Exploration of the Cultural Connotation of “Traditional Festivals” Eco-Curriculum in Primary Schools

Chinese traditional festivals with rich historical and cultural connotations fully reflect Chinese children’s national cultural emotions and values.It is of great significance to explore the cultural connotations behind traditional festivals in primary school’s civics and political curriculum,and to cultivate primary school students’traditional cultural identity and increase their cultural self-confidence and patriotism through multi-channel and multi-form innovative educational strategies and curriculum design.

基于BIRD的路由处理模块在高通量卫星网络中的应用

在高通量卫星(High Throughput Satellite,HTS)通信系统中,路由处理模块负责系统与地面网络的互联互通。通过分析HTS网络架构,总结路由处理功能需求,提出了一种基于BIRD的路由处理模块方案,通过静态路由与开放式最短路径优先(Open Shortest Path First,OSPF)动态路由相结合的方式,将用户侧路由向地面网络扩散传递,实现高通量用户与地面网络的互联互通。针对实际网络部署中HTS用户网络作为OSPF域外部路由的应用缺陷,进行了研究分析,并提供了基于虚拟接口的解决方法,增强了方案的适用性。

Bird species composition and conservation challenges in the Gaoligong Mountains, one of the most diverse bird areas in the world

The Gaoligong Mountains(GLGM),located in southwestern China,extend north to south along the western border of the Hengduan Mountains,spanning approximately 600 km.In this study,we consolidated findings from 17 bird surveys conducted in the GLGM between 2010 and 2022.We found that the GLGM harbors tremendous bird diversity,with a total of 796 documented bird species in the region.Nearly a quarter(23.0%)of these species are listed as state key protected species or as Chinese and global threatened species.Analysis of species richness at the county level showed a decreasing trend with increasing latitude,with the greatest diversity in Yingjiang(661 species).Observations indicated that the GLGM belongs to the Oriental realm,primarily composed of bird species from southern and southwestern China.The GLGM plays an important role in avian conservation by sheltering exceptional bird diversity,providing corridors and flyways for bird migration and dispersal,and mitigating the effects of climate change.In response to the conservation needs of birds and other wildlife,the Chinese government has established numerous protected areas within the GLGM.Despite these efforts,avian conservation still faces considerable challenges in the GLGM due to limitations in the protected area network,transboundary nature of the regions,and existing gaps in monitoring and research.

Birds’Diversity in Kalfou Forest Reserve and Its Peripheral Zone, Far North, Cameroon

The Far North Region of Cameroon is home to a great diversity of bird species, which unfortunately remains very little explored. This work was initiated to establish an inventory of birds and the factors affecting their diversity and distribution for sustainable management in the Kalfou Forest Reserve (KFR) and its periphery. Two methods were used for sampling, linear strip transects from which direct counts and indirect observations were made and the mist netting to complement the first. In total, 2525 birds were observed, including 149 species, belonging to 20 orders and 55 families. Accipitridae had the greatest number of species (11). The species richness was greater in the KFR (117 species) compared to the periphery (95 species). The specific richness was higher in wooded savannah compared to other habitats. Shannon index was significantly higher in the KFR (3.99) compared to that obtained in the periphery (3.80). The value of the Simpson index was higher on the outskirts of the KFR than on the periphery. The indices of species diversity were greater in the wooded savannah compared to other vegetation types. The seasons had no influence on bird diversity. Among the human activities encountered, the pressure indices were more important for grazing (7.3 contacts/km). Human activities have resulted in a significant decrease in specific richness. Six endangered species were encountered, four belonging to the Accipitridae family. The greater bird diversity in the reserve compared to the periphery shows that protected areas are a long-term solution for biodiversity conservation.

One bird,multiple stones:The race to find a gene of dominant negative effect in wheat

In the current issue of The Crop Journal,Chen et al.[1]reports map-based cloning of a wheat gene that showed temperaturedependent pleiotropic effects on multiple traits including plant height,leaf shape,spike and grain morphology,and accordingly was named WPA1 for Wheat Plant Architecture 1.The mutant was first observed among EMS-treated plants and repeatedly appeared in multiple occasions.

My Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a very important traditional Chinese festival.We had a threeday holiday from September 19th to 21st.And I had an enjoyable holiday with my family.

英国电影节的体系创新与中国艺术电影的海外传播新路径——以伦敦华语视像艺术节(Chinese Visual Festival)为例

伦敦华语视像艺术节(Chinese Visual Festival)成立于2011年,其创建的初衷是为了能够让英国观众看到西方主流印象之外的中国。从2011年创办到2020年因疫情原因不得不暂停举办,伦敦华语视像艺术节展映的影片类型与题材均称得上多样。参展伦敦华语视像艺术节的电影人/艺术家的身份背景也有较大差异,还有一些鲜少在欧美国际电影节上露面,但在国内成绩斐然的导演。伦敦华语视像艺术节将电影放映与艺术展、音乐会和学术座谈会相结合,通过体系的开放性拒绝呈现“东方主义”视角下异域化、单一化和刻板化的中国影像,对中国艺术电影的展映将重点从单一的中国现实展现转移到对影像艺术中包括现实主义美学在内的各类美学模型的反思与质询,为中国艺术电影在西方世界的传播提供了新的可能性。

Use of evergreen and deciduous plants by nocturnal-roosting birds:A case study in Beijing

With continually increasing urbanization,the land cover in urban areas continues to change,resulting in the loss of biodiversity.Birds are highly sensitive to changes in habitat.Most forest birds perch on plants that provide increased safety to reduce the risk of predation,and small birds may also consider insulation when using roosting plants in winter because of cold weather.Landscaping plants thus shape the nocturnal roosting environment of urban birds,and proper planting is essential for the survival of birds at night.The use of roosting plants by urban birds should therefore be studied to provide a reference for landscaping.In the current study,we observed 1865 nocturnal roosting birds in Beijing from 2021 to 2022,with 23 species of birds from 12 families and 45 species of plants from 22 families recorded.Juniperus chinensis exhibited the highest bird rarity-weighted richness,followed by Fraxinus pennsylvanica,Phyllostachys propinqua,Pinus tabuliformis,and Ulmus pumila.The diameter at breast height,tree height,and crown width of plants used by birds was largest in summer and smallest in winter,and the perch height of birds was the highest in spring and summer and the lowest in winter.Birds used the highest proportion of deciduous plants in summer and the highest proportion of evergreen plants in winter.A significant seasonal difference in the use of evergreen and deciduous plants by small birds was noted,with a preference for deciduous plants in summer and evergreen plants in winter,while this preference was not found in large birds.These findings indicate that evergreen plants provide a vital nocturnal roosting environment for small birds in winter.To provide a better nocturnal roosting habitat for urban birds,we recommend paying attention to the combination of evergreen and deciduous plants when carrying out landscape construction.

Can urban forests provide acoustic refuges for birds?Investigating the influence of vegetation structure and anthropogenic noise on bird sound diversity

As a crucial component of terrestrial ecosystems,urban forests play a pivotal role in protecting urban biodiversity by providing suitable habitats for acoustic spaces.Previous studies note that vegetation structure is a key factor influencing bird sounds in urban forests;hence,adjusting the frequency composition may be a strategy for birds to avoid anthropogenic noise to mask their songs.However,it is unknown whether the response mechanisms of bird vocalizations to vegetation structure remain consistent despite being impacted by anthropogenic noise.It was hypothesized that anthropogenic noise in urban forests occupies the low-frequency space of bird songs,leading to a possible reshaping of the acoustic niches of forests,and the vegetation structure of urban forests is the critical factor that shapes the acoustic space for bird vocalization.Passive acoustic monitoring in various urban forests was used to monitor natural and anthropogenic noises,and sounds were classified into three acoustic scenes(bird sounds,human sounds,and bird-human sounds)to determine interconnections between bird sounds,anthropogenic noise,and vegetation structure.Anthropogenic noise altered the acoustic niche of urban forests by intruding into the low-frequency space used by birds,and vegetation structures related to volume(trunk volume and branch volume)and density(number of branches and leaf area index)significantly impact the diversity of bird sounds.Our findings indicate that the response to low and high frequency signals to vegetation structure is distinct.By clarifying this relationship,our results contribute to understanding of how vegetation structure influences bird sounds in urban forests impacted by anthropogenic noise.

Deterministic processes drive turnover-dominated beta diversity of breeding birds along the central Himalayan elevation gradient

Beta diversity,the variation of community composition among sites,bridges alpha and gamma diversity and can reveal the mechanisms of community assembly through applying distance-decay models and/or partitioning beta diversity into turnover and nestedness components from functional and phylogenetic perspectives.Mountains as the most natural experiment system provide good opportunities for exploring beta diversity patterns and the underlying ecological processes.Here,we simultaneously consider distance-decay models and multiple di-mensions of beta diversity to examine spatial variations of bird communities,and to evaluate the relative importance of niche-based and neutral community assembly mechanisms along a 3600-m elevational gradient in the central Himalayas,China.Our results showed that species turnover dominates taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic beta diversity.We observed strongest evidence of spatial distance decays in taxonomic similarities of birds,followed by its phylogenetic and functional analogues.Turnover component was highest in taxonomic beta diversity,while nestedness component was highest in functional beta diversity.Further,all correlations of assemblage similarity with climatic distance were higher than that with spatial distances.Standardized values of overall taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic beta diversity and their turnover components increase with increasing elevational distance,while the standardized values of taxonomic and phylogenetic nestedness decreased with increasing elevational distance.Our results highlighted the niche-based deterministic processes in shaping elevational bird diversity patterns that were determined by the relative roles of decreasing trend of environmental filtering and increasing trend of limiting similarity along elevation distances.

Bird Habitats in Urban Environments: A Case from an Urban Landfill in and around Tayba Al Hasanab Landfill, Khartoum, Sudan

Managed open landfill sites can serve as crucial feeding grounds for birds. Studies have demonstrated that garbage dumps offer favorable feeding habitats for various trophic generalist species, including storks and scavenger raptors. This study aimed to assess bird diversity and abundance in and around Tayba Al Hasanab Landfill, Khartoum. A bird census was conducted using block counts in January 2021. A questionnaire complemented field observations, and interviews were conducted with landfill authorities and waste collectors to gather information on bird availability, numbers, and diversity. During the block counts, 23 bird species were recorded inside and around the landfill. These species directly relied on food resources available at and around the landfill, belonging to 8 orders and 11 families. The four most abundant species foraging at the landfill were Sparrow House (Passer domesticus) with 97 individuals, Black kite (Milvus migrans) with 67 individuals, cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) with 42 individuals, and Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) with 36 individuals. This suggests that these species are the primary exploiters of food resources at the landfill. The results indicate that all species are considered least concerned except the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), which is classified as endangered. Most of the interviewed individuals reported seeing birds in the study area. The study recorded instances of dead birds, such as a white stork colliding and being electrocuted with a transition line observed at different sites along transmission lines near the landfill. Surveys around Tayba landfill need to be conducted to identify deadly power lines for replacement or implement possible mitigation measures on power lines running parallel and close to the Tayba landfills. The avian community foraging at the landfill displayed fluctuations in abundance and interspecific interactions across seasons. Given that the substantial influx of birds to landfills can pose various environmental challenges in urban settings, this study underscores the significance of examining the seasonal dynamics of bird communities concerning the location and management of landfills.

Responses of birds to observers holding popguns:Hunting history infuences escape behavior of urban birds

Human activities affect bird behavior both directly and indirectly.Birds constantly regulate their behavior in response to human disturbance.Gun hunting,a major directional disturbance,puts enormous selection pressure on birds.In China,gun bans have been in place for nearly 30 years,and little hunting using guns occurs in modern cities.However,little attention has been paid to whether a history of hunting still affects the behavioral adaptations of urban birds.In this study,we compared the flight initiation distance(FiD)of the Eurasian tree sparrow Passer montanus,Azure-winged magpie Cyanopica cyanus,Common hoopoe Upupa epops and Eurasian magpie Pica pica in the presence of observers with or without popguns.The Eurasian tree sparrow,Azure-winged magpie,and Eurasian magpie effectively recognized the difference between the observers,and perceived the armed observer as a greater threat,exhibiting earlier escape behavior,but this phenomenon was not found in the Common hoopoe.The different expressions in FID of experimental bird species in China cities may be affected by the different levels of recognition of huntingpressuredue todifferent hunting histories.

Structural effects of reedbed grazing and its cessation on reed-nesting songbird densities

Reedbeds are crucial breeding habitats for vulnerable songbird species.Irrespective of their protection status,these habitats may be threatened by organic matter accumulation,progressively leading to structural homoge-nization and habitat succession towards woodland.Managers prevent excessive litter build-up with various in-terventions opening-up the reedbeds,such as grazing,which may be detrimental or suitable for some reed bird species.We assessed the effects of extensive grazing by horses and its cessation in the medium and long terms on reedbed structure,and the consequences on reed-nesting songbird densities in Estagnol Nature Reserve,a pro-tected wetland near the French Mediterranean coast.We compared reedbed structural features between grazed,newly ungrazed and old-ungrazed plots.During nine years,we censused four songbird species in spring and collected water level data in the same survey plots.Grazing reduced reedbed extent,rejuvenated the vegetation with more short green stems on a thinner litter,and produced higher structural heterogeneity and discontinuity compared to long-lasting non grazing.Newly ungrazed plot showed intermediate effects.All surveyed songbird total densities were similar among plots while species numbers and densities differed.Grazed reedbed was more attractive to Moustached Warblers(Acrocephalus melanopogon)and Great Reed Warblers(Acrocephalus arundi-naceus),likely due to the large edges and the high vegetation structural heterogeneity.However,Moustached Warblers were more negatively affected by higher water level in grazed reedbed,presumably because flooding prevents litter foraging.The newly ungrazed reedbed was not preferred by any species.All warbler species were found under low density in the old-ungrazed reedbed,where Reed Buntings(Emberiza schoeniclus)were exclu-sively found.Food availability related to thick litter layer may explain this predilection.Common Reed Warblers(Acrocephalus scirpaceus)were found everywhere in similar densities.We conclude that reedbed management by extensive horse grazing and also its long-term cessation may benefit several songbird species.Within a context of wetland degradation and disappearance,both management strategies are useful to establish and maintain suitable habitats for reed-nesting songbird communities.

Comprehensive Overview and Analytical Study on Automatic Bird Repellent Laser System for Crop Protection

Birds are a huge hazard to agriculture all around the world,causing harm to profitable field crops.Growers use a variety of techniques to keep them away,including visual,auditory,tactile,and olfactory deterrents. This study presents a comprehensive overview of current bird repellant approaches used in agricultural contexts,as well as potential new ways. The bird repellent techniques include Internet of Things technology,Deep Learning,Convolutional Neural Network,Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,Wireless Sensor Networks and Laser biotechnology. This study’s goal is to find and review about previous approach towards repellent of birds in the crop fields using various technologies.

Bird specimen number linked with species trait and climate niche breadth

Biological specimens are fundamental for taxonomy and flora/fauna research.More importantly,they also play crucial roles in recording environmental impacts on morphology and behavior,which is vital for biodiversity research and conservation.However,there are few systematic studies on the patterns and drivers of bird specimen number at regional scales.This study is the first attempt to examine the relationships between bird specimen number and species traits as well as climate niche breadth in China,aiming to answer two questions:1)how do species’temperature niche breadth and precipitation niche breadth influence specimen number?2)which trait is most associated with bird specimen number?The associations between bird specimen number and explanatory variables were examined using ordinary least squares,generalized linear models,phylogenetic generalized linear mixed models,and multiple comparisons.The results showed that Muscicapidae was the family with the highest specimen number,and Passeriformes was the order with the highest specimen number.Bird specimen number significantly increased with larger temperature niche breadth and precipitation niche breadth.Specimen number was also positively associated with geographic range size,habitat specificity,hunting vulnerability and clutch size,but negatively associated with body size.These findings suggest that future bird specimen collection should pay more attention to birds with limited ecological niches,large body sizes,and small clutch sizes.This research enhances the use of bird specimen data to study and preserve biodiversity.

Integrity and Size of Green Spaces Are Critical for the Functional Di-versity of Birds:Evidence from the Eastern and Northwestern Regions of China

Urbanization often changes bird species richness and affects the functional diversity.Therefore,understanding these changes helps city planners improve green space design and land use planning.Our study used multiple datasets to explore the effects of land-scape patterns and natural environments on the functional diversity of birds in urban parks and campuses in the eastern and northwest-ern regions of China.Firstly,we used the data to calculate birds of the functional richness(FRic),functional evenness(FEve),and func-tional divergence(FDiv)of 68 urban spaces in the eastern and northwestern regions of China.Further,we established generalized linear models of natural factors,human factors,and functional diversity.Results showed more bird species with unique traits were in the north-western region.This may be because the earlier urbanization in the eastern region filtered out urban-sensitive species,leaving behind urban adapters.Moreover,we found that the fractal dimension index was the most significant positive factor of FRic in the eastern re-gion but the most significant negative factor of FDiv.Elevation was the most significant negative influence factor of FEve in the eastern region,but it was the most potent positive influence factor of FRic in the northwestern region.Population density had a significant posit-ive effect on FDiv in the northwestern region.However,green space areas significantly negatively impacted FEve in the northwestern region.In addition,birds in parks in both regions had more functional traits than those on campuses,possibly because of the larger green space in parks,which may contain more fragments of native vegetation and reduce human interference.Our study suggests that pre-serving more original vegetation and reducing human disturbance in cities can increase the functional diversity of urban birds and im-prove urban ecosystem functions.

Review of the Cretaceous avian diversity of Antarctica:a changing scenario for the evolution of early Neornithine birds

The worldwide record of Cretaceous Neornithes and Neornithine-like birds is both controversial and poorly understood.However,in recent years,the Antarctic continent has yielded a substantial number of Maastrichtian avian specimens,contributing significantly to our understanding of the early evolution of this group.Simultaneously,the keen interest and collaborative efforts of various paleornithologists have resulted in a wealth of knowledge,which we have thoroughly reviewed,updated,and discussed in the context of recent discoveries.

A Comparative Study of Chinese Translations of Tagore’s Stray Birds From the Perspective of the“Three Beauties Theory”

For more than 60 years,Mr.Xu Yuanchong has been devoted to education.He has not only made remarkable achievements in translating from and into Chinese,English,French and other languages,but has also developed his own unique concept of translation.Since 1950,he has always adhered to the“Three Beauties Theory”,believing that translation should not only rely on the original text,but also realize the“beauty of meaning”,“beauty of sound”,and“beauty of form”.Based on Xu Yuanchong’s“Three Beauties Theory”,this paper takes Zheng Zhenduo’s and Feng Tang’s Chinese translations of Stray Birds as an example to explore in depth the specifics of poetry translation theory.The study summarizes the similarities and differences between these two translations in embodying the“three beauties”,providing insights into the Chinese translation techniques of philosophical prose poems.This endeavor seeks to offer valuable insights for the comparative study of Stray Birds translations。

电子学习与远程教育的实践、创新、未来——第6届“Learning Futures Festival”在线国际会议综述

2011年4月第6届"Learning Futures Festival"在线国际会议召开。会议采用英国、美国、澳大利亚三个时区国家接力的方式完成。与会专家学者特别关注开放教育资源及Web2.0背景下的教育创新。未来10年全球高等教育面临巨大的增长需求,开放教育资源运动的推进,将可能出现开放教育资源大学。开放共享理念逐步深入人心,Web2.0在教育和企业领域的广泛应用将改变人们的学习和工作环境,学习者和企业员工应当提升自我的数字素养技能以激发自身的创新潜能。我国远程教育面临资源可重用性较低和开放性不足等问题,在今后的发展中应借鉴发展中国家远程教育院校和企业学习的成功经验,加强教育资源开放共享的程度,整合电子学习技术在远程教育中的创新应用,以满足学习者个性化的学习需求。

An Analysis of China's Four Traditional Festivals from the Perspective of the Theory of Cultural Functions

This paper analyzes the cultural elements of China's four traditional festivals from the perspective of the Theory of Cultural Functions, which presents in detail the forming of traditional festivals, varied festival traditions and good expectations held by people toward lives. This paper is also designed with the aim to further exert the functions of traditional Chinese festivals, which as a result, will contribute to the preservation of national characters and the inheritance of national spirits.