Global Processes Research Articles

Role of Governance in Implementing Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in the Congo Basin Case of Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo

The low adaptability capacity of the Central African sub-region to climate change has made it one of Africans’ most vulnerable sub-regions in the continent as this sub-region depends heavily on resources sensitive to climate change. Cameroon and the Democratic Republic Congo are host to the world's second largest rainforest after the Amazon. This implies that climate change will undermine development in this sub-region and the rest of the continent as the effects of climate change are faced more by the most vulnerable. There is however rising interest in SSA to mitigate and adapt climate change solutions. While such efforts exist, knowledge on the governance arrangements exist in very fragmented forms. Specifically, knowledge on how global climate changes processes is reflected in national policies remain relatively less studied. So too are their limited evidence on how national policies play out at local level. Such knowledge deficits stall scientific evidence building and policy orientation to strengthen climate adaptation practices in countries of SSA, with Cameroon and DRC being classical examples. Yet theory building on climate change governance requires such context specific evidence. In addition, for a comprehensive policy to be adopted and made effective, climate change actions require such scientific evidence. This therefore validates the need to analyze how such global processes are framed into national policy and policy instruments for climate mitigation and adaptation, and to establish the connections and disconnections between what is framed at national level and what applies at local level in terms of climate change policy instrument and what explains such variations. Though effective climate action requires political commitment, well-aligned multi-level governance and institutional frameworks, laws, policies and strategies, as outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there is still need for clear goals, adequate finance and financing tools, coordination across multiple policy domains, and inclusive governance processes in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo to harness these goals. This study investigated the role of governance in implementing climate change adaptation in Cameroon and the DRC. This research therefore aimed at examining the role of governance in implementing climate change adaptation strategies in Cameroon and the DRC. The study made use of primary and secondary data which was analyzed using content analysis to triangulate the relationship that exist between governance and the implementation of climate change adaptation strategies in Cameroon and the DRC. Results highlight the dominant role of governance in shaping adaptation efforts, challenges in implementation, spatial disparities, and the influence of national policies and stakeholder engagement. Policy recommendations emphasize the need for improving governance structures, enhancing stakeholder participation, mainstreaming gender considerations, and addressing financial constraints to build resilience and effectively respond to climate change impacts in both countries. The findings underscore the importance of context-specific strategies that prioritize inclusivity, transparency, and collaboration to address the complex challenges posed by climate change.

Information Support System for Forensic Activities: Current State and Directions of Development

The topic of informatization has long penetrated into a number of scientific fields, and information and new communication technologies are present in all spheres of society and structures of everyday life. Therefore, information processes are currently being studied at both the macro and micro levels. On the one hand, the global processes of informatization of economics, politics, and culture are studied, on the other – informatization and information processes in narrow fields of activity. Information began to be considered as the basis for changes taking place in society, rebuilding both its entire structure as a whole and the structure of individual types of human activities. In this regard, it should be noted that forensic expertise is particularly susceptible to various kinds of changes related to the processes of informatization of society. This is due to the fact that the process of expert research is, first of all, the process of transcoding information. Forensic expertise is inextricably linked with the concepts of information, information process, and informatization and cannot be considered in isolation from them.

ПРІОРИТЕТНІ ВЕКТОРИ РОЗВИТКУ РОЗДРІБНОЇ ЕЛЕКТРОННОЇ ТОРГІВЛІ ПІД ВПЛИВОМ ГЛОБАЛЬНИХ ПРОЦЕСІВ ДІДЖИТАЛІЗАЦІЇ

The article assesses the development of retail e-commerce under the influence of global digitalization processes. The authors prove that current trends in the global economy reflect key aspects of the development of the digital economy and, accordingly, retail e-commerce. Under their influence, significant changes are taking place in the living conditions of society, market conditions and in the scientific sphere, and there is an increasing demand for highly qualified workers. The paper emphasizes that under the influence of profound and extensive changes brought about by digital technologies, conceptual models of business development and social communication are transforming, and the role of the state in the new digitalized environment is being reconsidered. These transformations require participants to be highly adaptable, develop new skills and competencies, and be ready to take advantage of digital transformation. The paper emphasizes that there are potential risks of negative impact of digital transformation, which are manifested primarily in the need to adapt to new conditions, such as the inevitability of displacement of outdated professions by new technologies or artificial intelligence systems, the disappearance of traditional markets, as well as the threats of personal data leakage and the need to protect copyrights and other aspects. The authors prove that e-commerce encompasses more than just online advertising or launching a virtual retail store. Successful enterprises in this area are based on reliable technologies of interaction with consumers, which arise from the experience gained in the early stages, sound business schemes and a carefully developed infrastructure for servicing business processes. The main advantage of using digital technologies in the field of online retail is the ability to predict demand and thoroughly study consumer needs. Keywords: online retail, e-commerce, online trading, e-commerce, digital economy, strategic priorities, digital business environment.

Induced neural phase precession through exogenous electric fields

The gradual shifting of preferred neural spiking relative to local field potentials (LFPs), known as phase precession, plays a prominent role in neural coding. Correlations between the phase precession and behavior have been observed throughout various brain regions. As such, phase precession is suggested to be a global neural mechanism that promotes local neuroplasticity. However, causal evidence and neuroplastic mechanisms of phase precession are lacking so far. Here we show a causal link between LFP dynamics and phase precession. In three experiments, we modulated LFPs in humans, a non-human primate, and computational models using alternating current stimulation. We show that continuous stimulation of motor cortex oscillations in humans lead to a gradual phase shift of maximal corticospinal excitability by ~90°. Further, exogenous alternating current stimulation induced phase precession in a subset of entrained neurons (~30%) in the non-human primate. Multiscale modeling of realistic neural circuits suggests that alternating current stimulation-induced phase precession is driven by NMDA-mediated synaptic plasticity. Altogether, the three experiments provide mechanistic and causal evidence for phase precession as a global neocortical process. Alternating current-induced phase precession and consequently synaptic plasticity is crucial for the development of novel therapeutic neuromodulation methods.

Current research on international Chinese education promotion methods

With the rise of China and its international status, more and more people are interested in and demand for learning Chinese. At the same time, the process of globalization has also led to increasingly frequent exchanges and cooperation among countries, which in turn has promoted the demand for Chinese language education. This study aims to explore the necessity of promoting international Chinese language education and the corresponding promotion methods. First, the importance of promoting international Chinese language education is analyzed, including consolidating the international influence of the Chinese language, assisting national economic development, and enhancing international communication and understanding. Then, the study proposes specific ways to promote international Chinese education, including online publicity and enrollment campaigns, increasing scholarships and preferential policies, cooperating in Chinese language courses, promoting Chinese language examinations and certification systems, and improving the "quality" and "quantity" of international Chinese language teachers. This study can provide references and suggestions for further promoting the development of international Chinese language education.

Оценка добавленной стоимости во внешней торговле: современные подходы

The increase in globalization processes, which accelerated the fragmentation of production chains in the global economy, updated the task of clarifying the contribution of each of the element of the chain to the final result. With the consolidation of foreign economic cooperation, on the one hand, new opportunities have opened up for the inclusion in the international division of labor for more and more countries and companies, and on the other hand, risk threats of destroying or breaking relationships in these global value chains have intensified. This updated the task of specifying the real volumes of export-import turnover, cleared of double counted elements. In the early 2010s almost simultaneously there have been launched 3 basic concepts of export decomposition in the categories of value-added trade, prepared by UNCTAD, OECD and the EU. The system-functional analysis of the proposed approaches made it possible, at the same time, to reveal a number of keen questions that asked for clarification, in particular, the underestimation of intangible assets in creating value-added in exports within the framework of a specific global value chain, the measurement of value-added embedded in re-export (re-import) turnover of the country, etc. These aspects received due coverage in foreign and domestic economic literature. However, the latest developments by foreign specialists of the methodology of decomposing exports into the internal and external components of net production and double counted elements in the domestic scientific turnover are still being introduced with some delay. In this regard, the article set the task of conducting a comparative analysis of the main new results achieved, focusing on the methods introduced by A. Nagengast – R. Stehrer (2014) and A. Borin – M. Mancini (2019). At the same time, the main attention was concentrated on identifying breakthrough methodological "increments." It was revealed that new results are in demand not only in the context of macroeconomic analysis of transformational processes in the global economy, but also to an increasing extent to adjust foreign trade policy and develop ways to mitigate the risks of deterioration of bilateral foreign trade relations.

The role of global health partnerships in vaccine equity: A scoping review.

The emergence of global health partnerships (GHPs) towards the end of the twentieth century reflected concerns about slow progress in access to essential medicines, including vaccines. These partnerships bring together governments, private philanthropic foundations, NGOs, and international agencies. Those in the vaccine field seek to incentivise the development and manufacture of new vaccines, raise funds to pay for them and develop and support systems to deliver them to those in need. These activities became more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the COVAX Facility Initiative promoting global vaccine equity. This review identifies lessons from previous experiences with GHPs. Findings contribute to understanding the emergence of GHPs, the mechanisms they leverage to support global access to vaccines, and the inherent challenges associated with their implementation. Using Arksey and O'Malley's method, we conducted a scoping review to identify and synthesise relevant articles. We analysed data thematically to identify barriers and opportunities for success. We included 68 eligible articles of 3,215 screened. Most (65 [95%]) were discussion or review articles describing partnerships or programmes they supported, and three (5%) were commentaries. Emerging themes included policy responses (e.g., immunisation mandates), different forms of partnerships arising in vaccine innovation (e.g., product development partnerships, public-private partnerships for access), and influence on global governance decision-making processes (e.g., the rising influence of foundations, diminishing authority of WHO, lack of accountability and transparency, creation of disease silos). If global health partnerships are to maximise their contributions, they should: (1) increase transparency, especially regarding their impacts; (2) address the need for health systems strengthening; and (3) address disincentives for cooperative vaccine research and development partnerships and encourage expansion of manufacturing capacity in low and middle-income countries.

Этническая идентичность в теории и цифрах: на примере коренных малочисленных северных народов

The actual study of ethnic identity is conditioned by the previous socio-political context. In the West, attention to ethnic identity is a marker of post-colonial studies, while in Russia it is a departure from the formation of a new historical community "Soviet people". Accordingly, the cognitive goals of studying ethnic identity also differ from the manipulation of ethnic identities, leading to the split in a previously unified society, to identifying factors that contribute to the preservation of ethnic minority cultures. Defining the content of ethnic identity as consisting of cognitive and behavioral components makes it possible to use the concepts of "ethnic identity" and "ethnicity" as synonyms. The instrumentalist approach combining the ideas of primordial and constructivist concepts was used in a concrete sociological study of the ethnic identity of the aboriginal people. The hypothesis put forward by the study about the threat to the ethnic identity of the minorities from the processes of globalization was confirmed, but required clarification. The influence of globalization on ethnic identity is indirect; the dominant national culture acts as a buffer between them.

Интернационализация текста в парадигме лингвистическихитранслатологическихисследований: глобальное и предлокализационное направления интернационализации

The research deals with linguistic and extralinguistic features of the internationalization process of multimedia products text materials. The term internationalization is considered in the paper within the framework of the translation activity “GILT processes” (processes of globalization, internationalization, localization and translation). The article describes the current state of linguistic and translatological studies of the internationalization process. The paper presents the definition of the internationalization concept. The range of procedures carried out in the process of internationalization is defined. The paper describes the most significant technical procedures performed on the product during internationalization. The paper provides some characteristic linguistic transformations caused by the tasks of internationalization. The research paper offers several examples of using internationalization in the video game industry, the film industry and in creating multilingual and global versions of websites. As a result of the conducted research, two directions of internationalization were identified: pre-localization and global ones. The pre-localization direction of internationalization is to create an intermediate version of the product (mainly in English), which serves to simplify localization (following internationalization) into other languages. This approach significantly reduces the cost of creating a multilingual version of the product. The global direction of internationalization is to create a global version of this product in English. It is assumed that users of the global version can be not only native English speakers, but also those who speak it as a foreign language. Due to the wide spread of English as a foreign language in the world, the creation of an internationalized English version of the product allows companies to enter the global market with significantly lower financial costs and in a shorter timeframe than in the case of creating a multilingual version of the same product.

Global Power Shift and Nepal's Geopolitical Complexity

The process of globalization, with the flow of people, merchandise, and capital, has invited different challenges, threats, and insecurities. Thus, the idea of border governance has emerged among the states, calling for a collaborative approach to border management systems between the neighboring states. As a qualitative study adhering to the "practice turn" in International Relations (IR) and considering human actions responsible for constructing social realities, the study has focused on the Nepal-India open border. As a unique border, the study has pointed out different threats and challenges faced by Nepal and India because of their openness. The article has briefly elucidated the emerging concept of border governance. Likewise, it has introduced the idea of border governance for Nepal-India open borders, outlining its principles and strategies. Overall, the study emphasized the importance of border governance for Nepal-India borders, recognizing border disputes and enormous challenges.

Electronic dispute resolution in business: Opportunities for implementation in Kazakhstan

Relevance. The relevance of conducting a study on alternative dispute resolution between business entities stems from the fact that the current processes of digitalisation and globalisation have extended the opportunities for the introduction of innovative technologies in court proceedings. Purpose. Among the key tasks and objectives of the study was the analysis of the mechanism for implementing electronic dispute resolution in business activities, highlighting its characteristic features and the principles on which this activity is based. Methodology. The methods used in the present study are the theoretical-methodological approach, the functional methodological approach, the method of legal hermeneutics, the dogmatic methodological approach, the method of synthesis and others. Results. The study analysed the specifics of the implementation of mediation as an electronic dispute resolution method in business. International practices have been analysed and the advantages and disadvantages of implementing an electronic dispute resolution mechanism in the business sector have been highlighted and recommendations have been made to make the implementation of the mechanism in Kazakhstan more effective. To complete the analysis, statistical data were reviewed, based on dispute resolution by courts of general jurisdiction and the Specialised Inter-District Economic Court in comparison to the methods they use, and analysis was carried out on the use of mediation and settlement agreements, as well as through the use of online systems. Conclusions. A scientific study of electronic dispute resolution reveals that integrating innovative communication technologies into legal proceedings significantly enhances traditional dispute resolution methods. Electronic dispute resolution can address conflicts ranging from interpersonal disputes to state-level conflicts and is particularly beneficial for business disputes. The practical value of the findings is that the introduction of an effective e-justice mechanism will provide an opportunity to protect the rights of entrepreneurs and conduct this type of activity in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Keywords: protection of entrepreneurs; mediation; arbitration; foreign economic disputes; electronic justice; negotiations

Priority setting: women's health topics in multiple sclerosis.

A scoping review found that most studies on women's health in multiple sclerosis (MS) focused on pregnancy, fetal/neonatal outcomes and sexual dysfunction. Few studies addressed menopause, contraception, gynecologic cancers/cancer screening. However, the perceived relative importance of these knowledge gaps to people living with MS and other partners is unknown. We engaged a range of partners, including people living with MS, health care providers, researchers, and patient advocacy groups, to set priorities for future research in women's health in MS. We employed a three-step global engagement process. First, we identified which broad research topics relevant to women's health in MS were of highest priority using two surveys. Second, we developed specific research questions within these topics using focus groups. Finally, we prioritized the research questions with a third survey. Overall, 5,266 individuals responded to the initial surveys [n = 1,430 global survey, mean (SD) age 50.0 (12.6), all continents; n = 3,836 North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis survey, mean (SD) age 64.8 (9.6), United States]. Menopause, sexual dysfunction, pregnancy, gynecologic cancer/cancer screening, hormones and parenthood were identified as the most important topics. Focus groups generated 80 potential research questions related to these topics. In the final survey 712 individuals prioritized these questions. The highest priority questions in each research topic were: (i) How do perimenopause and menopause affect disease activity, course, response to disease-modifying treatment and quality of life in MS; (ii) What are the most effective strategies for managing issues around sexual intimacy, including related to low sexual desire, changes in physical function, and MS symptoms; (iii) Are there long-term effects of disease-modifying therapies on the children of persons with MS; (iv) What are the short and long-term effects of disease-modifying drugs on gynecologic cancer risk, particularly for high efficacy disease-modifying drugs and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; (v) Are there hormone related treatments that can stabilize fluctuations in MS symptoms; and (vi) How does MS fatigue impact parenting strategies. Priorities for research relating to women's health issues for persons with MS have been delineated using a collaborative process with key partners. Alignment of future research with these priorities should be monitored.

Civil Society Participation in Global Food Security Governance: Deconstructing the Discourse of Evidence-based Policy Making

Food security has been described as a very tough problem, suggesting that there is no single or simple solution to the problem of food insecurity. Meanwhile, there is a growing body of academic literature on food security that proposes solutions. Global governance is marked by a participatory turn, meaning that there are increasing numbers of global governance processes working to develop processes and mechanisms to enhance the participation of non-state actors in governance and policy making processes. Given this trend, it is not surprising that participation in governance processes has become an interesting site of investigation for research. The result has been the development of a growing body of literature analysing diverse aspects of increased participation, which calls for evidence-based policy making are increasing evidence in global food security policy processes, and beyond. For example, the follow up and review process for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to be “rigorous and based on evidence, informed by country-led evaluations and data which is high-quality, accessible, timely, reliable and disaggregated” (UN General Assembly, 2015, paragraph. 74). Evidence-based policy has become pervasive as a universal recipe for transparency, accountability, and good governance. However, its declamatory pervasiveness within public policy buries conglomerate discourses, signification, and practices around what counts as evidence, how and by whom it is utilised, and what impact it has on scholars, researchers, and policy officers. This research furnishes an overview of comprehensive reviews of literature and analyzes special issues of global food security, and policy frameworks. The conquest of evidence-based policy as a discourse, highlighting its close relationship with food security policies, the political, cultural context of its initial emergence in the global world, and its discourses. Evidence-based policy is customarily articulated as a means of speaking truth to power, separating facts from their human contexts. Global discourses on the governance of food security span competing approaches. For example, a neoliberal approach advocates commercialized, industrial agriculture, while food sovereignty and resilience are part of an alternative discourse to food security that prioritizes locally-based agroecological food production. Understanding how global discourses play out locally and how they impact the environment and biodiversity is important to identify appropriate pathways towards sustainability. In addition to their effects on food security, different approaches could reinforce or impede the success of biodiversity conservation because of the strong interdependence of food security and ecosystems. I examined alternative approaches to food security and biodiversity conservation pursued by 30 stakeholders from local to national levels. Agricultural intensification, commercialization, and profit were widely considered important, while support for agroecology and resilience was largely restricted to non-governmental organizations. Except for supporters of the agroecology and resilience approach, biodiversity conservation was considered as a secondary goal. In conclusion, it is important to acknowledge plurality of food security approaches because local conditions are characterized by a multiplicity of stakeholder interests, and because food security is a complex problem that requires a multidimensional approach. However, major contradictions among existing approaches need to be reconciled, and the agroecology and resilience approach should be strengthened to ensure the sustainable achievement of food security and biodiversity conservation.

Identification of unique genomic signatures in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic pain

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread pain. The pathophysiology of fibromyalgia is not clearly understood and there are no specific biomarkers available for accurate diagnosis. Here we define genomic signatures using high throughput RNA sequencing on 96 fibromyalgia and 93 control cases. Our findings revealed three major fibromyalgia-associated expression signatures. The first group included 43 patients with a signature enriched for gene expression associated with extracellular matrix and downregulation of RhoGDI signaling pathway. The second group included 30 patients and showed a profound reduction in the expression of inflammatory mediators with an increased expression of genes involved in the CLEAR signaling pathway. These results suggest defective tissue homeostasis associated with the extra-cellular matrix and cellular program that regulates lysosomal biogenesis and participates in macromolecule clearance in fibromyalgia. The third group of 17 FM patients showed overexpression of pathways that control acute inflammation and dysfunction of the global transcriptional process. The result of this study indicates that FM is a heterogeneous and complex disease. Further elucidation of these pathways will lead to the development of accurate diagnostic markers, and effective therapeutic options for fibromyalgia.

Geo-Economic Fragmentation in the Context of Digitalization: Formation of New Contours of the World’s Macroeconomic System and Russia’s Sustainability Under Sanctions Attacks

The article considers the phenomenon of geo-economic fragmentation in the context of digitalization of social life and in the formation of new contours of the macroeconomic system. Particular attention is paid to Russia’s sustainability in the conditions of sanctions attacks. The author analyzes the data presented by major in­ternational organizations, predicting the consequences of global tectonic processes. The study highlights the problems arising from growing debt, limited resources and increasing global population. It is noted that in these conditions the US often initiates quick decisions, such as redistribution of commodity markets, which leads to complex consequences for the whole world. The article considers the problem of the emergence of macro-regions and crystallization of new poles in the global macroeconomic sys­tem, and assesses the possibility of forming a multipolar world. The conclusion is that international organizations forecast short- and medium-term geo-economic fragmen­tation, and the reconfiguration of ties and the division of the world into macro-regions are unable to lead to a sharp decline in macroeconomic indicators, which is confirmed by the analysis of trade relations between different countries and regions.

Attentional processing of preserved face and scrambled face distractors in preschool children with autism spectrum condition

ABSTRACT The current study investigated attentional processing of preserved neutral face and scrambled neutral face distractors at both involuntary and voluntary orienting levels in children with and without autism spectrum condition (ASC). The findings suggest similar influences of face configuration on reflexive orienting in both groups but reveal group differences in voluntary disengagement from face-related distractors. The ASC group exhibited difficulties in disengaging from the central neutral faces, and the TD group showed longer latencies for scrambled faces. These group differences suggest inefficiency in adopting a global face processing strategy at the voluntary attentional level in ASC. We discuss how the observed effects might impact upon the development of social communication skills in ASC.

Analysis of the enablers to deal with the ripple effect in food grain supply chains under disruption: Implications for food security and sustainability

Because of the massive globalization process, market volatility, and today's ever-changing business environment, managing grain supply chains (GSCs) is becoming increasingly challenging. In addition, the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict is causing significant disruptions in global supply chains, adding to the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the last couple of years. The ongoing socio-economic disruptions have created a ripple effect in the global supply chains worldwide, especially in emerging economies, which also happen to be the major global exporters of food grains. In this regard, the key enablers of the GSC must be identified to address the impact of the ripple effect and ensure sustainability and food security. This paper addresses these challenges and amalgamates the knowledge on ripple effects, sustainability, and food security. The study aims to identify, prioritize, and delineate the systemic interrelationships among enablers to address the ripple effect of GSC in emerging economies like Bangladesh. A multi-method approach integrating Pareto analysis, total interpretive structural modeling (TISM), and matrice d'impacts croisés multiplication appliquée à un classement (MICMAC) was employed for this purpose. The findings of this study indicate that geological sourcing diversification, governing cash flow to avoid the liquidity crisis, and supplier clustering according to disruptive risks are the most significant enablers. The insights from this study can potentially assist industry leaders and GSC practitioners in making strategic decisions to achieve sustainability in the grain management sector and thus improve future food security in emerging economies.

Indonesia's Geostrategic Position in Global and Regional Politics: Government Preparation

The People's Republic of China (PRC) and the United States (US) continue to compete for power and influence in various places, particularly in Asia. Southeast Asia is also unifying ASEAN countries under the ASEAN Community Accord. It is vital to recognize the impact of pressure on Indonesia's geostrategic development. Failure to anticipate this can have harmful implications and risk the nation's interests in accomplishing its goals and ideals. However, development strategy research has yet to be adequately reviewed, considered, and integrated within Indonesia's geostrategic setting. This is particularly essential considering the dynamic character of developments within the current strategic environment. Thus, the government must vigorously defend Indonesia's geostrategic position in global and regional politics. These efforts should be a significant input and consideration in national and state issues, ensuring Indonesia's national interests are safeguarded. Therefore, the government can effectively pursue its national goals and aspirations. The preservation and seamless continuance of Indonesia's national ideals can be maintained. A comprehensive literature assessment was undertaken in the past decade utilizing the hazing publish or perish (PoP) application, which involved the utilization of various databases, including "PupMed," "ABIInform," "EBSO Host," "Emerald," "Google Scholar," "Science Direct," "ProQuest," "Web of Science," and "ERIC." This study incorporates the employment of concepts such as "global politics," "ASEAN Community," "political developments," "political dynamics," and "geostrategic conditions." Insufficient infrastructure and limited accessibility. This study provides a complete survey of the extant literature on global and regional political development processes. A comprehensive examination of long-term effects and comparing distribution tactics and research methods are needed. This research explores the requirement of predicting distinct vulnerabilities within each National Resilience Gatra in light of global and regional political development dynamics. In light of the input and optimistic outlook surrounding endeavours to execute primary national responsibilities, safeguard national interests, and actualize national objectives in pursuit of Indonesia's national aspirations, further investigation is warranted into global and regional political development dynamics. Additional work is necessary to address this gap.

Intraspecific leaf trait variation mediates edge effects on litter decomposition rate in fragmented forests.

There is strong trait dependence in species-level responses to environmental change and their cascading effects on ecosystem functioning. However, there is little understanding of whether intraspecific trait variation (ITV) can also be an important mechanism mediating environmental effects on ecosystem functioning. This is surprising, given that global change processes such as habitat fragmentation and the creation of forest edges drive strong trait shifts within species. On 20 islands in the Thousand Island Lake, China, we quantified intraspecific leaf trait shifts of a widely distributed shrub species, Vaccinium carlesii, in response to habitat fragmentation. Using a reciprocal transplant decomposition experiment between forest edge and interior on 11 islands with varying areas, we disentangled the relative effects of intraspecific leaf trait variation versus altered environmental conditions on leaf decomposition rates in forest fragments. We found strong intraspecific variation in leaf traits in response to edge effects, with a shift toward recalcitrant leaves with low specific leaf area and high leaf dry matter content from forest interior to the edge. Using structural equation modeling, we showed that such intraspecific leaf trait response to habitat fragmentation had translated into significant plant afterlife effects on leaf decomposition, leading to decreased leaf decomposition rates from the forest interior to the edge. Importantly, the effects of intraspecific leaf trait variation were additive to and stronger than the effects from local environmental changes due to edge effects and habitat loss. Our experiment provides the first quantitative study showing that intraspecific leaf trait response to edge effects is an important driver of the decrease in leaf decomposition rate in fragmented forests. By extending the trait-based response-effect framework toward the individual level, intraspecific variation in leaf economics traits can provide the missing functional link between environmental change and ecological processes. These findings suggest an important area for future research on incorporating ITV to understand and predict changes in ecosystem functioning in the context of global change.

Real Argentinian Food. Tensions and Conflicts in Value-Added Processes of Products to Commercialization and Tourism

Summary Wine and dulce de leche (Caramel sauce) were recognised as cultural national food heritage in Argentina due to their importance in daily consumption and gastronomic identity. The formal recognition aligns with global food valorisation processes, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) immaterial heritage and the importance of gastronomic tourism. Also, public policies in different countries seek to add value to food and beverages in order to foster the development of rural areas, favour tourism commercialisation, strengthen local identities and enhance traditional/ancestral knowledge. These show the symbolic and economic value of food. In this context, several types of formal certifications and commodification processes, which recognise territorial anchorage, of how certain food is produced and consumed may lead to its standardisation, homogenisation or monopolisation, generating various tensions. Hence, we question the relationship between those who promote value-adding initiatives, how farm producer communities participate in them, which sectors or actors really benefit from these processes and what tensions may arise from them. We will address these questions by reconstructing and analysing the heritage and tourism valorisation of high-altitude wine in the Calchaquíes Valleys area and dulce de leche production in the province of Buenos Aires. Information © The Authors 2024