Unique Cooperation Research Articles

Fishers' perception and activity shifts in a dolphin bycatch mitigation context

Fishing exclusion zones aim to reduce cetacean bycatch, but often neglect social and ecological side effects, exacerbating social injustices and reshaping fishing practices. We present a case study of an endangered population of Lahille's bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus) in a Brazilian coastal lagoon, known for its unique cooperation with net-casting fishers. However, the local small-scale fisheries (SSF) also employ other fishing gears that contribute to dolphin bycatch, prompting the enforcement of a fishing ban in the area. We investigated fishers' socioeconomic conditions, evidence of social disparities, perceptions on dolphin bycatch, and projected changes on fisheries activities to understand the repercussions of the ban. We categorized 128 surveyed fishers into five groups based on socioeconomic factors and their reliance on dolphin-cooperative and gillnet fisheries. Our findings revealed significant disparities in social capital among fishers and their different attitudes towards dolphin bycatch, highlighting unforeseen consequences. To investigate how fishers would likely shift fishing practices, we considered two management scenarios: 1) should dolphin-fishing cease due to unsuccessful bycatch mitigation, fishing efforts would shift towards shrimp trawling, seine nets, and gillnet effort; 2) if gillnet-fishing is successfully banned as a bycatch mitigation measure, a shift to shrimp trawling and cast net effort. Both scenarios would intensify pressure on shrimp stocks, which are already heavily exploited in this socioecological system. Our research underscores the importance of contemplating alternatives to achieve sustainable outcomes when designing bycatch mitigation measure. Furthermore, our results point to the importance of a participatory governance approach, grounded in the socioeconomic context, to safeguard the livelihoods of small-scale fishers and foster broader conservation efforts beyond species-specific concerns.

Unprecedented ROP of quinazolinones to polyacylamidines using a cesium catalyst.

Unprecedented ring-opening polymerization of quinazolinones to produce novel polyacylamidines, led by a unique cooperation between a cesium metal center and imino-phosphanamidinate ligand, was developed. Morphological studies revealed the formation of a unique macromolecular assembly producing nanofibers in the absence of a templating agent with excellent control of molecular weights and polydispersity index.

Sodium complexes as precise tools for cutting polymer chains. Exploration of PLA degradation by unique cooperation of sodium centers

The challenge for the future of plastics is closed-loop plastic recycling and polymer waste degradation. The exploration of the structural nuances of the sodium compounds presented in this paper shows how to design “tools for cutting polymer chains”.

Intrinsic hallmarks of phonon-induced charge order in cuprates

Charge-density wave (CDW) modulations in underdoped high-temperature cuprate superconductors remain a central puzzle in condensed matter physics. However, despite a substantial experimental verification of this ubiquitous phase in a large class of high ${T}_{c}$ cuprates, a complete theoretical explanation of this phase is still missing. Here, we build upon our recent proposal that the CDW in underdoped cuprates (Y- and Bi- based compounds) emerges from a unique cooperation of the ${\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}B}_{1g}$ bond-buckling phonon with strong electronic correlations. We assume a static mean-field lattice distortion with ${\mathrm{B}}_{1g}$ symmetry, regardless of its origin, with a commensurate wave vector ${\mathbf{q}}^{*}=(2\ensuremath{\pi}/3,0)/(0,2\ensuremath{\pi}/3)$. We show that such a phonon-induced CDW (both uni- and biaxial) reconstructs the Fermi surface, leading to electron and hole pockets, with relevant quantum oscillation frequencies in close consistency with the experiments. Furthermore, a systematic analysis of the symmetry of the intra-unit-cell charge modulations on the copper-oxygen planes is provided. We find that the atomic charge modulation on the $\mathrm{Cu}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ unit cell is predominantly of $s$-wave character, in support of the recent experimental observation.

Cleaner fish and other wrasse match primates in their ability to delay gratification

Humans are outstanding in their ability to achieve mutual cooperation for direct benefits. One often-quoted factor driving our unique cooperation skills is our ability to delay gratification for future benefits, which is supposedly linked to our advanced cognitive abilities relative to other species. The established experimental paradigm used to test delayed gratification in primates and birds is to give subjects access to a small food reward, which can be exchanged for a larger (quantitative task) or better quality (qualitative task) food reward after a time delay. Here we used this paradigm to test primarily the cleaner fish Labroides dimidiatus for its ability to delay gratification. The specific ecology of cleaners makes them ideal candidates for this task: cleaners remove ectoparasites from visiting ‘client’ reef fish although they prefer to eat client mucus. This eating against preference is equivalent to delayed gratification as clients that have their ectoparasites removed (as opposed to their mucus) will both stay longer with a specific cleaner and return to it for later inspection. Cleaners performed very well in the quantitative task, i.e. similarly to monkeys. In contrast, they performed poorly if the delayed reward was of higher quality. Using the quantitative task to test other wrasse species, we found that another cleaner species and noncleaner wrasse also performed well, the latter despite no evidence that they need such ability to cooperate in nature. However, only the two cleaner species showed evidence for making decisions early on about whether to wait or to directly eat the immediate reward. We conclude that the ability to delay gratification does not warrant advanced cognitive abilities that require endotherm-specific brain morphology, although the underlying mechanisms vary between species. • Ability to delay gratification supposedly indicates advanced cognitive capacities. • Wrasse performed similarly to monkeys in a quantitative delayed reward task. • Cleaner fish showed evidence for anticipation as few primates do. • Ectotherms may have a different perception of time compared to endotherms.

Reconfigurer l’économie sociale et solidaire en Hauts-de-France : un living lab en commun au service de l’intermédiation territoriale ?

SIILAB is a cooperation project initiated by 16 public and private actors in the social and solidarity economy (SSE). It emerges in a context of regional regrouping. We seek to qualify this project as an «intermediation process» in order to understand its effects in terms of regional recomposition of SSE. The analytical framework crosses the economy of proximities and the approach of the commons in order to show that SIILAB is the support of a territorial intermediation process that has enabled the implementation of a unique cooperation dynamic between private and public actors. It contributes to give more coherence to SSE in this new regional area.

Преюдициальная процедура в Суде ЕС и трансформация европейского антидискриминационного права

The preliminary ruling procedure is an essential feature of the EU legal system, which is a unique cooperation tool as part of the dialogue between the Court of Justice of the EU and national courts of the Member States. Its main purpose is to ensure uniform interpretation and application of the provisions of EU law with all Member States and to preserve the uniformity of the European legal system. The continuous use by national courts of the Member States of the mechanism of preliminary ruling and constructive inter-judicial cooperation, the Court of Justice has developed an extremely extensive case law on the prohibition of discrimination and with the result to introduce substantial changes in European anti-discrimination law.The preliminary rulings of the Court of Justice have shown its inclination to expand notions of what constitutes discrimination and in most cases the Court prompt by the desire to interpret the provisions of European law so as to ensure the full effectiveness of the law, as well as a willingness to promote and strengthen protection against discrimination in Europe. While the protection against discrimination on some grounds is stronger than others, however, the preliminary rulings of the Court of Justice are important contribution to the transformation of anti-discrimination law, promote change in the national legislation of the Member States and provide the more effective protection of human rights in general.

Basicity controlled MgCo2O4 nanostructures as catalyst for viable fixation of CO2 into epoxides at atmospheric pressure

The present work demonstrates basicity controlled MgCo2O4 spinel oxides as promising catalysts for fixation of CO2 into epoxides at atmospheric pressure. Four different MgCo2O4 nanostructures were synthesized using different interlayer anions (chloride, nitrate, acetate, sulphate) present in the metal salt precursors which strongly altered their basicity and played a stimulating role in their catalytic efficiency. The characterization results of all four MgCo2O4 nanostructures revealed effect on morphology, surface area and developed diversely exposed Lewis basic (O2−) sites on the catalyst surface. Particularly, [MgCo2O4]-[Cl−] nanostructures prepared using chloride (Cl−) anion showed porous 3D-flower morphology with high pore diameter and highly exposed basic sites. Catalytic activity studies revealed that [MgCo2O4]-[Cl−] catalyst in presence of base, exhibited 95% conversion of styrene oxide and 96% selectivity towards styrene carbonate at atmospheric pressure. The enhanced activity of [MgCo2O4]-[Cl−] was due to the relatively smaller size of Cl− anion which replaced the hydroxyl groups in the Brucite-like structure and exposed maximum number of basic (O2−) sites during the thermal decomposition of the Mg-Co DH-[Cl−] precursor. Additionally, various reaction parameters were investigated to optimize reaction conditions. The obtained results with [MgCo2O4]-[Cl−] and base suggested that this catalytic system showed good tolerance for a broad substrate scope in good yields and demonstrated good reusability with retention in activity and physicochemical properties for eight recycles. A plausible mechanism was proposed to support the activation of epoxide and CO2 by the unique cooperation of active Lewis acidic and basic sites present in [MgCo2O4]-[Cl−] for formation of cyclic carbonates at atmospheric pressure.

Self-Assembly of Multinuclear Sandwich Silver(I) Complexes by Cooperation of Hexakis(azaheteroaryl)benzene Ligands, Argentophilic Interactions, and Fluoride Inclusion.

Self-assembly of AgOTf and AgF with the hexatopic ligands hexakis(pyridin-2-yl)benzene (2) and 2,4,6-tris(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,5-tris(quinolin-2-yl)benzene (3) affords the discrete sandwich-shaped complexes [Ag4F(2)2](OTf)3, [Ag4F(3)2](OTf)3, and [Ag5F(2)2](OTf)4. The solid-state structures of the complexes were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, which revealed that the fluoride anion is coordinated in the center of the Ag4-square or Ag5-pentagon units which are positioned between two molecules of the hexakis(azaheteroaryl)benzene. The generation of complexes is dictated by a unique cooperation of ligand coordination, argentophilicity, and fluoride anion inclusion. All three complexes adopt highly symmetrical structures in solution, as evidenced by appearance of one set of proton resonances for the two ligands arranged face to face.

Incorporation of a MESA linac module into bERLinPro

bERLinPro is an Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) project, currently being set up at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin fur Materialien und Energie, Berlin, Germany. bERLinPro is designed as - and for - experiments in accelerator physics and as a test bed for novel ERL components. MESA is an ERL project under construction at the Johannes Gutenberg- Universitt, Mainz, Germany. MESA is designed as a user facility to perform experiments in dark matter physics and precision measurements of natural constants. Despite the diverse goals, the main linac, providing the larger part of the particles energy, is fairly compatible. It is planned to test and run the MESA linac module in bERLinPro, prior to its usage in MESA. The goals and benefits of this unique cooperation for both projects are outlined in this paper. The necessary adaptions in bERLinPro, including hardware aspects, the new optics, and the scope of performance are described.

Environmental Cooperation in Conflict Zones: Riparian Infrastructure at the Armenian–Turkish Border

Due to historical grievances, Armenia and Turkey experience severe international conflicts and do not maintain diplomatic ties. Yet, as a vestige of the Soviet period, when Armenia was not an independent country, both nations share the Arpacay/Akhuryan Dam, and riparian cooperation exists at the local level. We observed that local cross-border water institutions are authorized to manage the dam and do so via polycentric management principles. We suggest that such a devolved model of governance facilitates this unique cooperation. Furthermore, there is a positive relationship between private management of water resources in such areas and the ability to sustain cooperation. However, so far, the positive impacts of this cooperation on improving international relations have been little, if any. We suggest that what makes cooperation possible in this context also inhibits its expansion to broader peacebuilding. We also suggest that increased localization of management, coincident with improved relations, maximizes cooperation potential.

Compartmentalized biosynthesis of mycophenolic acid

Mycophenolic acid (MPA) from filamentous fungi is the first natural product antibiotic to be isolated and crystallized, and a first-line immunosuppressive drug for organ transplantations and autoimmune diseases. However, some key biosynthetic mechanisms of such an old and important molecule have remained unclear. Here, we elucidate the MPA biosynthetic pathway that features both compartmentalized enzymatic steps and unique cooperation between biosynthetic and β-oxidation catabolism machineries based on targeted gene inactivation, feeding experiments in heterologous expression hosts, enzyme functional characterization and kinetic analysis, and microscopic observation of protein subcellular localization. Besides identification of the oxygenase MpaB' as the long-sought key enzyme responsible for the oxidative cleavage of the farnesyl side chain, we reveal the intriguing pattern of compartmentalization for the MPA biosynthetic enzymes, including the cytosolic polyketide synthase MpaC' and O-methyltransferase MpaG', the Golgi apparatus-associated prenyltransferase MpaA', the endoplasmic reticulum-bound oxygenase MpaB' and P450-hydrolase fusion enzyme MpaDE', and the peroxisomal acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) hydrolase MpaH'. The whole pathway is elegantly comediated by these compartmentalized enzymes, together with the peroxisomal β-oxidation machinery. Beyond characterizing the remaining outstanding steps of the MPA biosynthetic steps, our study highlights the importance of considering subcellular contexts and the broader cellular metabolism in natural product biosynthesis.

Tackle your Tics: a unique and innovative cooperation between researchers, therapists and patient representatives

Tackle your Tics: a unique and innovative cooperation between researchers, therapists and patient representatives

Medical exchange project for students and young doctors between Japan and Russia

Abstract For more than 25 years Niigata University School of Medicine has been organizing medical exchanges with universities of the Russian Far East and Siberia. This exchange has turned out to be mutually beneficial for both universities, giving motivation to medical students and young doctors to strive for knowledge of international medicine. “Program for priority placement of foreign students sponsored by Japanese government” and “Re-inventing Japan project” initiated by Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) were adopted in 2014, so it gave us a perfect opportunity to expand the existing program. In 2017, the MEXT approved the application of Niigata University together with Hokkaido University for «Program of Globalization in the field of university education (in cooperation with Russia), the creation of a platform for interaction”. We hope advances in the field of medicine and medical care achieved as a result of such unique cooperation between Japan and Russia will greatly contribute not only to the welfare of citizens of both countries, but also to the development of industry and economy. We would like to share experience gained by our university in the sphere of Japanese-Russian medical exchanges and educational programs, as well to describe the prospects for further development.

ASSESSING INDONESIA-RUSSIA FOREIGN POLICY DURING SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO ADMINISTRATION

Russia or formerly known as the Soviet Union has a historically unique cooperation and diplomatic relations with Indonesia. This is because the relationship between Indonesia and Russia has a long history and experiencing ups and downs. The closeness of the two countries was influenced ideologically in the early days of Indonesian independence, and later the rise of the New Order regime influenced the dynamics of Indonesian foreign policy. During the New Order period, the Indonesian government began to freeze all forms of cooperative relations with the Soviet Union. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War era began to change the map of international politics to affect the situation in Indonesia. In the Post-Reformation era, the normalization of relations between the two countries recovered and lasted until the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The purpose of this article is to find out how the changes in the implementation of the foreign policy of Indonesia-Russia during the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with the previous era and what factors underlie Indonesia's foreign policy towards Russia. This research uses the descriptive-analytical method and using some theoretical concepts in the foreign policy-making process. The results of this study concluded that foreign policy between Indonesia and Russia increased significantly in the Post-Reformation era which no longer saw Russia as a threat as in the New Order era. The cooperation between Indonesia and Russia is implemented in various main areas, prominently is the cooperation in the field of military, social, economic and political.

On the Border between Low-Nuclearity and One-Dimensional Solids: A Unique Interplay of 1,2,4-Triazolyl-Based {CuII5(OH)2} Clusters and MoVI-Oxide Matrix.

A pentanuclear CuII5-hydroxo cluster possessing an unusual linear-shaped configuration was formed and crystallized under hydrothermal conditions as a result of the unique cooperation of bridging 1,2,4-triazole ligand ( trans-1,4-cyclohexanediyl-4,4'-bi(1,2,4-triazole) ( tr2 cy)), MoVI-oxide, and CuSO4. This structural motif can be rationalized by assuming in situ generation of {Cu2Mo6O22}4- anions, which represent heteroleptic derivatives of γ-type [Mo8O26]4- further interlinked by [Cu3(OH)2]4+ cations through [ N- N] bridges. The framework structure of the resulting compound [Cu5(OH)2( tr2 cy)2Mo6O22]·6H2O (1) is thus built up from neutral heterometallic {Cu5(OH)2Mo6O22} n layers pillared with tetradentate tr2 cy. Quantum-chemical calculations demonstrate that the exclusive site of the parent γ-[Mo8O26]4- cluster into which CuII inserts corresponds with the site that has the lowest defect ("MoO2 vacancy") formation energy, demonstrating how the local metal-polyoxomolybdate chemistry can express itself in the final crystal structure. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 show strong antiferromagnetic coupling within the Cu5 chain with exchange parameters J1 = -500(40) K (-348(28) cm-1), J2 = -350(10) K (-243(7) cm-1) and g = 2.32(2), χ2 = 6.5 × 10-4. Periodic quantum-chemical calculations reproduce the antiferromagnetic character of 1 and connect it with an effective ligand-mediated spin coupling mechanism that comes about from the favorable structural arrangement between the Cu centers and the OH-, O2-, and tr2 cy bridging ligands.

Joint sensing time and power allocation in cognitive networks with amplify-and-forward cooperation

Cognitive radio is a novel approach to cope with spectrum scarcity, in which either a network or a wireless node changes its transmission or reception parameters to communicate efficiently. However, it is difficult to avoid the interference between licensed and unlicensed users in various scenarios. This paper analyzes the jointly optimized allocation of sensing time and power for a two-user, amplify-and-forward (AF) cognitive network developed by maximizing the average aggregate throughput of its secondary network. In particular, this paper discusses diverse cooperation ratios for different scenarios and a unique cooperation ratio in spite of scenario changes. The observations of experiment results indicate that the sensing duration is within a strict interval. The results show that the optimized sensing time is 14.111 ms and the aggregate throughput equals to 1.1451 bps/Hz which are tractable by sequential optimization. This result indicates that by adopting the fixed cooperation ratios, the achievable throughput of the system is decreased. The system innovatively creates multiple independent fading channels to achieve technological diversity among partners.

«SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP» OF THE USA AND GREAT BRITAIN IN THE INTELLIGENCE FIELD

The USA – Great Britain «Special Relationship» draw scholars’ attention considering the unique cooperation of both countries especially in such a sensitive field as intelligence gathering. The article is dedicated to the research of world-wide Anglo-American cooperation promoted by SIGINT secret services according to the UKUSA Agreement of 1948. The main SIGINT objectives of Great Britain and the USA as well as the sense of British dependence on the U.S. technical and financial capabilities along with historical issues are subject for further examination. Key words: «Special Relationship»; UKUSA Agreement; SIGINT / COMINT; NSA; GCHQ.

Fatty acid synthase cooperates with protrudin to facilitate membrane outgrowth of cellular protrusions

Cellular protrusion formation capacity is a key feature of developing neurons and many eukaryotic cells. However, the mechanisms underlying membrane growth in protrusion formation are largely unclear. In this study, photo-reactive unnatural amino acid 3-(3-methyl-3H-diazirin-3-yl)-propamino-carbonyl-Nε-l-lysine was incorporated by a genetic code expansion strategy into protrudin, a protein localized in acidic endosomes and in the endoplasmic reticulum, that induces cellular protrusion and neurite formation. The modified protrudin was used for covalent trapping of protrudin-interacting proteins in living cells. Fatty acid synthase (FASN), which synthesizes free fatty acids, was identified to transiently interact with protrudin. Further characterization revealed a unique cooperation mechanism in which protrudin cooperates with FASN to facilitate cellular protrusion formation. This work reveals a novel mechanism involved in protrusion formation that is dependent on transient interaction between FASN and protrudin, and establishes a creative strategy to investigate transient protein-protein interactions in mammalian cells.

Legislators' Patterns of Cooperation

This study attempts to identify the patterns of cooperation between legislators. We argue that if legislators decide to cooperate, they prefer to do so first with their colleagues who share similar affiliations and then across affiliations. In order to examine this hypothesis, we devised a unique cooperation scale and tested it using a sample of the private member bills that were initiated in the 18th Knesset (Israel’s parliament) between 2009 and 2013. We then looked at each bill with regard to its initiators and co-sponsors to see if they were members of the same party, members of the opposition or coalition, or members of a minority group. Based on the quantitative analysis, we found that of all of the factors, only being a minority was significant. Based on the qualitative analysis, we determined that intra-party cooperation does exist. In three parties – Hadash, Meretz and Israel Beitenu -- legislators tended to cooperate with each other. Finally, with regard to inter-party cooperation, Jewish and Arab MKs tended to cooperate, and Russian Jewish legislators tended to cooperate regardless of party affiliation. Our study is innovative in its creation of a cooperation scale that can be used in other legislatures and that is based on measures of co-sponsorship instead of analyses of dyadic or social networks used in previous studies.