Progress in systematics and biogeography of Orchidaceae

Orchidaceae are one of the largest families of angiosperms in terms of species richness.In the last decade,numerous studies have delved into reconstructing the phylogenetic framework of Orchidaceae,leveraging data from plastid,mitochondrial and nuclear sources.These studies have provided new insights into the systematics,diversification and biogeography of Orchidaceae,establishing a robust foundation for future research.Nevertheless,pronounced controversies persist regarding the precise placement of certain lineages within these phylogenetic frameworks.To address these discrepancies and deepen our understanding of the phylogenetic structure of Orchidaceae,we provide a comprehensive overview and analysis of phylogenetic studies focusing on contentious groups within Orchidaceae since 2015,delving into discussions on the underlying reasons for observed topological conflicts.We also provide a novel phylogenetic framework at the subtribal level.Furthermore,we examine the tempo and mode underlying orchid species diversity from the perspective of historical biogeography,highlighting factors contributing to extensive speciation.Ultimately,we delineate avenues for future research aimed at enhancing our understanding of Orchidaceae phylogeny and diversity.

Obstacle Avoidance Capability for Multi-Target Path Planning in Different Styles of Search

This study investigates robot path planning for multiple agents,focusing on the critical requirement that agents can pursue concurrent pathways without collisions.Each agent is assigned a task within the environment to reach a designated destination.When the map or goal changes unexpectedly,particularly in dynamic and unknown environments,it can lead to potential failures or performance degradation in various ways.Additionally,priority inheritance plays a significant role in path planning and can impact performance.This study proposes a ConflictBased Search(CBS)approach,introducing a unique hierarchical search mechanism for planning paths for multiple robots.The study aims to enhance flexibility in adapting to different environments.Three scenarios were tested,and the accuracy of the proposed algorithm was validated.In the first scenario,path planning was applied in unknown environments,both stationary and mobile,yielding excellent results in terms of time to arrival and path length,with a time of 2.3 s.In the second scenario,the algorithm was applied to complex environments containing sharp corners and unknown obstacles,resulting in a time of 2.6 s,with the algorithm also performing well in terms of path length.In the final scenario,the multi-objective algorithm was tested in a warehouse environment containing fixed,mobile,and multi-targeted obstacles,achieving a result of up to 100.4 s.Based on the results and comparisons with previous work,the proposed method was found to be highly effective,efficient,and suitable for various environments.

Ethical Decision-Making Framework Based on Incremental ILP Considering Conflicts

Humans are experiencing the inclusion of artificial agents in their lives,such as unmanned vehicles,service robots,voice assistants,and intelligent medical care.If the artificial agents cannot align with social values or make ethical decisions,they may not meet the expectations of humans.Traditionally,an ethical decision-making framework is constructed by rule-based or statistical approaches.In this paper,we propose an ethical decision-making framework based on incremental ILP(Inductive Logic Programming),which can overcome the brittleness of rule-based approaches and little interpretability of statistical approaches.As the current incremental ILP makes it difficult to solve conflicts,we propose a novel ethical decision-making framework considering conflicts in this paper,which adopts our proposed incremental ILP system.The framework consists of two processes:the learning process and the deduction process.The first process records bottom clauses with their score functions and learns rules guided by the entailment and the score function.The second process obtains an ethical decision based on the rules.In an ethical scenario about chatbots for teenagers’mental health,we verify that our framework can learn ethical rules and make ethical decisions.Besides,we extract incremental ILP from the framework and compare it with the state-of-the-art ILP systems based on ASP(Answer Set Programming)focusing on conflict resolution.The results of comparisons show that our proposed system can generate better-quality rules than most other systems.

Multi-UAVs Collaborative Path Planning in the Cramped Environment

Due to its flexibility and complementarity, the multiUAVs system is well adapted to complex and cramped workspaces, with great application potential in the search and rescue(SAR) and indoor goods delivery fields. However, safe and effective path planning of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs)in the cramped environment is always challenging: conflicts with each other are frequent because of high-density flight paths, collision probability increases because of space constraints, and the search space increases significantly, including time scale, 3D scale and model scale. Thus, this paper proposes a hierarchical collaborative planning framework with a conflict avoidance module at the high level and a path generation module at the low level. The enhanced conflict-base search(ECBS) in our framework is improved to handle the conflicts in the global path planning and avoid the occurrence of local deadlock. And both the collision and kinematic models of UAVs are considered to improve path smoothness and flight safety. Moreover, we specifically designed and published the cramped environment test set containing various unique obstacles to evaluating our framework performance thoroughly. Experiments are carried out relying on Rviz, with multiple flight missions: random, opposite, and staggered, which showed that the proposed method can generate smooth cooperative paths without conflict for at least 60 UAVs in a few minutes.The benchmark and source code are released in https://github.com/inin-xingtian/multi-UAVs-path-planner.

An Improved Bounded Conflict-Based Search for Multi-AGV Pathfinding in Automated Container Terminals

As the number of automated guided vehicles(AGVs)within automated container terminals(ACT)continues to rise,conflicts have becomemore frequent.Addressing point and edge conflicts ofAGVs,amulti-AGVconflict-free path planning model has been formulated to minimize the total path length of AGVs between shore bridges and yards.For larger terminalmaps and complex environments,the grid method is employed to model AGVs’road networks.An improved bounded conflict-based search(IBCBS)algorithmtailored to ACT is proposed,leveraging the binary tree principle to resolve conflicts and employing focal search to expand the search range.Comparative experiments involving 60 AGVs indicate a reduction in computing time by 37.397%to 64.06%while maintaining the over cost within 1.019%.Numerical experiments validate the proposed algorithm’s efficacy in enhancing efficiency and ensuring solution quality.

What are the underlying causes and dynamics of land use conflicts in metropolitan junction areas?A case study of the central Chengdu–Chongqing region in China

Land use conflicts(LUCs),as a spatial manifestation of the conflicts in the human-land relationships,have a profound impact on regional sustainable development.For China’s metropolitan junction areas(MJAs),the existence of“administrative district economies”has made the issue of LUCs more prominent.Based on a case study of the central Chengdu–Chongqing region,we conducted an exploratory spatial data analysis of the evolutionary process of regional LUCs.Furthermore,structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze the dynamic mechanism of LUCs in MJAs,with a particular emphasis on exploring the influences of administrative boundary.The results showed that from 2010 to 2020,LUCs in the central Chengdu–Chongqing region continued to worsen,and the spatial process conflict and spatial structure conflict indices increased by more than 30.0%.The intensification of LUCs in the central Chengdu–Chongqing region from 2010 to 2020 was mainly the result of the deterioration of conflicts in evaluation units with low conflict levels.LUCs in China’s metropolitan areas generally presented a circular gradient distribution,weakening from the core to the periphery,but there were some strong isolated conflict zones in the outer regions.LUCs in China’s MJAs were the result of interactions among multiple factors,e.g.,natural environment,socio-economic development,policy and institutional processes,and administrative boundary effects.Administrative boundary affected the flow of socio-economic elements,changing the supply-and-demand competition of stakeholders for land resources,consequently exerting an indirect influence on LUCs.This study advances the theory of the dynamic mechanism of LUCs,and provides theoretical support for the governance of these conflicts in transboundary areas.

Association between people’s attitudes towards human-elephant conflict and their locational,demographic,and socio-economic characteristics in Buxa Tiger Reserve and its adjoining area,India

“Human-elephant conflict(HEC)”,the alarming issue,in present day context has attracted the attention of environmentalists and policy makers.The rising conflict between human beings and wild elephants is common in Buxa Tiger Reserve(BTR)and its adjoining area in West Bengal State,India,making the area volatile.People’s attitudes towards elephant conservation activity are very crucial to get rid of HEC,because people’s proximity with wild elephants’habitat can trigger the occurrence of HEC.The aim of this study is to conduct an in-depth investigation about the association of people’s attitudes towards HEC with their locational,demographic,and socio-economic characteristics in BTR and its adjoining area by using Pearson’s bivariate chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis.BTR is one of the constituent parts of Eastern Doors Elephant Reserve(EDER).We interviewed 500 respondents to understand their perceptions to HEC and investigated their locational,demographic,and socio-economic characteristics including location of village,gender,age,ethnicity,religion,caste,poverty level,education level,primary occupation,secondary occupation,household type,and source of firewood.The results indicate that respondents who are living in enclave forest villages(EFVs),peripheral forest villages(PFVs),corridor village(CVs),or forest and corridor villages(FCVs),mainly males,at the age of 18–48 years old,engaged with agriculture occupation,and living in kancha and mixed houses,have more likelihood to witness HEC.Besides,respondents who are illiterate or at primary education level are more likely to regard elephant as a main problematic animal around their villages and refuse to participate in elephant conservation activity.For the sake of a sustainable environment for both human beings and wildlife,people’s attitudes towards elephants must be friendly in a more prudent way,so that the two communities can live in harmony.

Spousal Involvement in the Workplace of Doctors: What Is Defined as Appropriate or Inappropriate

Background: Workers spend a significant amount of time in the workspace. Involvement of a spouse in a doctor’s workplace can take different forms and come with different intentions. Objectives: The survey aimed to determine the prevalence and extent of spousal involvement in physicians’ workplaces as well as the outcome of such involvement on doctor’ swell-being, productivity, and relationship with colleagues. Methods: This cross-sectional online survey on spousal involvement in the workplace of doctors was conducted among 83 responding doctors from July to August 2023. Results: Among the respondents, 60 (72.3%) had witnessed a doctor’s spouse being involved in the workplace. The most common reason for spousal involvement in the workplace was to protect the spouse from what they perceived as a threat 34 (54.0%). Spouse’s ignorance of boundaries in the workplace (OR: 6.09 (95% CI: 1.70, 21.79) P: 0.003) and exertion of control by the spouse (OR: 11.2 (95% CI: 2.26, 56.41) P: 0.002) were significantly associated with higher odds of inappropriate spousal involvement in the workplace, while expression of love for spouse with acts of kindness was significantly associated with a lowered odd of inappropriate spousal involvement (OR: 0.11 (95% CI: 0.03, 0.36) P: 0.0001). Conclusion: Spousal involvement in the workplace is relatively common. Ignorance of the boundaries of the workplace and exertion of control by the spouse were significant enablers of inappropriate spousal involvement in the workplace of doctors. The establishment of workplace policies that define the limits of spousal involvement in the doctor’s workplace can foster a healthy workspace environment, enhance doctors’ well-being, and improve patient care.

Prevalence of Malnutrition and Anaemia in Children ≤ 5 Years of Age in Some Conflict Hit Areas of Meme Division of the South West Region of Cameroon

Malnutrition refers to the deficiency, imbalances, or excesses in a person’s intake of energy or nutrients [1]. Khan defines anaemia as below level of Haemoglobin in red blood shown by a lower number of functioning red blood cells [2]. The crisis in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon has led to several negative effects on children’s living conditions. There has been an increase in malnutrition and anaemia in the South West Region and Kumba in particular. The main objective of this study was “to examine the prevalence of malnutrition and anaemia in children ≤ 5 years of age in some conflict-hit areas of Meme Division”. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 from March to June. We recruited 200 children ≤ 5 years into the study from three hospitals. The regional hospital annex in Kumba, Presbyterian General Hospital Kumba and the Ntam Hospital in Kumba. Socio-demographic factors were assessed using questionnaire, nutritional status was assessed by the use anthropometric measurements and an auto haematology analyser was used to determine anaemia. The overall prevalence of malnutrition in the study area was 40.5%. The prevalence of malnutrition varied significantly (P < 0.001) with the study sites. The overall prevalence of anaemia in the study area was 70.5%. The prevalence of anaemia was not significantly associated with the study sites. The prevalence of Malnutrition and Anaemia in children ≤ 5 years of age is very high in the Kumba municipalities. This could be attributed to the ongoing crisis which has caused a lot of social migrations from rural areas to Urban areas which are safer.

Mental Health Consequences among Sudanese Due to the Armed Conflicts and Civil Unrest of 2023: One Year Later

Aim: To investigate depression, anxiety, PTSD, and insomnia levels among Sudanese citizens after a year has passed since the start of Armed Forces conflict in Sudan. Methods: An online survey was distributed. It is composed of five parts, covering the following areas: 1) sociodemographic data;2) depression assessment;3) generalized anxiety disorder assessment;4) post-traumatic stress disorder assessment;and 5) insomnia assessment. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27 was used for data analysis;frequency and percentage were used to describe the qualitative variables. Spearman’s correlation analysis and Chi-square test were used for correlation and association analysis;a P-value equal to or less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study included 283 participants, primarily female (76.0%), with a mean age of 35.26 ± 6.96 years. The majority of participants were married (50.5%) and had a university level of education (50.2%). At the start of the war, 70.3% of participants were inside the war zones, and at the time of data collection, 73.5% were outside Sudan. The length of stay in the war zone ranged from 1 to 300 days, with a mean of 48.59 ± 70.284 days. Additionally, 63.3% of participants stated that they did not receive any form of mental health intervention, and the remaining did not provide an answer. There was a high prevalence of moderate-severe depression (50.5%), moderate anxiety (35.3%), PTSD (56.5%), and sub-threshold insomnia (53.4%) among the participants. Correlation analyses revealed associations between demographic factors such as sex, age, marital status, and education and mental health issues. Notably, female participants showed a higher prevalence of PTSD (53.0%) compared to male participants (67.6%). Conclusions: There is a substantial impact of war-related trauma on mental health, revealing a high prevalence of moderate-severe depression, moderate anxiety, PTSD, and sub-threshold insomnia among the participants. This emphasizes the importance of tailored interventions and support systems to address the unique needs of individuals affected by war trauma.

Optimization of High-Concurrency Conflict Issues in Execute-Order-Validate Blockchain

With the maturation and advancement of blockchain technology,a novel execute-order-validate(EOV)architecture has been proposed,allowing transactions to be executed in parallel during the execution phase.However,parallel execution may lead to multi-version concurrency control(MVCC)conflicts during the validation phase,resulting in transaction invalidation.Based on different causes,we categorize conflicts in the EOV blockchain into two types:within-block conflicts and cross-block conflicts,and propose an optimization solution called FabricMan based on Fabric v2.4.For within-block conflicts,a reordering algorithm is designed to improve the transaction success rate and parallel validation is implemented based on the transaction conflict graph.We also merge transfer transactions to prevent triggering multiple version checks.For cross-block conflicts,a cache-based version validation mechanism is implemented to detect and terminate invalid transactions in advance.Experimental comparisons are conducted between FabricMan and two other systems,Fabric and Fabric++.The results show that FabricMan outperforms the other two systems in terms of throughput,transaction abort rate,algorithm execution time,and other experimental metrics.

African Short Story Writers and Intrapersonal Conflicts: A Critical Perspective on a Selected Short Story

The article examines the concept of intrapersonal conflict,the ravaging wars within oneself,that which is truly deeper than indecisiveness,what is responsible for inner conflict,its origin,the consequences,and how to avoid it.It employs Dul Johnsons’“In the Jaws of Love”in his Why Women Won’t Make It to Heaven.The theory for the investigation is sociological theory which articulates the inevitable relationship between literature and society.The inquiry unearths that an individuals’attempt to satisfy the needs of one’s environment at the expense of sound reasoning,the individual’s inability to find a balance between the individual’s head and heart,and being religious are detrimental to one’s wellbeing.It creates intrapersonal conflict which is indeed destructive.The paper resolves that people should be able to tell themselves the truth,recognise and accept same,even if it comes from one with whom they disagree.It also explicates that people should not depend on religious and secular leader or people to take decisions for them,and that living in fear is devastating among other things.

Characterisation of Human-Wildlife Conflicts around the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

The history of mankind contains so many illustrations of well-classified and violent struggles against various animals over crop production in agricultural fields, attacks on human life or competition in order to have access to certain natural resources. The aim of this study is to characterise the human-wildlife conflicts that occur around the KBNP, especially with regard to primates. Surveys were carried out in 260 households selected using the snowball method. The results showed that human-wildlife conflicts around the KBNP are characterised by the destruction of crops in riparian fields by monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas, the destruction of houses, physical attacks and zoonoses. Despite the conservation and protection measures for wildlife and local populations put in place by the Park’s managers, conflicts between local populations and the Park’s wild animals are still visible. These conflicts lead to the detention of wild animals by local people roaming in the villages and to poaching on the Park’s boundaries. The weakness of the community management policy on the part of the park managers and the resentment of the indigenous peoples towards the restriction of their access to natural resources are the major constraints on the sustainable management of conflicts between the local populations and the wild animals in the KBNP. The strategies for the sustainable resolution of human-wildlife conflicts around the KBNP must be geared towards and integrated into a community conservation approach.

The Conflict between Individuals and Society in Seize the Day

This paper explores the existential problem in Seize the Day-the conflict between individuals and society in modern society.With a brief introduction of Saul Bellow and the novel,the paper emphasizes the analysis of the conflict and the sources of the conflict.Besides,Saul Bellow uses many rhetorical devices to intensify the conflict.The analysis of these rhetorical devices is beneficial for us to interpret and understand the true meaning of the novel.Through the study of Bellow’s vision and the novel’s metaphorical meaning,we may find an effective solution to the conflict that our human being is involved in,and realize the social values of this novel.

Peacebuilding Is Social Work:From Political Science to Social Psychology

For the longest time,peacemaking and peacekeeping were the only post-factum interventions to resolve armed conflicts usually related to a nation-state’s borders or territory.Peacebuilding has its origins in sociology(Galtung,1969;1975)and is used today as a preferred concept in matters of conflict.However,this paper explores why peacebuilding,as the Secretary General of the United Nations advocates in A New Agenda for Peace,must become a nonlinear and contextual process that promotes the prevention of conflict and invites a transformative approach to addressing the linkages between peace,security,and climate.Furthermore,this paper advocates that peacebuilding grounded in social psychology and social anthropology will bring about transformative outcomes as it will build relationships at the community level and become a preventive tool to address incipient tensions within the community.Peacebuilding as social work will benefit the community and lay the necessary foundations for a sustainable future.Social workers are equipped to assess,analyze,and solve problems.Their capacity to do ongoing social diagnosis is a critical tool to prevent skirmishes degenerating into conflicts.Social work could be the much-needed resource to further develop theory and practice that contributes to active peacebuilding.

Joint Management of Shared Resources, Issues and Conflicts of the Nso and Oku Tribes in the Ngongbaa Montane Forest Area, NWR of Cameroon

Wherever people live together in or near homelands that harbour joint natural resources such as forest, water, minerals, oil etc., they must collaborate, co-exist and share these resources irrespective of their genetic, social, cultural, and political peculiarities. This is not always the case when self-interest, ethnic divisions, elitist politics, economic interest and power tussle set in. The Nso and Oku people who reside in the Ngongbaa Forest area constitute an example of joint management of resources where at one period, their relationship over the management of the Oku Mountain Forest was cordial and at another, the relationship became conflictive. This study was designed to study the influence of the KIFP forest management policies on the Nso indigenous forest Management system in Ngongbaa Forest, and its implications. The data collected for the study was secured through the administration of a questionnaire to residents of 10 villages adjacent to the Ngongbaa Forest, and forest users who carried out livelihood activities there between 1963 and 2015. These forest user groups include beekeepers, rat trappers, grazers, mushroom gatherers, ground honey/tree honey harvesters, carvers, etc. The investigation also extended to the traditional leaders of Nso and Oku who are in charge of the land tenure systems. The findings show that the Oku Mountain Forest is jointly owned by the Nso and Oku people. The Nso own the eastern half of the forest known as Ngongbaa Forest while the Oku own the western half, known as the Kilum Forest. The cordial relationship that existed between these people ensured the conservation of the forest. But the conflicts that later set in, especially due to the creation of the Kilum Mountain Forest Project in 1987 later changed to the Kilum Ijim Forest Project (KIFP) in 1992 sidelined the local communities which was contrary to the dispositions of the new Cameroon forest law enacted in 1994. Thus, the indigenous conservation practices became ignored which the local population never digested well. This seriously jeopardized the wellbeing of the forest in general.

Analyzing the Impacts on East Asia of Trump’s Potential Return

The 2024 election is a pivotal and highly contested event in the United States.Donald Trump is expected to compete against Joe Biden without any doubts.A potential return of Trump to the White House would likely cause significant reactions in East Asia,particularly among the three major countries in the region.This analysis will explore the detailed implications of Trump’s return.

Role of Media in Promoting Peace and Conflict Resolution in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo

The research examined the role of media in promoting peace and conflict resolution in North Kivu,Democratic Republic of Congo.The security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo(DRC),particularly in the eastern region of North Kivu,has been deteriorating.The study was anchored in social identity theory.The research methodology employed for this study was qualitative,focusing on the analysis of Mr.Edgar Mateso’s contributions to Radio Okapi’s“Dialogue entre Congolais”program during the period from 2019 to 2023.The research was conducted within the broader context of the persistent war and conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo,providing valuable insights into the dynamics and challenges of addressing the ongoing insecurity and violence in the region.The study found that media,exemplified by Radio Okapi,plays a multifaceted and significant role in promoting peace and conflict resolution in North Kivu,Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC).It serves as a critical source of accurate information,enabling informed decision-making regarding ceasefire agreements,peace talks,and humanitarian aid.Media fosters dialogue and understanding among different stakeholders,contributing to reconciliation efforts.Additionally,it raises awareness about the human cost of the conflict,challenges misinformation,monitors peace agreements,amplifies the concerns of the affected population,and promotes human rights and justice.Media also engages youth,serves as an early warning system,and attracts global attention to the conflict.It is recommended that media organizations in North Kivu continue their efforts to facilitate dialogue and understanding among different stakeholder groups.Additionally,media should maintain its focus on raising awareness about the human cost of the conflict,ensuring that the suffering of civilians remains in the spotlight and generates international empathy and support.Media outlets should also continue their role as watchdogs by closely monitoring the implementation of ceasefire agreements and reporting any violations transparently.To strengthen media’s role in promoting peace,there should be continued advocacy for peace through dedicated radio programs,news reports,and editorial content.Internationally,media should continue to provide comprehensive coverage of the conflict in North Kivu,attracting global attention and shaping the perception of the conflict on the global stage.Lastly,media organizations should preserve a lasting legacy of peace by archiving peace-related content,documentaries,and narratives of reconciliation.

Living in a Condominium Regime:Neighborhood Conflicts in Low-Income Housing,Tijuana,Baja California-A Secondary Publication

This paper analyzes neighborhood conflicts arising from the condominium property regime,under which social housing promoted by Mexican government institutions and private developers is acquired.This regime has facilitated access to housing for the salaried population,but it is far from contributing to the attainment of the right to housing.The research takes as case studies housing complexes located in the city of Tijuana,Baja California,Mexico.The analysis included a mixed methodology.Firstly,similar case studies were analyzed;secondly,a review of the Condominium Property Regime Law was carried out in order to understand its implications.In view of the pandemic situation,a virtual survey was applied to the inhabitants of these areas,as well as interviews with presidents of neighborhood committees of these complexes.From the above,it was found that this form of ownership generates conflicts,reflected in the dissatisfaction of the inhabitants with their housing,disagreements and controversies in their organization and coexistence.The inhabitants have to collectively solve the problems they face,related to the maintenance and use of common areas,insecurity,and cleanliness,among others.In addition,there is a lack of support from local authorities.With this,it is concluded that although the inhabitants have a space that solves their housing problem,it does not manage to be a space that adequately guarantees their right to housing.

Review of Load Balancing Mechanisms in SDN-Based Data Centers

With the continuous expansion of the data center network scale, changing network requirements, and increasing pressure on network bandwidth, the traditional network architecture can no longer meet people’s needs. The development of software defined networks has brought new opportunities and challenges to future networks. The data and control separation characteristics of SDN improve the performance of the entire network. Researchers have integrated SDN architecture into data centers to improve network resource utilization and performance. This paper first introduces the basic concepts of SDN and data center networks. Then it discusses SDN-based load balancing mechanisms for data centers from different perspectives. Finally, it summarizes and looks forward to the study on SDN-based load balancing mechanisms and its development trend.