demystify the science needed for understanding this crisis, and developing sound strategies for a sustainable future. One important goal was to eliminate the suicidal institution of war—the greatest single threat to our survival—and so the movement required that its members adopt a policy of total noncooperation with the military. All of this earned my heartfelt support. Still Grothendieck had not secured any commitment from me to act as the newsletter editor. When he publicly announced my ‘‘appointment,’’ it was a complete surprise. I protested about my unsuitability and suggested that his good friend Linus Pauling play that role (Grothendieck was to visit Pauling within a few days). He shot back, ‘‘Excellent suggestion. Until he agrees, you do it.’’ I never heard how We learned as this article was about to be printed of the death of Alexander Grothendieck, who has made such a deep impression on so many in the world mathematical community.—The Editors

“SURVIVAL MOVEMENTS OF HUMAN INFANCY.”

“SURVIVAL MOVEMENTS OF HUMAN INFANCY.”