Population Stability Research Articles

Flood Resilience in Malaysian Housing: A Critical Review and Proposed Planning Law Framework

The country is now facing a serious challenge which is frequent floods and in areas that have never been hit by such disasters. Before development order of a housing estates could be granted, the housing developers must comply with few laws through various federal and states’ legislations to ensure the sustainable development of the housing estates which will not bring negative impact to the environment, public and residents. Assuming all the procedures have been complied strictly, there should not be an issue of flood and its disaster. The problem that arises is why are there still many housing estates that have been given legal approval for development still affected by flood issue? Thus, the researchers employ a legal research approach, where the researchers examined available primary data from available statutes. Literally, the researchers have also been using secondary sources by using library based and online research for example publication of primary literatures while qualitative research methodology is used to do in-depth research on the issue. The Malaysian government has implemented several laws and policies aimed at preventing and mitigating the impacts of floods. However, despite the existing legal framework, Malaysia continues to face significant challenges in preventing and mitigating floods, including urbanisation and land use, climate change and inter-agency coordination. Urban flooding can lead to significant economic losses and displacement, challenging the sustainability of cities. While the existing laws provide a sturdy foundation, challenges such as urbanisation, climate change, and inter-agency coordination need to be addressed to improve the country’s resilience to floods. By strengthening regulations, improving coordination between agencies, and raising public awareness, Malaysia can better mitigate the risks and impacts of floods, safeguarding its population and economic stability.

Genetic and Structural Factors Contributing to the Dominance and Persistence of Goose Astrovirus Type 2

: Goose astrovirus (GoAstV) has emerged as a significant pathogen affecting the goose industry in China, with GoAstV-2 becoming the dominant genotype since 2017. This study explores the genetic and structural factors underlying the prevalence of GoAstV-2, focusing on codon usage bias, spike protein variability, and structural stability. Phylogenetic and effective population size analyses revealed that GoAstV-2 experienced rapid expansion between 2017 and 2018, followed by population stabilization. Codon usage analysis indicated that GoAstV-2 exhibited a weaker codon usage bias compared to GoAstV-1, suggesting greater flexibility in synonymous codon usage and potentially enhanced adaptability across host environments. Additionally, GoAstV-2's lower codon adaptation index values point to a divergence from the host’s optimal codon usage, which may reduce competition with host tRNA pools and facilitate viral replication. The spike protein of GoAstV-2 demonstrated significantly lower variability than GoAstV-1, as shown by Shannon entropy analysis, indicating greater structural stability. This stability may reduce the need for frequent mutations, allowing GoAstV-2 to persist in host populations without undergoing constant evolution. The lower antigenic variability likely decreases immune-driven selective pressure, contributing to the viral sustained transmission and long-term persistence. These findings provide new insights into the evolutionary advantages of GoAstV-2 and its epidemiological success, which could inform future control strategies aimed at mitigating its impact on poultry populations.

Mean mares? Habitat features influence female aggression in response to social instability in the feral horse (Equus caballus).

It is unclear how habitat features alter animal responses to social instability. Only by uncovering such interactions can we fully understand the evolutionary drivers and fitness consequences of sociality. We capitalize on a management-induced manipulation of social stability in an island population of free-ranging feral horses (Equus caballus), living across three distinct habitat types. We tested whether female group-changing behaviour (a reliable measure of social instability) affected (i) female-female aggression, (ii) rank within female dominance hierarchies, (iii) stability of female hierarchies (in the groups they joined and/or left), and (iv) how habitat characteristics shaped these responses. Female group-changing behaviour positively predicted aggression from other females, but only when habitat features such as visibility and freshwater distribution were considered. We found no strong association among female group-changing behaviour and the aggression initiated, female rank or the stability of female dominance hierarchies. Our work reveals that animal responses to social instability are nuanced and impacted by the surrounding habitat. A better understanding of these impacts can help elucidate evolutionary drivers of sociality and mitigate unintended effects of management practices.

EMPLOYER-SPONSORED FINANCIAL WELLNESS PROGRAMS ON FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF WORKING-CLASS MILLENNIALS IN CAVITE

The study focused on determining the effect of employer-sponsored financial wellness initiatives on working-class millennial's capacity to maintain their financial sustainability, with a particular emphasis on Cavite residents. The survey evaluates a number of financial wellness factors, including income stability, retirement planning, debt management, expenditure management, and savings. In order to better understand how these programs improve employees' financial well-being, the study will assess participants' demographic profiles, financial behavior, and assessments of the programs' effectiveness.The effects of financial wellness initiatives supported by employers on the long-term financial stability of Cavite's working-class millennial population. To determine the efficacy of different financial wellness programs, the study examines participant perceptions of their financial situation as well as demographic characteristics like age, gender, income, and employment status. The majority of respondents to a survey of 200 millennial's were female, single, and between the ages of 28 and 30. They also made between Php 5,001 and Php 10,000 per month. Participants' budgeting, saving, and investing techniques were much enhanced by the most popular program chosen, which was financial literacy seminar. The ability to handle unforeseen financial problems and retirement planning was especially improved, according to the participants, who also reported feeling more confident about handling their money. Employer-sponsored programs significantly increase financial well-being by lowering stress, increasing financial stability, and improving preparedness for future financial demands, according to the study's findings. Employers are advised to improve and broaden these initiatives, offer focused financial literacy instruction, and conduct frequent assessments of their efficacy in order to meet the changing demands of the labor market.

Forest Environmental Conditions Shape Carcass Mass but Not Antler Investment of Red Deer Stags (Cervus elaphus L.)—Study from Western European Populations

Population stability depends on environmental conditions and their changes, as well as the availability of energy resources. Animals allocate their energy to maintenance, growth, reproduction, and energy storage; therefore, trade-offs are expected between life history traits. Access to abundant resources is expected to manifest itself in the investment of male individuals in sexually selected traits, such as carcass mass and antler size. The study aimed to analyze environmental climate conditions on the carcass and antler mass, as well as on antler form in red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) populations. We analyzed the carcasses and the antler masses and forms of 550 red deer stags from three populations in Central–Western Europe that differ in climate conditions that were hunter-harvested between the 2017 and 2021 hunting seasons. Our data indicated that carcass mass was shaped by the location of the population, stag age, precipitation, and temperature, as well as the number of frost days from January to the harvest date. Antler mass and antler investment depended on stag age but not climatic factors. Regular antler forms were more often observed in the harsh environmental conditions. Our observation confirms that resource trade-off is related to carcass mass of red deer.

Low Mortality Rates Among Tropical Ferns

Tropical ferns are underrepresented in demographic studies, despite their ecological importance in forest ecosystems. This study investigates the mortality rates of terrestrial ferns along an elevational gradient (500–4000 m a.s.l.) in Ecuador, focusing on relationships with environmental variables, community characteristics, and plant size. Over two years (2009–2011), 3213 individuals representing 88 species were monitored in 22 permanent plots across eight elevations. Mortality rates, calculated as the percentage of individuals lost annually, averaged 0.87%, with a hump-shaped trend along the gradient and a significant negative relationship with temperature. Mortality rates were positively correlated with species richness and fern density, suggesting competition may influence community structure. Larger individuals exhibited higher mortality rates, likely due to greater resource demands and exposure to environmental stressors. These findings emphasize the interplay of abiotic factors, such as elevation and temperature, and biotic interactions, including competition and herbivory, in shaping fern population dynamics. The low mortality rates observed reflect population stability, potentially linked to unique life history traits, such as extended generation times. This study provides critical insights into the demographic strategies of tropical ferns and underscores the need for long-term research to better understand their responses to environmental and biotic pressures.

Impact of Immigration Policy on future US population size

Immigration will be the key factor determining whether populations in the developed world increase or decrease over the coming century. New policy-based population projections illustrate this for the United States. Expansive immigration policies could increase the US population by hundreds of millions by 2100, while more restrictive policies could lead to population stabilisation or significant reductions. For the US, there is no plausible high-immigration path to a sustainable population. Because larger populations increase human environmental impacts, sustainability advocates in the US and other countries with high net immigration levels have strong prima facie reasons to support immigration reductions. Such reductions could achieve smaller populations in receiver countries and encourage smaller populations in sender countries, contributing to global ecological sustainability.

Lifetime carryover of early partial migration behaviors in an estuarine-dependent fish under climate change

Spatial structure within populations promotes population stability and resilience through asynchronous responses among population subcomponents (i.e., portfolio effect). In fishes, spatial structure frequently develops via early-life partial migration, leading to diversified nursery use. However, the portfolio effect depends on how adult recruitment from different nurseries exhibits asynchronous dynamics in response to climate variables, and whether nursery experiences carry over to adult demographics. For a three-decade span, we tested adult nursery recruitment and carryover effects associated with early-life partial migration in Hudson River striped bass. Early-life partial migration led to structured utilization of freshwater, brackish, and coastal nurseries, all of which recruited to the adult population. Adult recruitment from brackish nurseries increased with freshwater flow, while coastal nurseries produced more adults during severe winter years. First-year nursery experiences carried over to influence adult sex, but not growth. Most adult females utilized brackish nurseries in their first year, while adult males recruited from freshwater and brackish nurseries. Early-life partial migration led to diversified nursery use and influenced adult demographics, which buffered populations against perturbations.

Omnigene-Guttm ensures fecal microbiome stability in the pediatric population

Increasing evidence exists that the gut microbiome influences toxicity as well as outcomes in a variety of cancers. To investigate the role of the gut microbiome in pediatric neuro-oncology, microbiome analysis has been included in multiple prospective pediatric neuro-oncology clinical trials (NCT05009992, NCT04732065, NCT04775485). In these trials, the OMNIgene-GUTtm preservation tubes are used for the collection of the feces. OMNIgene-GUTtm has demonstrated reliability in preserving the composition of the gut microbiome in adults; however, its validation for use in the pediatric population remains limited. Therefore, we compared the quality of the DNA by 16S rRNA gene sequencing after various methods of stabilizing fecal samples in pediatric populations, from the direct freeze method at − 80 °C to preserving samples with OMNIgene-GUTtm at room temperature for various durations. Our results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the alpha-diversity, and beta-diversity. However, pairwise differential abundance analyses demonstrated that OMNIgene-GUT™ is superior in maintaining microbial community structure compared to storing samples without any preservation method. With the OMNIgene-GUTtm’s stabilization of the fecal samples being superior and its ease-of-use benefits, it proves to be a valid and ideal method of stabilizing fecal samples for current and future pediatric clinical trials.

Exogenous Trehalose Assists Zygosaccharomyces rouxii in Resisting High-Temperature Stress Mainly by Activating Genes Rather than Entering Metabolism.

Zygosaccharomyces rouxii is a typical aroma-producing yeast in food brewing, but it has low heat resistance and poor proliferation ability at high temperature. Trehalose is generally considered to be a protective agent that helps stable yeast cells resist heat shock stress, but its functional mechanism for yeast cells in the adaptation period under heat stress is unclear. In this study, the physiological metabolism changes, specific gene transcription expression characteristics, and transcriptome differences of Z. rouxii under different carbon sources under high-temperature stress (40 °C) were compared to explore the mechanism of trehalose inducing Z. rouxii to recover and proliferate under high-temperature stress during the adaptation period. The results showed that high concentration of trehalose (20% Tre) could not be used as the main carbon source for the proliferation of Z. rouxii under long-term high-temperature stress, but it helped to maintain the stability of the cell population. The intracellular trehalose of Z. rouxii was mainly derived from the synthesis and metabolism of intracellular glucose, and the extracellular acetic acid concentration showed an upward trend with the improvement of yeast growth. A high concentration of trehalose (20% Tre) can promote the expression of high glucose receptor gene GRT2 (12.0-fold) and induce the up-regulation of HSF1 (27.1-fold), MSN4 (58.9-fold), HXK1 (8.3-fold), and other signal transduction protein genes, and the increase of trehalose concentration will maintain the temporal up-regulation of these genes. Transcriptome analysis showed that trehalose concentration and the presence of glucose had a significant effect on the gene expression of Z. rouxii under high-temperature stress. In summary, trehalose assists Z. rouxii in adapting to high temperature by changing gene expression levels, and assists Z. rouxii in absorbing glucose to achieve cell proliferation.

Tear film stability in children: Age and sex associations explored through non-invasive tear break-up time.

The stability of the tear film is crucial for maintaining good ocular health. Its assessment provides valuable insights into paediatric eye conditions. This study investigates the stability of the tear film in children and its association with predictive factors such as age and sex, for a better understanding of tear film dynamics in a paediatric population. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a semi-urban area in northern Portugal. Tear film stability was evaluated using non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) measured with Tearscope Plus. The evaluation was conducted subjectively, with measurements obtained exclusively in the right eye. The mean of three consecutive measures of the NIBUT was considered in the statistical analysis. A total of 2094 children (1072 females, 1022 males), with a mean age of 8.6±1.3years, were included. It was found a mean NIBUT of 14.8±5.4s (s), with no statistically significant difference between females (14.9±5.4s) and males (14.7±5.4s) (p=0.407). Around 20% of the children had a NIBUT<10s, and about 7% had a NIBUT≤5 s. A significant increase in NIBUT with age during the middle childhood stage (6 to 11years old) was also found (p=0.019), with NIBUT increasing from 14.1±5.7s in 6-year-olds to 16.3±4.8s in 11-year-olds (p=0.006). However, when results were separated by the participants' sex, only the male group showed statistically significant differences (p=0.021). A significant increase in NIBUT was found during the middle childhood stage, primarily driven by male participants. These findings underscore the importance of considering age and sex in assessing tear film stability in paediatric populations.

A comprehensive framework for real-time malware detection and monitoring in production

This paper proposes a comprehensive framework for real-time malware detection and monitoring tailored to operational systems. Leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms, our framework integrates continuous monitoring mechanisms to ensure timely detection and response to emerging threats. The framework emphasizes regular assessment of model performance using metrics such as the Population Stability Index (PSI), ensuring models remain effective and adaptive to evolving malware patterns. By deploying models within the production environment, the framework enables regular evaluation and adaptation, enhancing the robustness and reliability of the detection system. Our results demonstrate the framework’s efficacy in providing a scalable and efficient solution for real-time malware detection and monitoring, contributing to improved cybersecurity posture in dynamic and high-risk environments.

Complex Dynamics and PID Control Strategies for a Fractional Three-Population Model

In recent decades, there have been many studies on Hopf bifurcation and population stability with time delay. However, the stability and Hopf bifurcation of fractional-order population systems with time delay are lower. In this paper, we discuss the dynamic behavior of a fractional-order three-population model with pregnancy delay using Laplace transform of fractional differential equations, stability and bifurcation theory, and MATLAB software. The specific conditions of local asymptotic stability and Hopf bifurcation for fractional-order time-delay systems are determined. A fractional-order proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller is applied to the three-population food chain system for the first time. The convergent speed and vibration amplitude of the system can be changed by PID control. For example, after fixing the values of the integral control gain ki and the differential control gain kd, the amplitude of the system decreases and the convergence speed changes as the proportional control gain kp decreases. The effectiveness of the PID control strategy in complex ecosystem is proved. The numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis. The research in this paper has potential application values concerning the management of complex population systems. The bifurcation theory of fractional-order time-delay systems is also enriched.

Phytoplankton Community Structure and Saprobic Index In Freshwater Fish Cultivation Ponds

Phytoplankton are unicellular algae plants found in marine and freshwater ecosystems. The presence of phytoplankton in waters plays an important role in the cultivation process. However, not all types of phytoplankton can have a good impact on cultivation ponds, this is because there are types of phytoplankton that are toxic and can cause death to the biota in the pond. This observation regarding phytoplankton aims to determine the structure of the phytoplankton community in cultivation ponds and determine the water quality in cultivation ponds through the saprobic coefficient value. The method used is a survey by determining sampling locations using the simple random sampling method. The data obtained were analyzed using the diversity index, dominance index, uniformity index and saprobic coefficient index. Observation results show that the Phytoplankton Community Structure in freshwater fish cultivation ponds at the Karawang Marine and Fisheries Polytechnic has 4 classes, namely Chlorophyceae (6 genera), Cyanophyceae (3 genera), Bacillariophyceae (6 genera) and Dinophyceae (2 genera) with abundance. Ranged from 7,500 cells/mL to 305 cells/mL. The diversity index shows moderate population stability with a high uniformity index and the absence of species dominance. The saprobity index shows values ranging from lightly to moderately polluted so that the cultivation ponds at the Karawang Marine and Fisheries Polytechnic are still classified as good and can be used for cultivation activities. However, it is necessary to always monitor and evaluate so that these conditions are maintained and do not become heavily polluted.

The image of China in Giovanni Botero

AbstractChina was a focal point among early modern European intellectuals, with some attempting to reflect on Europe's own problems through the process of understanding this country. Among them was Giovanni Botero, whose view of China has not garnered much attention. This state occupies an irreplaceable position in Botero's works, yet his attitude towards it is nuanced: On the one hand, he praises its large population, prosperous cities, and social stability, considering it the best‐governed country in history; on the other hand, he acknowledges that it is an example of oriental despotism. However, this characterization of an oriental despotic state has not diminished Botero's admiration for this state. The main reason is that China's voluntary renunciation of external expansion and its commitment to internal peace, justice and prosperity align with his political model of the ‘conservative’ state. Botero believes that its restraint and prudence in foreign policy, its effectiveness in social organization and governance and its promotion of the art of peace are lessons worth learning for European countries. This study of Botero's view of China will help us to better understand its place in his political thought and its image in early modern Europe.

Increasing stability of northern Austrian Lepidoptera populations over three decades

Abstract Agricultural intensification has led to landscape homogenisation across major parts of Europe and to reduced diversity in flora and fauna. In Central Europe, the species composition of major insect groups is increasingly dominated by a few ecologically generalist and mobile species. So far, however, the degree of stability of population sizes in today's anthropogenic landscapes in comparison to the pre‐Anthropocene has hardly been analysed. Here, we studied large museum records of Lepidoptera from northern Austria spanning the years 1990–2022 to infer trends in the stability of population sizes. On average, population dynamics decreased and stability increased significantly over time. This trend was most pronounced in lowland regions, where agricultural intensification transformed the former heterogeneous landscapes into intensively managed grasslands and fields. Community structures are now dominated by ubiquitous species. Habitat specialist species existing in isolated patches particularly decreased over time. A metapopulation structure appeared to have a stabilising effect on population dynamics. We conclude that reduced diversity and altered community composition might not only stem from selective population decline but also from altered patterns of population stochasticity. Higher population stability was associated with faunal homogenisation. Precise butterfly sensitivity analyses require long‐term data on average population sizes and on community composition.

Survival estimates of GPS-tagged adult Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) breeding in Finland

Adult survival estimates are important for assessing population status and viability and for investigating the role of different anthropogenic effects on their variation. Currently, the rapidly increasing wind power poses a new and severe threat to survival of large raptors. Between 2011–2024, we monitored 26 Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) using Global Positioning System tracking devices in Finland, on territories where wind-power plants are currently absent and eagles are not subject to increased mortality from wind power plant collisions. Using the accumulated tracking data, we constructed individual capture histories on a monthly basis and adult survival rates using known-fate models in program MARK. We also review published adult survival estimates of Golden Eagles reported throughout their range for relative comparison. Monthly adult survival in our study area was 0.9933 (0.9854–0.9970) which translates to annual survival of 0.924 (0.838–0.965). We found eight studies reporting survival estimates, which ranged from 0.860 to 0.975 with a mean of 0.928. Thus, adult survival rates of Golden Eagles breeding in northern Finland, that are not affected by wind power plants, are high as expected for a viable population and very close to the mean estimated from other Golden Eagle populations. Maintaining high adult survival rates will be key to Golden Eagle population stability with expanding wind energy development in Finland.

Variability and correlations among vital rates and their influence on population growth in mule and black‐tailed deer

AbstractTo reverse range‐wide population declines, managers of black‐tailed and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) require information on the vital rates and life stages most influential to population growth to target effective management actions. We extracted black‐tailed and mule deer vital rates from a range‐wide literature review and used hierarchical models to summarize vital rates, their variability, and how they correlate with one another. We then used matrix models and life‐stage simulation analysis to determine the individual vital rates that contributed most to annual population growth rate (i.e., lambda). Annual adult female survival explained the greatest amount of variation (62%) in lambda. Annual juvenile survival explained 44% of the variation in lambda, whereas summer or winter juvenile survival by themselves were far less informative. Winter fawn:doe ratios, a metric often collected by management agencies, explained only 10% of the variation in lambda. Given an adult female survival of 0.84, our simulations estimated a lambda of 1.0 (95% credible interval = 0.88–1.14), indicating equal probability that a population would increase or decrease. Simulations further indicated that given adult survival rates &lt;70%, the population would always decline, but as survival increased lambda increased linearly. In contrast, estimates of lambda plateaued when annual juvenile survival reached approximately 0.5, indicating higher survival rates yielded diminishing returns to population stability. Using simulated values within the observed range of vital rate values across the species' geographical distribution, the mean lambda was 0.975 and in 61% of the simulations, lambda was &lt;1. After 20 years, we estimated that this distribution of lambda values would cause populations to decrease in 92% of instances with a mean decrease of 44%. Our results align with observed declines in mule deer populations throughout their range over recent decades and indicate that these trends will continue until management can improve survival of adult females.

Survival cost sharing among altruistic full siblings in Mendelian population.

We focus on Haldane's familial selection in monogamous families in a diploid population, where the survival probability of each sibling is determined by altruistic food sharing with its siblings during starvation. An autosomal recessive-dominant or intermediate allele pair uniquely determines the altruistic or selfish behavior, which are coded by homozygotes. We focus on the case when additive cost and benefit functions determine the survival probability of each full sibling. We provide conditions for the existence of the altruistic and selfish homozygote. We show that the condition of evolutionary stability of altruism depends on the genotype-phenotype mapping. Furthermore, if the offspring size increases then the condition of evolutionary stability of altruism becomes stricter. Contrary to that, for the evolutionary stability of selfish behavior it is enough if the classical Hamilton's rule does not hold. Moreover, when the classical Hamilton's rule holds and the condition of evolutionary stability of altruism does not hold, then the selfish and altruistic phenotypes coexist. In summary, the classical Hamilton's rule is a sufficient condition for the existence of altruism, but it alone does not imply the evolutionary stability of the pure altruistic homozygote population when the altruistic siblings share the cost of altruism.

Evaluating the Impact of Microinsurance on Financial Stability and Risk Management in Low-Income Populations

Evaluating the Impact of Microinsurance on Financial Stability and Risk Management in Low-Income Populations