Observations of threatened Asian box turtles (Cuora spp.) on trade in Vietnam

2019 ◽  
pp. 173-178
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Field Investigation ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Socialist Republic ◽  
Box Turtles ◽  
The Status ◽  
Population Sizes ◽  
Small N ◽  
High Level

Asian box turtles (genus Cuora; Geoemydidae) are among the most threatened Asian turtles. Here, we present (i) a field investigation from 2014-2018 on the Cuora individuals traded by high-level traders in six provinces of Vietnam and (ii) the estimated numbers of traded individuals determined through interviews with traders. In addition, we (iii) provide an analysis of the confiscated individuals that were carried out at the main wildlife rescue centre of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Overall, the number of traded individuals observed was relatively small (n = 481), with C. bourreti being by far the most frequently observed in trade. During the same period, the interviewed traders estimated that about 3,400 individuals were traded through the period 2014-2018, most of them being C. bourreti. During 2010-2018, a total of 281 individuals were carried to the wildlife rescue centre, with over 60 % of the total rescued individuals being C. galbinifrons. Overall, the numbers of traded Cuora individuals recorded in the present study were very small compared to the huge estimates from other Asian countries. However, this lower traded number does not imply that the status’ of the target species are not affected, as their population sizes are already catastrophically reduced in Vietnam.

Production of asari (Manila) clams, Ruditapes philippinarum, during the period of harvest decrease in the 2000s in the Banzu tidal area, Tokyo Bay

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Mitsuharu Toba ◽  
Jun Kakino ◽  
Kazuo Tada ◽  
Yutaka Kobayashi ◽  
Hideharu Tsuchie
Keyword(s):  
Field Investigation ◽  
Ruditapes Philippinarum ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Seed Stock ◽  
Tokyo Bay ◽  
Yearly Variation ◽  
Culture Area ◽  
Stock Biomass ◽  
Tidal Area ◽  
High Level

In Tokyo Bay, the harvestable quantity of asari (Manila) clams Ruditapes philippinarum has been decreasing since the late 1990s. We conducted a field investigation on clam density in the Banzu culture area from April 1988 to December 2014 and collected records spanning January 1986 to September 2017 from relevant fisheries cooperative associations to clarify the relationship between the temporal variation in stock abundance and the production activities of fishermen. The yearly variation in clam abundance over the study period was marked by larger decreases in the numbers of larger clams. A large quantity of juvenile clams, beyond the biological productivity of the culture area, may have been introduced as seed stock in the late 1980s despite the high level of harvestable stock. The declines in harvested quantity began in the late 1990s and may have been caused by decreases in harvestable stock despite the continuous addition of seed stock clams. The harvested quantity is likely to be significantly dependent upon the wild clam population, even within the culture area, as the harvestable quantity was not correlated with the quantity of seed stock introduced during the study period. These declines in harvested quantity may have resulted from a decreasing number of operating harvesters due to the low level of harvestable stock and consequently reduced profitability. Two findings were emphasized. A certain management style, based on predictions of the contributions of wild and introduced clams to future stock biomass, is essential for economically-feasible culturing. In areas with less harvestable stock, actions should be taken to maintain the incomes of harvesters while avoiding overexploitation, even if the total harvest quantity decreases.

The last Croatian defender of brotherhood and unity – Miloš Žanko. A story of desperate courage and political responsibility

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 135-143
Author(s):  
Irina V. Rudneva
Keyword(s):  
The Political ◽  
Political Responsibility ◽  
Socialist Republic ◽  
High Level

The article examines the issue of how, under the conditions of growing nationalism in the Socialist Republic of Croatia in the late 1960s, Miloš Žanko, one of the Croatian leaders, bravely opposed the political trends, which threatened both the region and his country. In the newspapers and magazines, at the Party congresses, he entered into harsh polemics with Croatian nationalists, who were exposing their insidious schemes and defending the idea of brotherhood and unity. However, Žanko did not anticipate how deeply nationalist ideology was rooted and how strong it was in Croatia, at what a high level of the establishment this ideology was supported, and what price the person who was daring to oppose it would have to pay.

Deep AI Enabled Ubiquitous Wireless Sensing

2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-35
Author(s):  
Chenning Li ◽  
Zhichao Cao ◽  
Yunhao Liu
Keyword(s):  
Great Success ◽  
Wireless Sensing ◽  
Ubiquitous Sensing ◽  
Sensing Systems ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sensing Model ◽  
High Level ◽  
Traditional Approaches ◽  
The Internet Of Things ◽  
High Level Feature

With the development of the Internet of Things (IoT), many kinds of wireless signals (e.g., Wi-Fi, LoRa, RFID) are filling our living and working spaces nowadays. Beyond communication, wireless signals can sense the status of surrounding objects, known as wireless sensing , with their reflection, scattering, and refraction while propagating in space. In the last decade, many sophisticated wireless sensing techniques and systems were widely studied for various applications (e.g., gesture recognition, localization, and object imaging). Recently, deep Artificial Intelligence (AI), also known as Deep Learning (DL), has shown great success in computer vision. And some works have initially proved that deep AI can benefit wireless sensing as well, leading to a brand-new step toward ubiquitous sensing. In this survey, we focus on the evolution of wireless sensing enhanced by deep AI techniques. We first present a general workflow of Wireless Sensing Systems (WSSs) which consists of signal pre-processing, high-level feature, and sensing model formulation. For each module, existing deep AI-based techniques are summarized, further compared with traditional approaches. Then, we provide a view of issues and challenges induced by combining deep AI and wireless sensing together. Finally, we discuss the future trends of deep AI to enable ubiquitous wireless sensing.

English Education Reform in Asian Countries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenyang Sun ◽  
Xue Lan Rong
Keyword(s):  
Education Reform ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Education ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
The Status ◽  
Globalized World

Language education is becoming an increasingly important topic in education in Asian countries, especially as schools in Asian countries have become more multilingual and multicultural as a result of rapid urbanization and globalization. A comparative analysis of the issues in language education reform in Asian countries—using China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore as examples—shows that, historically and currently, English language education policies are shaped by various underpinning ideologies such as linguicism, nationalism, and neoliberalism. English can serve as a vehicle for upward socioeconomic mobility, or an instrument of linguistic imperialism, or both, in Asia contexts. These ideologies, through language education policies and reforms, impact the status as well as the pedagogy and promotion of the English language. There is a trend and a need with regard to addressing critical consciousness in English education in order to counter the forces of linguicism and neoliberalism in an increasingly multilingual, multicultural, and globalized world.

Conspicuous consumption of luxury experiences: an experimental investigation of status perceptions on social media

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolin Siepmann ◽  
Lisa Carola Holthoff ◽  
Pascal Kowalczuk
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Conspicuous Consumption ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Luxury Goods ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status ◽  
Self Actualization ◽  
The Individual ◽  
High Level

Purpose As luxury goods are losing their importance for demonstrating status, wealth or power to others, individuals are searching for alternative status symbols. Recently, individuals have increasingly used conspicuous consumption and displays of experiences on social media to obtain affirmation. This study aims to analyze the effects of luxury and nonluxury experiences, as well as traditional luxury goods on status- and nonstatus-related dimensions. Design/methodology/approach After presenting the theoretical foundation, the authors conduct a study with 599 participants to compare status perceptions elicited by the conspicuous consumption of luxury goods, luxury experiences and nonluxury experiences. The authors investigate whether experiences that are visibly consumed on Instagram are replacing traditional luxury goods as the most important status symbols. Furthermore, the authors examine the effects of the content shown on nonstatus-related dimensions and analyze whether status perceptions differ between female and male social media communicators. Finally, the authors analyze how personal characteristics (self-esteem, self-actualization and materialism) influence the status perceptions of others on social media. Findings The results show that luxury goods are still the most important means of displaying status. However, especially for women, luxury experiences are also associated with a high level of social status. Thus, the results imply important gender differences in the perceptions of status- and nonstatus-related dimensions. Furthermore, the findings indicate that, in particular, the individual characteristics of self-actualization and materialism affect status perceptions depending on the posted content. Originality/value While the research has already considered some alternative forms of conspicuous consumption, little attention has been given to experiences as status symbols. However, with their growing importance as substitutes for luxury goods and the rise of social media, the desire to conspicuously consume experiences is increasing. The authors address this gap in the literature by focusing on the conspicuous display of luxury and nonluxury experiences on social media.

MANAGERS CAN ALSO RESIST CHANGES — CAN WE DEAL WITH THIS? AN EXPLORATORY STUDY FROM JAPAN

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (04) ◽  
pp. 447-493
Author(s):  
BALÁZS VASZKUN
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Values ◽  
Traditional Management ◽  
Japanese Firms ◽  
Work Routines ◽  
The Status ◽  
Major Reform ◽  
Mass Recruitment ◽  
Dominant Coalition ◽  
High Level ◽  
Shed Light

Japan is going through a transformation, yet it is difficult to judge which model should be chosen as a direction to go in with corporate reforms. Badly needed initiatives seeking to replace outdated managerial habits by new best practices in Japanese firms are being jeopardized by organizational members whose goal is to maintain the status quo — in terms of both political power and everyday work routines. Yet managerial habits and behaviours need to change if Japanese firms are to be entrepreneurial and innovative. According to institutionalism, blocking new initiatives is normal, and societal support is needed for major reform attempts. The focus of this paper is to shed light on how society in Japan is divided when it comes to large firms altering practices with which they have been traditionally managed. Our proposition is that complex, multi-element reform packages — having a potentially opposing dominant coalition, which is the case of Japan — ought to be implemented following a well-defined, prioritized listing of elements. After examining an attitude survey carried out in Japan, our findings revealed two clusters with a particularly high level of support for traditional management. Moreover, out of the two, one appeared to be extremely passive and resistant to any sort of change. In order to fight general resistance and reform outdated practices, our survey shows that Japan could move further towards a system compensating performance rather than seniority and giving more chance to women, discarding mass-recruitment, slow promotion whilst also maintaining the most deeply-rooted traditional values such as job security, paternalism or harmony in corporate life.

scholarly journals The number, status and organizational aspects of Serbs in Zagreb

Stanovnistvo ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-68
Author(s):  
Drago Zuparic-Iljic
Keyword(s):  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Functional Integration ◽  
Ethnic Composition ◽  
National Minority ◽  
Socialist Republic ◽  
Continuous Increase ◽  
National Minorities ◽  
Majority Population ◽  
The Status ◽  
Legislative Framework

This paper provides an overview of the basic characteristics regarding number, as well as normative and functional status, i.e. legal and institutional status of Serbs in Zagreb. Furthermore, the paper describes some distinctions among organizational levels of Serbian minority in Zagreb, concerning the most important aspects of socio-cultural, educational and religious integration. Serbian minority members? number in Croatia and Zagreb is analyzed using an official demographic statistics, focusing primarily on major socio-demographic indicators, on population density and ethnic composition data for the population of Zagreb municipality for the period of 1981-2011. Legal position of the Serbian minority in Zagreb is described using analysis of official documents, including legislative framework provisions, which are related to issues of national minorities? status and rights. Institutional and organizational status is elucidated by using descriptive analysis of cultural, educational, media and religious aspects of minority?s life. The number of Serbs in Croatia decreased drastically in last twenty years, affecting their number being reduced to approximately one-third of the prewar number. In the period 1981 to 2011 there was a continuous increase of number and proportion of Croatian majority population, and continuous reduction of national minorities in Zagreb. The biggest percentile decreasing in the municipality of Zagreb (during period 1991-2001) have undergone members of the Serbian (57.7%), Slovenian (48.9%), and Montenegrin (43.7%) minority. In the case of Serbs, this is primarily and predominantly a consequence of forced emigration (displacement) induced by the war in the 1990s. Moreover, negative demographic trends together with a possibility of ?false? national declaration in census, as well as the relentless process of assimilation are counted as specific factors in reducing the number of national minorities? members. Status of Serbs as the former "constituent people/ethnicity" in Socialist Republic of Croatia was modified in the status of "national minority" in (Democratic) Republic of Croatia, due to constitutional changes in 1990. Today, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitutional Law on National Minorities in 2002 national minorities in Croatia enjoy the rights in the area of cultural (linguistic, educational and religious) autonomy. Implementation of these rights still faces many problems in everyday praxis, which is reflected in organizational aspects and levels of Serbs in Zagreb. Cultural, artistic, and educational associations and initiatives among Serbian minority organize activities that contribute to promotion, preservation and expressing specific national minority?s identity. Although satisfactory level of normative (legal) integration does not guarantee functional integration of minorities into wider socio-economic, cultural and political matrix, that normative integration, along with political will and favorable social climate, sets an essential precondition for the willingness to implement laws and regulations in order to improve Serbian minority status.

scholarly journals Linguistic culture and politics in France

enadakultura ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Revishvili
Keyword(s):  
French Revolution ◽  
French Language ◽  
National Politics ◽  
The Public ◽  
French Academy ◽  
Long Period ◽  
The Status ◽  
Classical Language ◽  
High Level ◽  
Public Instruction

The rise of the French national politics was taking place simultaneously with the rise of the French power and territories in Europe. The first evidence of the emergence of the French language distinguished from Latin is the text of the ‘’French’’ version of the 842-nd Strasbourg Oath. France is an example of how ideas and myths about a language become ideologies and how it forms a part of a language policy, along with language planning and language practices.The French language was being established over a long period of time. From the 17th century onwards, increasing attention was paid to this issue. It is especially interesting to establish a high level of French spelling, the expression of good spelling in the French language has become an object of social values. On October 19 and 20, 1794, the Public Instruction Committee introduced a new project to teach French to all. French became the language of writing before it set foot in education.The 17-th and 18-th centuries became a period of legalization of the French language. The greatest philosophers and writers of this time legalized the French language in poetry and fiction. At the same time, it became the language of scientific writing. French gained the status of the most brilliant language in Europe over the last two centuries through the French Academy and the French Revolution. It was a new ‘’classical“ language.

scholarly journals NORTH OSSETIA IN THE SYSTEM OF THE SOVIET STATEHOOD: THE CONSTITUTION OF THE NOASSR OF 1978

Kavkaz-forum ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Е.И. КОБАХИДЗЕ
Keyword(s):  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Soviet Period ◽  
Socialist Republic ◽  
Soviet Socialist Republic ◽  
Soviet Government ◽  
The North ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
The Status ◽  
North Ossetia ◽  
Autonomous Republic

В статье предлагается анализ Конституции Северо-Осетинской АССР 1978 г., отразившей этап развития ее государственности в советский период. Научное осмысление правовых аспектов истории Северной Осетии в статусе автономной республики, анализ ее места и роли в системе советской государственности во многом объясняет противоречия в реализации органами государственной власти республики функций политического самоуправления в эпоху «застоя» и «кризиса социализма». Анализ показывает, что декретированный ранней советской властью национальный суверенитет народов, населяющих советскую Россию, не нашел правового подтверждения в Конституции СССР 1977 г., на основе и в соответствии с которой были разработаны и приняты Конституции РСФСР и входящих в нее автономных республик, в том числе и СОАССР. Фиксация статуса автономной республики в качестве государственного образования без признания ее государственного суверенитета ограничивало пределы компетенции республиканских органов власти и управления и ставило их в фактическую зависимость от вышестоящих властно-управленческих структур даже в решении вопросов, отнесенных к ведению автономной республики. Все это вместе взятое превращало автономную республику в «квазигосударственное образование», высшие государственные органы которой действовали в режиме «местной власти». Противоречивые конституционные положения 1977-1978 гг., закрепленные в Основных законах СССР, РСФСР и СОАССР, стали одним из факторов деструкции советской власти и социалистической системы и последующего затем «парада суверенитетов» бывших автономных образований в пределах РСФСР. The article analyzes the 1978 Constitution of the North Ossetian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, which reflected the stage of development of its statehood relevant to the Soviet period. Scientific comprehension of the legal aspects of the history of North Ossetia in the status of an autonomous republic, an analysis of its place and role within the system of the Soviet statehood largely accounts for the contradictions in the implementation by the republican state institutions of the functions of political self-government in the era of "stagnation" and "crisis of socialism". Analysis shows that the national sovereignty of the peoples inhabiting Soviet Russia, that was decreed by the early Soviet government, did not find legal confirmation in the USSR Constitution of 1977, on the basis and in accordance with which the Constitution of the RSFSR and its autonomous republics, including NOASSR, were elaborated and adopted. Fixing the status of the autonomous republic as a state entity without recognizing its state sovereignty limited the competence of the republican authorities and made them in fact dependent on the higher power structures even in resolving issues attributed to the jurisdiction of the autonomous republic. All this taken together turned the autonomous republic into a "quasi-state entity", the highest state bodies of which operated in the regime of "local power". Contradictory constitutional provisions of 1977-1978, enshrined in the Fundamental Laws of the USSR, RSFSR and NOASSR, became one of the factors of the destruction of the Soviet power and the socialist system and the subsequent “parade of sovereignties” of the former autonomous entities within the RSFSR.

scholarly journals COMPARING VITAMIN D STATUS IN CENTRAL ASIA AND NORTHERN EUROPE

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42
Author(s):  
William B. Grant
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
The Status ◽  
Central Asian Countries ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy ◽  
Tract Infections

Over the past two decades, the understanding of the roles of vitamin D has expanded to include many nonskeletal effects such as reduced risk of acute respiratory tract infections, autoimmune diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, neurological diseases, and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. The role of vitamin D for optimal health is well known in Western developed countries but less so in Central Asian countries. This narrative review compares the status of vitamin D between Central Asian countries and Northern European countries. The analysis also summarizes the evidence for the beneficial effects of vitamin D and recommendations for Central Asian countries.

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