Search Results (330)

Zoning policies play a critical role in shaping the geography of urban and suburban development in the United States. Using data from the National Zoning and Land-Use Database and tract-level census data from 42 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, we classify metros into four zoning regime types based on the relative restrictiveness of urban and suburban land-use policies and compare trends in population growth and neighborhood change across these regimes. Our findings show that suburban areas have outpaced urban cores in population growth across all zoning configurations, with the most pronounced growth occurring in metros where restrictive urban zoning coexists with permissive suburban regulation. This growth is disproportionately concentrated in affluent suburban neighborhoods, suggesting a spatial sorting of access to resources and amenities. We also find that urban–suburban gentrification gaps are the smallest in these asymmetrical zoning regimes, suggesting that permissive suburban land use may facilitate spillover effects from constrained cores. These findings suggest that zoning asymmetries shape not only the geography of growth but also the spatial dynamics of gentrification. We argue for a metropolitan perspective on land-use governance to better understand the interconnected nature of suburbanization and the spatial expansion of gentrification. Full article

Older people’s social participation is being shaped by the current context of “liquid modernity,” characterized by the erosion of traditional roles and identity, fragile social ties, individualism, economic precariousness, and uncertainty. The challenges entailed by these trends can be exacerbated when a circumstance, such as being the parent of an adult with a physical disability, is combined with old age. This study aimed to explore how this dual condition influences processes of aging and community participation. This work presents the findings of a phenomenological study conducted in 2025 through semi-structured interviews with a sample of 24 elderly people with children diagnosed with spina bifida. The results show that the children’s support needs, especially when they live with their parents, but also if they have become independent, impact the parents’ aging and social participation processes. Likewise, concern for the future is identified as a recurring aspect due to the children’s lack of support from a social network. It was concluded that public administrations and non-profit organizations should develop social intervention strategies aimed at promoting social participation, guaranteeing external assistance in the home, and providing coexistence resources. Full article

The rubber plantations in Sankuru province, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have historically been pivotal to the regional economy. However, the absence of suitable silvicultural practices has promoted self-regeneration, resulting in the proliferation of diverse species. This study aims to characterize species richness and plant structure of these plantations. To this end, 80 subplots measuring 0.25 hectares were meticulously established, with a proportionate division between state-owned and farmer plantations. The results obtained from this study indicate that these plantations are home to approximately 105 species, classified into 33 distinct botanical families, with dominant families such as Fabaceae, Meliaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Olacaceae, Clusiaceae, and Moraceae. Despite the similarity between the two types of plantations (Cs = 58%), significant disparities were observed in terms of individuals, 635 ± 84.06 and 828 ± 144.62 (p < 10⁻³); species, 41 ± 7.49 and 28 ± 4.59 (p < 10⁻³); families, 19 ± 3.06 and 16 ± 1.62 (p < 10⁻²); and basal area, 29.88 ± 5.8 and 41.37 ± 7.57 (p < 10⁻²) for state and peasant plantations, respectively. State plantations exhibited greater diversity (H′ = 1.87) and enhanced equity (J’ = 0.43) than peasant plantations. The diametric structure exhibited an inverted J-shaped distribution, indicating constant and regular regeneration of these plantations. The upper canopy dominates the vertical structure in both types of plantations, with a significantly higher proportion in peasant plantations (83.60%) than in state plantations (73.8%), ANOVA (F (2.24 = 21.78), df = 24; p = 4.03 × 10⁻⁶). The findings indicate that the sustainable management of these plantations could incorporate agroecological principles to promote the coexistence of rubber production and biodiversity conservation while contributing to the restoration of degraded ecosystems and the well-being of local communities. Full article

Sacrificial rituals provide a critical perspective for examining the fundamental characteristics and evolutionary trajectory of Chinese civilization. The Functionalist and Annales schools, through theoretical frameworks such as “natural necessity theory” and “social-centric theory”, have explored the origins of sacrificial practices and their role in social cohesion. When these schools investigate Chinese sacrificial rituals, they identify significant differences in the humanistic and ethical dimensions compared to in Western intellectual traditions, thereby revealing how these distinctions propelled China onto a unique civilizational path. The sacrificial system underwent a process of humanization and moralization during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, culminating in the recognition of benevolence–righteousness attributes within human nature, primarily characterized by affection and reverence. The interplay between intrinsic human dispositions and ritualized sacrificial practices established the foundational structure for the social order, spanning from familial units to political society in China. This synthesis ultimately shaped the distinctive philosophical characteristics of Chinese civilization, emphasizing the principles of benevolent love, reciprocal loyalty, and harmonious coexistence. Full article

Background: Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) and Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), including Functional Cognitive Disorder (FCD), are two frequently encountered but diagnostically complex conditions. While PCS is conceptualized as a sequela of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), FND/FCD encompasses symptoms incompatible with recognized neurological disease, often arising in the absence of structural brain damage. Yet, both conditions exhibit considerable clinical overlap—particularly in the domains of cognitive dysfunction, emotional dysregulation, and symptom persistence despite negative investigations. Objective: This review critically examines the shared and divergent features of PCS and FND/FCD. We explore their respective epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, and risk factors—including personality traits and trauma exposure—as well as emerging insights from neuroimaging and biomarkers. We propose the “Functional Overlay Model” as a clinical tool for navigating diagnostic ambiguity in patients with persistent post-injury symptoms. Results: PCS and FND/FCD frequently share features such as subjective cognitive complaints, fatigue, anxiety, and heightened somatic vigilance. High neuroticism, maladaptive coping, prior psychiatric history, and trauma exposure emerge as common risk factors. Neuroimaging studies show persistent network dysfunction in both PCS and FND, with overlapping disruption in fronto-limbic and default mode systems. The Functional Overlay Model helps to identify cases where functional symptomatology coexists with or replaces an initial organic insult—particularly in patients with incongruent symptoms and normal objective testing. Conclusions: PCS and FND/FCD should be conceptualized along a continuum of brain dysfunction, shaped by injury, psychology, and contextual factors. Early recognition of functional overlays and stratified psychological interventions may improve outcomes for patients with persistent, medically unexplained symptoms after head trauma. This review introduces the Functional Overlay Model as a novel framework to enhance diagnostic clarity and therapeutic planning in patients presenting with persistent post-injury symptoms. Full article

This article examines the struggles for water justice led by women in the Aconcagua River Basin (Valparaíso, Chile) through a hydrofeminist perspective. Chile’s water crisis, rooted in a colonial extractivist model and exacerbated by neoliberal policies of water privatization, reflects a deeper crisis of socio-environmental injustice. Rather than understanding water merely as a resource, this research adopts a relational epistemology that conceives water as a living entity shaped by and shaping social, cultural, and ecological relations. Drawing on life-history interviews and the construction of a hydrofeminist cartography with women river defenders, this article explores how gendered and racialized bodies experience the crisis, resist extractive practices, and articulate alternative modes of co-existence with water. The hydrofeminist framework offers critical insights into the intersections of capitalism, colonialism, patriarchy, and environmental degradation, emphasizing how women’s embodied experiences are central to envisioning new water governance paradigms. This study reveals how women’s affective, spiritual, and territorial ties to water foster strategies of resilience, recovery, and re-existence that challenge the dominant extractivist logics. By centering these hydrofeminist life histories, this article contributes to broader debates on environmental justice, decolonial feminisms, and the urgent need to rethink human–water relationships within the current climate crisis. Full article

Aluminum alloy, due to its low melting point and high thermal conductivity, deforms and contracts significantly during welding. To mitigate this and achieve full penetration in a single pass, this study uses GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) additive manufacturing and optimizes welding groove parameters via the Box-Behnken Response Surface Methodology. The focus is on improving tensile strength and penetration depth by analyzing the effects of groove angle, root face width, and root gap. The results show that groove angle most significantly affects tensile strength and penetration depth. Hardness profiles exhibit a W-shape, with base material hardness decreasing and weld zone hardness increasing as groove angle rises. Root face width reduces hardness fluctuation in the weld zone, and an appropriate root gap compensates for thermal expansion, enhancing joint performance. The interaction between root face width and root gap most impacts tensile strength, while groove angle and root face width interaction most affects penetration depth. The optimal welding parameters for 7xxx aluminum alloy GTAW are a groove angle of 70.8°, root face width of 1.38 mm, and root gap of 0 mm. This results in a tensile strength of 297.95 MPa and penetration depth of 5 mm, a 90.38% increase in tensile strength compared to the RSM experimental worst group. Microstructural analysis reveals the presence of β-Mg₂Si and η-MgZn₂ strengthening phases, which contribute to the material’s enhanced mechanical properties. Fracture surface examination exhibits characteristic ductile fracture features, including dimples and shear lips, confirming the material’s high ductility. The coexistence of these strengthening phases and ductile fracture behavior indicates excellent overall mechanical performance, balancing strength and plasticity. Full article

Workplace contextual emotions are structured ways of emotionally thinking about specific cues in the context that employees share within their organization. These dynamics reflect how employees emotionally interpret and respond to organizational environments. Contextual emotions may shape working relationships into different types of toxic emotional dynamics (e.g., claiming, controlling, distrusting, provoking) or, conversely, positive emotional dynamics (i.e., exchanging), thus setting the emotional tone that affects employees’ actions and their level of comfort/discomfort. The present study uses latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify subpopulations of employees who may experience differing levels of both positive and negative emotional dynamics (i.e., different configurations of emotional patterns of workplace behavior). Moreover, it examines whether the emergent profiles predict work-related (i.e., job satisfaction, burnout) and health-related outcomes (i.e., sleep disturbances, physical and mental health). Using data from 801 Italian employees, we identified four latent profiles: “functional dynamics” (low toxic emotions and high exchange), “dialectical dynamics” (co-existence of medium toxic emotions and medium exchange), “mild dysfunctional dynamics” (moderately high toxic emotions and low exchange), and “highly dysfunctional dynamics” (extremely high toxic emotions and extremely low exchange). Moreover, employees in the dialectical, mild dysfunctional, and highly dysfunctional groups reported progressively higher levels of poor health outcomes and progressively lower levels of satisfaction, whereas the functional group was at low risk of stress and was the most satisfied group. The theoretical and practical implications of the LPA-classified emotional patterns of workplace behavior are discussed in light of the relevance of identifying vulnerable subpopulations of employees diversely exposed to toxic configurations of emotional/relational ambience. Full article

Understanding microbial adaptation and tolerance based on the cellular concentration and biosorption capacity provides critical insights for evaluating microbial performance under heavy metal stress, which is essential for selecting efficient strains or consortia for bioremediation applications. In this study, the adaptation and tolerance of Bacillus megaterium and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa to elevated concentrations of copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) were investigated by introducing the maximum adaptation concentration (MAC) alongside the maximum tolerable concentration (MTC) and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). A Gaussian model was fitted to the relative growth responses to estimate the MACs, MTCs, and MICs. B. megaterium exhibited MACs of 4.6 ppm Cu and 393.9 ppm Mn, while R. mucilaginosa showed MACs of 59.6 ppm Cu and 64.4 ppm Mn, corresponding to concentrations that stimulated their maximum cell density. A biosorption analysis revealed average capacities of 6.3 ± 5.3 mg Cu/g biomass and 28.6 ± 17.2 mg Mn/g biomass, positively correlated with the MTCs, indicating enhanced metal uptake under sublethal stress. The co-culture assays demonstrated dynamic microbial interactions shaped by the type and concentration of metal, including coexistence, competitive substitution, and dominance by tolerance. These findings support the use of MACs as indicators of growth stimulation and MTCs as thresholds for enhanced metal uptake, providing a dual-parameter framework for selecting metallotolerant microorganisms for metal recovery strategies. Full article

Interspecific interactions among sympatric carnivores are critical for understanding patterns of coexistence, competition, and community structure. Among mesocarnivores, dominance hierarchies are typically shaped by differences in body size, social organization, and competitive ability. The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is generally assumed to dominate the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) across shared landscapes, particularly at high-value resources such as carcasses. However, here, we present rare behavioral evidence that challenges this prevailing assumption. Using motion-triggered camera traps deployed at a carcass in Lake Kerkini National Park, Greece, we recorded a sequence of interactions in which a golden jackal displayed clear submissive behavior toward a red fox, including lowered body posture, tail tucking, and conflict avoidance. Subsequent footage revealed two additional agonistic encounters, during which the same red fox successfully displaced two separate jackals, one of which emitted a distress vocalization while retreating. These findings represent the first documented case of interspecific submission by golden jackals toward a red fox and suggest that context-specific factors—such as immediate carcass possession, individual experience, or body condition—may modulate expected dominance outcomes. Our observations underscore the importance of fine-scale behavioral studies in revealing plasticity in interspecific relationships and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of carnivore competition under semi-natural conditions. Full article

Edge populations can harbor unique genetic diversity shaped by historical isolation and play a key role in species’ resilience and range expansion under ongoing climate warming. The Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus) reaches the northern limit of its range in Central Europe, where isolated populations may provide key insights into the species’ evolutionary potential and conservation priorities. In Bohemia (the western Czech Republic), only one reproducing population, in the vicinity of Stráž nad Ohří (SO), had previously been confirmed north of the species’ continuous distribution. Here, we report two additional reproducing populations recently discovered through long-term monitoring: one at the Želinský meander (ZM) and another in Central Bohemia (CB). The ZM population is autochthonous, viable, and genetically remarkable, harboring two divergent mitochondrial haplotypes: the widespread Eastern phylogeographical clade haplotype E1 and a novel haplotype, W10, belonging to the Western clade. This represents the first confirmed record of a Western clade haplotype in the Czech Republic, and only the second known locality within the species’ entire range where both clades coexist. In contrast, the CB population—founded by human-mediated translocation from SO—is expanding dynamically and is represented solely by E1, the only haplotype previously recorded in the country. Our study highlights the importance of incorporating genetic data into conservation planning and understanding species’ evolutionary potential. The mitochondrial diversity uncovered at the ZM exemplifies how historical processes, isolation, and lineage mixing shape contemporary genetic structure. Preserving such populations, which retain unique evolutionary diversity, will be critical for maintaining the resilience of Z. longissimus in Central Europe. More broadly, disjunct northern populations may serve as reservoirs of genetic diversity, enhancing adaptive potential and supporting future range expansion under climate change. Recognizing and conserving this diversity is essential not only for local persistence but also for species-level resilience in a rapidly changing environment. Full article

Across the centuries, trees have been recognised as one of the oldest lifeforms on earth, witnessing and subject to the passage of time on a scale that far exceeds human life, telling us who we are in the world. This paper explores the intricate nature of human interactions with trees across a broad chronological and conceptual range, and the cultural, symbolic, and ecological meaning of “iconic” trees, drawing upon a selection of case studies to explore and analyse the relationship between the tree as a living organism and its cultural, textual, and mnemonic meaning. In conducting this, it reflects upon the cultural geographies of presence and absence, and the role of emblematic trees as places of memory and structures of belief. The relationship between human life and the life of trees is shown to be symbiotic; multiple cultural values and symbolic forms are ascribed to trees, and those same trees shape the physical, ecological, and human environment. The social and cultural construction of the landscape and sites of memory is presented as a key component in the formation of narratives and mentalities that define the relationship between humans and iconic trees, material and imagined. Physical, ecological, and cultural erosion, it is suggested, have the capacity of memorialising forgetfulness and creating a space in which the absence of presence and the presence of absence co-exist. The iconic image of the fallen tree, in its presence and absence, exposes the extent to which trees are also human objects, constructed and understood in human terms, and subject to a range of personal, political, and pragmatic impulses. A tree can be iconic not simply because of what it was but because of what it was believed to be, integrating a physical, historical, memory, and ecological or cultural space into our relationship with the natural world. Full article

Cell membranes contain a variety of biomolecules, especially various kinds of lipids and proteins, which constantly change with fluidity and environmental stimuli. Though Helfrich curvature elastic energy has successfully explained many phenomena for single-component membranes, a new theoretical framework for multicomponent membranes is still a challenge. In this work, we propose a generalized Helfrich free-energy functional describe equilibrium shapes and phase behaviors related to membrane heterogeneity with via curvature-component coupling in a unified framework. For multicomponent membranes, a new but important Laplace–Beltrami operator is derived from the variational calculation on the integral of Gaussian curvature and applied to explain the spontaneous nanotube formation of an asymmetric glycolipid vesicle. Therefore, our general mathematical framework shows a predictive capabilities beyond the existing multicomponent membrane models. The set of new curvature-component coupling EL equations have been derived for global vesicle shapes associated with the composition redistribution of multicomponent membranes for the first time and specified into several typical geometric shape equations. The equilibrium radii of isotonic vesicles for both spherical and cylindrical geometries are calculated. The analytical solution for isotonic vesicles reveals that membrane stability requires distinct elastic moduli among components ($k_{\mathrm{A}}\ne k_{\mathrm{B}}$, ${\overline{k}}_{\mathrm{A}}\ne {\overline{k}}_{\mathrm{B}}$), which is consistent with experimental observations of coexisting lipid domains. Furthermore, we elucidate the biophysical implications of the derived shape equations, linking them to experimentally observed membrane remodeling processes. Our new free-energy framework provides a baseline for more detailed microscopic membrane models. Full article

Exploring host preference and resource partitioning among seed predator species is essential for understanding the coexistence mechanisms and guiding effective forest pest management. This study aimed to elucidate how seed traits influence infestation dynamics and species interactions, focusing on acorn weevils infesting Quercus mongolica. Species identification and clarification of their evolutionary relationships within the Curculio genus were performed through phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequences. The seed infestation patterns were assessed by comparing the infestation rates across various seed size classes. Furthermore, the correlations between the seed morphological traits (length, width, aspect ratio, and weight) and weevil abundance were analyzed. The phylogenetic results revealed well-supported monophyletic clades corresponding to Curculio arakawai and Curculio sikkimensis. This confirmed the clear genetic separation between these two distinct weevil species, thereby substantiating the divergence observed in weevil populations correlated with different seed hosts. The infestation patterns revealed the association of weevil species-specific preferences with seed size: C. arakawai predominantly infested larger acorn seeds, whereas C. sikkimensis predominantly infested smaller acorn seeds. C. sikkimensis favored smaller ones. Both species exhibited positive correlations between abundance and seed length and width in larger seeds; however, the seed weight displayed no significant effect. These results indicate niche differentiation mediated by seed size and morphology, which likely reduced interspecific competition and facilitated coexistence. This study elucidates species-specific host selection patterns in acorn weevils and highlights acorn traits as crucial factors shaping seed predator assemblages. The findings provide valuable insights for developing targeted pest management strategies and supporting sustainable oak forest regeneration. Full article

Satellite cloud images exhibit complex multidimensional characteristics, including spectral, textural, and spatiotemporal dynamics. The temporal evolution of cloud systems plays a crucial role in accurate classification, particularly under the coexistence of multiple weather systems. However, most existing models—such as those based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs), Transformer architectures, and their variants like Swin Transformer—primarily focus on spatial modeling of static images and do not explicitly incorporate temporal information, thereby limiting their ability to effectively integrate spatiotemporal features. To address this limitation, we propose SIG-ShapeFormer, a novel classification model specifically designed for satellite cloud images with temporal continuity. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to transform satellite cloud data into multivariate time series and introduce a unified framework for multi-scale and multimodal feature fusion. SIG-Shapeformer consists of three core components: (1) a Shapelet-based module that captures discriminative and interpretable local temporal patterns; (2) a multi-scale Inception module combining 1D convolutions and Transformer encoders to extract temporal features across different scales; and (3) a differentially enhanced Gramian Angular Summation Field (GASF) module that converts time series into 2D texture representations, significantly improving the recognition of cloud internal structures. Experimental results demonstrate that SIG-ShapeFormer achieves a classification accuracy of 99.36% on the LSCIDMR-S dataset, outperforming the original ShapeFormer by 2.2% and outperforming other CNN- or Transformer-based models. Moreover, the model exhibits strong generalization performance on the UCM remote sensing dataset and several benchmark tasks from the UEA time-series archive. SIG-Shapeformer is particularly suitable for remote sensing applications involving continuous temporal sequences, such as extreme weather warnings and dynamic cloud system monitoring. However, it relies on temporally coherent input data and may perform suboptimally when applied to datasets with limited or irregular temporal resolution. Full article