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.

Chaotic Elephant Herd Optimization with Machine Learning for Arabic Hate Speech Detection

In recent years,the usage of social networking sites has considerably increased in the Arab world.It has empowered individuals to express their opinions,especially in politics.Furthermore,various organizations that operate in the Arab countries have embraced social media in their day-to-day business activities at different scales.This is attributed to business owners’understanding of social media’s importance for business development.However,the Arabic morphology is too complicated to understand due to the availability of nearly 10,000 roots and more than 900 patterns that act as the basis for verbs and nouns.Hate speech over online social networking sites turns out to be a worldwide issue that reduces the cohesion of civil societies.In this background,the current study develops a Chaotic Elephant Herd Optimization with Machine Learning for Hate Speech Detection(CEHOML-HSD)model in the context of the Arabic language.The presented CEHOML-HSD model majorly concentrates on identifying and categorising the Arabic text into hate speech and normal.To attain this,the CEHOML-HSD model follows different sub-processes as discussed herewith.At the initial stage,the CEHOML-HSD model undergoes data pre-processing with the help of the TF-IDF vectorizer.Secondly,the Support Vector Machine(SVM)model is utilized to detect and classify the hate speech texts made in the Arabic language.Lastly,the CEHO approach is employed for fine-tuning the parameters involved in SVM.This CEHO approach is developed by combining the chaotic functions with the classical EHO algorithm.The design of the CEHO algorithm for parameter tuning shows the novelty of the work.A widespread experimental analysis was executed to validate the enhanced performance of the proposed CEHOML-HSD approach.The comparative study outcomes established the supremacy of the proposed CEHOML-HSD model over other approaches.

An Optimized Novel Trust-Based Security Mechanism Using Elephant Herd Optimization

Routing strategies and security issues are the greatest challenges in Wireless Sensor Network(WSN).Cluster-based routing Low Energy adaptive Clustering Hierarchy(LEACH)decreases power consumption and increases net-work lifetime considerably.Securing WSN is a challenging issue faced by researchers.Trust systems are very helpful in detecting interfering nodes in WSN.Researchers have successfully applied Nature-inspired Metaheuristics Optimization Algorithms as a decision-making factor to derive an improved and effective solution for a real-time optimization problem.The metaheuristic Elephant Herding Optimizations(EHO)algorithm is formulated based on ele-phant herding in their clans.EHO considers two herding behaviors to solve and enhance optimization problem.Based on Elephant Herd Optimization,a trust-based security method is built in this work.The proposed routing selects routes to destination based on the trust values,thus,finding optimal secure routes for transmitting data.Experimental results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed EHO based routing.The Average Packet Loss Rate of the proposed Trust Elephant Herd Optimization performs better by 35.42%,by 1.45%,and by 31.94%than LEACH,Elephant Herd Optimization,and Trust LEACH,respec-tively at Number of Nodes 3000.As the proposed routing is efficient in selecting secure routes,the average packet loss rate is significantly reduced,improving the network’s performance.It is also observed that the lifetime of the network is enhanced with the proposed Trust Elephant Herd Optimization.

Environmental Enrichment and Its Effect on the Welfare of Two Asian Elephants in Africam Safari Wildlife Conservation Park (Puebla, Mexico)

Animal welfare is important in zoos to maintain the physical well-being and psychological health of individuals. An animal is considered to have welfare if it has good nutrition and also expresses its innate behavior, including sensations and feelings experienced as a result of physical health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of environmental enrichment on the behaviors of two Asian elephants in a wildlife conservation park. The behavior of two Asian elephants, a 46-year-old male and a 59-year-old female, was observed. Behavior was measured by quantifying the frequency, latency, and duration of behavioral actions. Measurements were done with ad libitum sampling during 5 days of testing, then observations were recorded with focal sampling for 25 days with environmental enrichment and 25 days without enrichment. Data were analyzed with the Chi-square statistical test using the statistical program SPSS 20, observing significant differences (P the application of environmental enrichment. The frequency of maintenance behaviors was higher when environmental enrichment was provided, and the frequency of social conducts (affiliative and agonistic) decreased. In fact, the behaviors most frequently presented by elephants with and without environmental enrichment were definitely maintenance behaviors. The environmental enrichment program helped to reduce the duration of abnormal behaviors and increase the frequency of typical behaviors of the species. It also increased independent movements within the exhibition area and helped to know each of the elephants individually in order to apply each enrichment combination according to their needs.

Inferring Human-elephant Coexistence Based on Characteristics of Human-elephant Interactions in Nangunhe of Yunnan,China

Human-wildlife conflict(HWC)negatively impacts both humans and wildlife.Attitudes of local residents have been critical in promoting wildlife conservation.It is therefore necessary to understand the characteristics of HWC and identify influential factors on attitudes towards conservation to implement conservation strategies efficiently.This research focused on features of human-elephant interactions,while attitudes and values regarding the small population of Asian elephants(Elephas maximus)in Nangunhe National Nature Reserve(NNR),Yunnan,China.The total of 327 valid questionnaires were gathered around the area where Asian elephants were distributed.Logistic regression models were employed to analyze the correlations among five predictor variables(‘Area’,‘Family size’,‘Annual income’,‘Quantity of family members in non-primary industries’and‘Experiencing loss or not’)and three response variables(‘Attitude towards elephants’,‘Perception of the values of elephants’and‘Attitude towards tourism development’).The study area was densely forested with tea plants,rubber trees,corns and sugarcane.There,25.99%of respondents reported the experience of human-elephant conflict(HEC),with crop raiding and cash crop damages being the major conflict types.To demonstrate respect for elephants and to mitigate HEC,a unique custom called‘Giving tribute to elephants’was developed long ago.Respondents’township with an official annual festival of‘Giving Tribute to Elephants’(odds ratio(OR)=2.75,P=1.73×10^(-6))and higher annual income(OR=2.09,P=5.45×10^(-5))significantly contributed to forming a more positive attitude towards elephants,whereas HEC itself have contributed to a more negative attitude(OR=0.50,P=3.29×10^(-3)).Therefore,we propose that:1)reducing human-elephant conflict by testing multiple mitigation measures and adopting the most effective one of them;2)enhancing local livelihoods through the development of ecological products and ecotourism;and 3)preserving and developing the Wa culture in this region.The study area deserves more attention and further research to explore and obtain endorsement from the public to achieve coexistence between human and wildlife.

Correlation of Microstructure of Leaf Sheath Epidermis and Nutrient Composition of Palm Plants with the Damage Degree of Red Palm Fiber Elephant

[ Objective] Correlation of microstructure of leaf sheath epidermis and nutrient composition of palm plants with the damage degree of red palm fiber elephant in four kinds of plants in Nanning were analyzed in order to control the occurrence and damage of this insect in Nanning. [Method] Taken 4 kinds of Palmae plants in Nanning including Ravenea fivulafis, Washingtonia filifera, Phoenix canafiensis, Roystonea regia （HBK.）O. F. Cook as materials, damage situation of the red palm fiber elephant was investigated, microstructure of leaf sheath epidermis and nutrient composition of palm plants were analyzed and determined. [ Result] The results showed that there was direct correlation between the microstructure of leaf sheath epidermis and nutrient composition with the physical resistance of palm plant against red palm fiber elephant. The extend of damage from red palm fiber elephant had negatively relation with the thickness of corneum and leaf epidermis. The damage degree caused by red palm fiber elephant increased with the content of crude protein, crude ash and nitrogen free extract increasing, also increased with the content of rude fiber decreasing. [Condusion] The damage degree of red palm fiber elephant had a relationship with microstructure of leaf sheath epidermis and nutrient composition of palm plants.

Narrative Rhetoric of Hills Like White Elephants

Hills Like White Elephants is written by Ernest Hemingway,who is one of the greatest representatives of the American literature.Ingenious symbolism and efficient and powerful dialogue combine to make the story a representative of Hemingway's short stories.What is especially successful and notable about this book is that it fully represents the author’s style of the"iceberg",where space of multi-profound meanings is hidden in the simple plot.It is so impressive because Ernest Hemingway has succeeded in presenting the deep meaning as close as possible to the readers through the simple and concise words.This paper tries to carry out a research on the narrative rhetoric of Hills Like White Elephants from three aspects.The first part begins with the analysis of its narrator and narrative situation.The second part centers on the focalization.In the last part,the emphasis is put on the narrative modes.

Female Hemingway Hero in"Hills Like White Elephant"

Ernest Hemingway, an American author who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954, is well known for his distinctive writing style, characterized by economy and understatement, and exact portrayal of macho characters, which attracts many critics' attention and earns the title of Hemingway hero.This paper finds that the characteristics of the conventional Hemingway hero can be traced on the female character instead of the male character in"Hills Like White Elephants". Through analyzing the characteris- tics of Hemingway hero on the female character, the author concludes that the female character in"Hills Like White Elephants"of- fers a unique and unconventional example of Hemingway hero and deserves more attention in the research of Hemingway 's charac- terization.

An Interpretation on Jig's Psychological Fluctuations in Hills like White Elephants

Hills like White Elephants is one of the masterpieces of Ernest Hemingway. The story bears an open ending. This paper attempts to analyze the heroine-Jig's psychological fluctuations, and her three emotional stages to support the author's interpretation on the end of the story—the heroine's final decision is to have the baby born.

On Jig's Psychological Changes in the Short Story Hills Like White Elephants of Hemingway

Hills Like White Elephants is a short story by Ernest Hemingway.It is a story about an American man and a pregnant girl.As the protagonist,Jig is considered as a submissive woman who has no definite views of her own.This paper attempts to analyze the changes of Jig's inner thought during the forty minutes of waiting the train.In addition to how the girl has grown up from a weak and dependent character into a brave and independent female after the painful struggle in the helpless and hopeless states under the great pressure of the man.

翻译目的论视角下的Hills Like White Elephants汉译本解读——以张祥麟、翟象俊译本为例

基于翻译目的论,从译者的翻译目的、翻译方法、译者与其他翻译参与者(发起人、预期受众以及原作者)的关系等影响因素,对比分析Hills Like White Elephants汉译本,可看出翟象俊译本倾向于直译,张祥麟译本倾向于意译。两译者都充分考虑到预期受众这一重要因素,遵循了忠实原则和连贯原则,采取了相应的翻译手段,竭力实现了各自的翻译目的。

The Upper 1000-m Slope Currents North of the South Shetland Islands and Elephant Island Based on Ship Cruise Observations

While the Antarctic Slope Current(ASC) has been intensively studied for the East Antarctica slope area and the Weddell Sea, its fate in the western Antarctic Peninsula(WAP) region remains much less known. Data from two cruises conducted near the South Shetland Islands(SSIs) and the Elephant Island(EI), one in austral summer of 2004 and one in austral winter of 2006, were analyzed to provide a broad picture of the circulation pattern over the continental slope of the surveyed area, and an insight into the dynamical balance of the circulation. The results indicate that southwestward currents are present over the upper slope in the study area, indicating the ASC in the WAP region. Near the Shackleton Gap(SG) north of the EI, the southwestward slope currents near the shelf break are characterized by a water mass colder and fresher than the ambient water, which produces cross-slope density gradients and then vertical shear of the along-slope(or along-isobath) velocity. The vertical shear is associated with a reversal of the along-slope current from northeastward at surface to southwestward in deeper layers, or a depth-intensification of the southwestward slope currents. The water mass with temperature and salinity characteristics similar to the observed cold and fresh water is also revealed on the southern slope of the Scotia Sea, suggesting that this cold and fresh water is originated from the Scotia Sea slope and flows southwestward through the SG. Over the shelf north of the SSIs, the cold and fresh water mass is also observed and originates mainly from the Bransfield Strait. In this area, vertical structure of the southwestward slope currents is associated with the onshore intrusion of the upper Circumpolar Deep Water that creates cross-slope density gradients.

Prevalence and Severity of Current Human-Elephant Conflicts in Amboseli Ecosystem, Kenya: Insights from the Field and Key Informants

Few animals elicit such drastically different human emotions, so do elephants. Elephants capture the affection of people but also inspire animosity and fear at the same time. This is because there are conflicts with people over space, critical resources, costs of damages and general insecurity to people. This paper examined field evidence and interviewed expert key informants on current intensity and frequency of human-elephants in Amboseli Ecosystem. According to them, generally, the most prevalent (score of 1 lowest to 10 highest) threats to elephants were competition for critical resources (6.32 ± 0.44) followed by blocking of migration (6.24 ± 0.46), harassment of elephants (4.83 ± 0.75), poaching (4.57 ± 0.37), and retaliatory killings (3.78 ± 0.31). For threats that elephants pose to people, the most prevalent one was crop raiding (6.95 ± 0.26) followed by environmental degradation (6.71 ± 0.46), general insecurity to people (5.76 ± 0.65), property destruction (5.16 ± 0.41), injury and death to livestock (3.78 ± 0.37), and injury and death to people (2.71 ± 0.27). For the severity of the threats, the highest score was given to crop raiding whose average score was 7.90 ± 0.24 followed by environmental destruction and degradation (6.89 ± 0.43), injury and death to people (6.72 ± 0.44), injury and death to livestock (6.36 ± 0.50), property destruction (5.78 ± 0.49), general insecurity to people (5.62 ± 0.64). Severity levels followed the same trend or varied slightly. These drivers of human-elephant conflicts need to be addressed decisively to protect both people and elephants. There is a need to ensure local people’s benefit from elephants through ecotourism investments such as wildlife sanctuaries, leasing critical space for elephants’ dispersal on acceptable terms, through appropriate compensation schemes for elephant costs, and supporting local community wildlife rangers to prevent conflicts.

Acute Type A Aortic Dissection—Replacement of Ascending Aorta, Aortic Arch and Antegrade Stenting of the Descending Thoracic Aorta Using the Thoraflex™Hybrid Plexus Device (Terumo Aortic)—“Frozen Elephant Trunk”: The Plymouth Way!

Objectives: To describe our technique for the implantation of the Thoraflex Hybrid prosthesis for replacement of the aortic arch in a safe and reproducible way. Materials: Thoraflex™ Hybrid Plexus Device (Terumo Aortic). Design: Drawing on our own experience over the past 4 years in the management of acute type A aortic dissection, we have distilled the essentials of our “Frozen Elephant Trunk” technique which have led us through our own learning curve to the improved management of this taxing condition. Method/ Results: Small extension of the median sternotomy incision along the medial border of sternocleidomastoid muscle. End to side graft anastomosis near the origin of the left subclavian artery during cooling on bypass towards 20 degrees. Attention to cardiac protection and maintenance of cerebral perfusion during the shortened corporeal arrest period. Excellent results in 24 consecutive AAAD patients with just one hospital mortality. Conclusions: We believe we are entering a new phase in the treatment of AAAD, facilitated by the availability of a hybrid prosthesis which combines expanding stent technology with familiar surgical graft material. Our particular management of the left subclavian artery and of the cerebral circulation during implantation has contributed to an expeditious and reproducible method of treating dissection within the arch of the aorta and beyond.

The Singer of the Elephant

The film Elephant is novel not only in its narrative style and abundant use of long shots, but also in its selection of two pieces of piano music. What the movie lenses hope to express is the same thing that the will of piano music does. Alex is not only a player of the two pieces of piano music but also a singer of the elephant.The thesis applies Schopenhauer's will theory in music to analyze Alex's song《For Elise》and《Moonlight Sonata》and to anatomize his mental activity and brewing of thought. By using the power of piano music this thesis aims at digging out how he becomes the singer of the elephant.

Preliminary evaluation of five elephant grass cultivars harvested at different time for sugar production

Five elephant grass cultivars, Pennisetum purpureum, cv. Huanan （Huanan）, P. purpureum, cv. N51 （N51）, P. purpureum, cv. Sumu No. 2 （Sumu-2）, （ Penniseturn americanum x P. purpureum ） x P. purpureum cv. Guimu No. 1 （Guimu-1） and P. americanum cv. Tift23A x P. purpureum cv. Tilt NS1 （Hybrid Pennisetum）, at three harvest stages were studied. With dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis, it is found that cel- lulose conversion of the five elephant grass cultivars harvested in August and September is higher than that har- vested in October. The cellulose conversion for elephant grass cultivars harvested in August and September follows an order of Hybrid Pennisetum 〉 Sumu-2 〉 Huanan 〉 Guimu-1 〉 N51. This may be explained by the fact that lignification is gradually strengthened with time, inhibiting degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose. Moreover, cellulose conversions of Hybrid Pennisetum, Sumu-2 and Huanan harvested in August and September are higher based on hierarchical clustering results.

A Study on Geophagy by Asian Elephants at Udawalawe National Park,Sri Lanka

Geophagy is the deliberate consumption of earth materials such as soils,clays or sediments by human and animals.The ingested soil is chosen based on its physical,chemical,and mineralogical nature.Early studies reveal that geophagy functions through(1) adsorption/absorption of ingested toxic plant compounds onto clay particles,(2)mineral supplementation (Na,Mn,K,and S as the possible candidates),and(3)

Elephant-Delirium算法安全性分析

文章主要关注Elephant-Delirium算法的安全性分析。Elephant算法是美国国家标准与技术研究所主导的轻量级密码算法标准最终轮候选算法之一。Elephant加密算法的内部将密钥通过一个可逆变换扩展为秘密掩码,然后对内部状态使用置换达到混淆和扩散的目的。Elephant-Delirium是Elephant的加密算法实例,采用Keccak-f[200]置换作为底层置换。文章利用Keccak-f[200]置换中非线性操作的代数次数为2的性质,构造出5轮Keccak-f[200]置换的零和区分器。在此区分器的基础上,文章使用分治法猜测Elephant-Delirium算法第6轮输出中的秘密掩码,并利用所构造的零和区分器筛选出正确的秘密掩码。在不重用随机数(nonce)的条件下,文章以100%的准确率和100%的成功率实现了6轮Elephant-Delirium的密钥恢复攻击,在单核CPU上的实际运行时间约为2.8 s。这是对Elephant-Delirium算法的第一个实际密钥恢复攻击。同时,文章利用立方攻击的思想扩展了优化插值攻击,从而将8轮Elephant-Delirium算法密钥恢复攻击的复杂度从2^(98.3)降到了2^(95.2)。

Woodland Conversion by Elephants in Africa: The Search for Causal Factors, Processes, Mechanisms and Management Strategies

The impacts of elephants on woodlands have triggered concerns that elephants were converting woodlands to grasslands in African savannas leading to the loss of biodiversity. Therefore, the objectives of the study are to identify the causes, processes and impacts of woodland conversion by elephants and thereby propose a guideline for formulating management strategies. The study is conducted through reviewing published documents on elephant-woodland interaction, factors, mechanisms and processes of woodland conversion to grasslands and impacts on biodiversity have been identified. The study reveals that: 1) the large nutritional and energetic requirements by elephants and high elephant population densities are two driving forces that may cause elephants to convert woodlands to grasslands;2) the process of woodland conversion is not just elephant-tree interaction, but usually included other agents such as fires, droughts or other herbivores. Woodlands are converted to grasslands or scrublands because elephants, fires, droughts and other herbivores prevent recruitment of tree to larger class sizes and regeneration of seedlings of woody plants;3) whereas there are few studies that support biodiversity decline due to impacts of elephants on woodlands, there are studies that indicate woodland disturbance by elephants have benefited and increased diversity of other species. It is concluded that woodland disturbance by elephant is not always detrimental to biodiversity, but may create heterogeneity and suitable habitats for other species. In formulating management strategies, considerations must be made to elephant densities, other agents that interact or work with elephants in woodland conversion and the benefits of woodland changes to biodiversity due to elephants.

Ethanol Production by Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Elephant Grass

The aim of this work is to evaluate the efficiency of ethanol production by fermentation of a hydrolysate obtained by the enzymatic hydrolysis of purple elephant grass （Pennisetum purpureum Schum.） using a blend of cellulases. Three hundred grams of 20-mesh granulated purple elephant grass was subjected to hot water pretreatment at 100 ℃ for a period of 25 min in a batch autoclave reactor. The pulp obtained from the pretreatment process was washed with water at 60 ℃ and submitted to enzymatic hydrolysis using a combination of exoglucanases, endoglucanases and beta-glucosidases or β-glucosidases from Novozymes. The pH of the system was kept constant at 4.8 by adjusting the levels of acetic acid or sodium acetate in the buffer solution. Enzymatic hydrolysis occurred at 50 ℃ upon agitation at 200 rpm on a shaker for 72 hours. The hydrolysate obtained after agitation was fermented using dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast （manufactured by Dr. Oetker） at 30 ℃ for 10 hours. The liquids obtained after fermentation were analysed using HPLC to determine the quantity of ethanol produced. After 4 hours of fermentation, the maximum quantity of ethanol was 1.8 g/L. The stoichiometric yield of ethanol was approximately 95%. However, the step ofpretreatment was deemed unsatisfactory due to the loss of glucose during the pretreatment process.