Life cycle and morphometric analysis of nymphs of Cynodonmiris corpoicanus Ferreira & Barreto, 2013 (Hemiptera: Miridae)

The bug Cynodonmiris corpoicanus inhabit the Cundiboyacense High Plateau in Colombia feeding on grasses (Poaceae). The authors carry out their life cycle in greenhouse and characterize the damage on oat (Avena sativa) leaves. The duration egg – adult last 49.3 days and undergo five nymphal stages. The morphometric study was conducted by principal component analysis (PCA) and 2.03 PAST software. This method let to determine measures for nymphal stages separation, furthermore we consider coloration, morphology and morphometric description. A key for nymphal stages determination was developed by morphometric and morphology diagnostic characters. Also, we include illustrations of the C. corpoicanus nymphal stages.

Electrolyte/Structure-Dependent Cocktail Mediation Enabling High-Rate/Low-Plateau Metal Sulfide Anodes for Sodium Storage

As promising anodes for sodium-ion batteries, metal sulfides ubiquitously suffer from low-rate and high-plateau issues, greatly hindering their application in full-cells. Herein, exemplifying carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-stringed metal sulfides superstructure (CSC) assembled by nano-dispersed SnS2 and CoS2 phases, cocktail mediation effect similar to that of high-entropy materials is initially studied in ether-based electrolyte to solve the challenges. The high nano-dispersity of metal sulfides in CSC anode underlies the cocktail-like mediation effect, enabling the circumvention of intrinsic drawbacks of different metal sulfides. By utilizing ether-based electrolyte, the reversibility of metal sulfides is greatly improved, sustaining a long-life effectivity of cocktail-like mediation. As such, CSC effectively overcomes low-rate flaw of SnS2 and high-plateau demerit of CoS2, simultaneously realizes a high rate and a low plateau. In half-cells, CSC delivers an ultrahigh-rate capability of 327.6 mAh g−1anode at 20 A g−1, far outperforming those of monometallic sulfides (SnS2, CoS2) and their mixtures. Compared with CoS2 phase and SnS2/CoS2 mixture, CSC shows remarkably lowered average charge voltage up to ca. 0.62 V. As-assembled CSC//Na1.5VPO4.8F0.7 full-cell shows a good rate capability (0.05 ~ 1.0 A g−1, 120.3 mAh g−1electrode at 0.05 A g−1) and a high average discharge voltage up to 2.57 V, comparable to full-cells with alloy-type anodes. Kinetics analysis verifies that the cocktail-like mediation effect largely boosts the charge transfer and ionic diffusion in CSC, compared with single phase and mixed phases. Further mechanism study reveals that alternative and complementary electrochemical processes between nano-dispersed SnS2 and CoS2 phases are responsible for the lowered charge voltage of CSC. This electrolyte/structure-dependent cocktail-like mediation effect effectively enhances the practicability of metal sulfide anodes, which will boost the development of high-rate/-voltage sodium-ion full batteries.

Organized violence 1989–2020, with a special emphasis on Syria

This article reports on trends in organized violence, building on new data by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). The falling trend in fatalities stemming from organized violence in the world, observed for five consecutive years, broke upwards in 2020 and deaths in organized violence seem to have settled on a high plateau. UCDP registered more than 80,100 deaths in organized violence in 2020, compared to 76,300 in 2019. The decrease in violence in Afghanistan and Syria was countered by escalating conflicts in, for example, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Azerbaijan and Tigray, Ethiopia. Moreover, the call for a global ceasefire following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic failed to produce any results. In fact, the number of active state-based and non-state conflicts, as well as the number of actors carrying out one-sided violence against civilians, increased when compared to 2019. UCDP noted a record-high number of 56 state-based conflicts in 2020, including eight wars. Most of the conflicts occurred in Africa, as the region registered 30 state-based conflicts, including nine new or restarted ones.

Development of indigenous collective strategies: A theoretical vision from modern management for development with Aymara identity

The Aymara population constitutes the main social and cultural identity of the Arica and Parinacota Region in Chile and for more than five decades has continued to face a series of local difficulties due to globalization, technological change, and a neoliberal market economy with little government support. Numerous villages in the Andean foothills and high plateau continue to live in conditions of poverty. However, collective leadership has proven to be an innovative tool to address various market failures and institutional barriers that hinder their social and economic development at the territorial level. This article analyzes the main theoretical and practical postulates for collective strategies led by indigenous communities to be effectively developed in their cultural and territorial context.

Dung-beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) assemblage in two livestock production systems in a southern Mexican High Plateau semiarid ecosystem

In this work, we used measures of diversity and biogeographic patterns to evaluate the response of dung-beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) at two cattle ranches with different management systems on the southern Mexican High Plateau. The number of individuals and biomass were used as the primary diversity attributes of the assemblage. The 1D and 2D true diversity indexes of these attributes were examined, and the attributes were classified according to Halffter’s biogeographical patterns. In total, 1375 Scarabaeinae adults were collected, representing 11 species and seven genera. Site management regime did not significantly affect species richness or assemblage structure when the number of individuals was considered. However, species diversity and biomass turnover were higher in the system with holistic management than in that with semitechnified management. The proportions of Halffter’s biogeographical patterns also differed between the two production systems. In conclusion, the location under holistic management, despite having cattle production, contained a significant proportion of the Scarabaeinae species that are typical of the Mexican High Plateau. In contrast, the semitechnified system negatively impacted beetle abundance, leading to half the individuals, the dominance of species with high biomass, and the absence of groups typical of the region.

The Anniversary Year of 1971 and the Dawn of Détente

In 1971 the Jewish communities of East and West Berlin celebrated their three-hundredth anniversary. The anniversary year coincided with a juncture during which the two halves of the divided city sought greater proximity and thus was framed by noteworthy political and cultural events. East Berlin’s anniversary celebrations were intertwined with two commemorations. These publicly and very visibly perpetuated the image of Jews as victims of fascism. In parallel, East Berlin saw the premiere of the long-awaited local production of Fiddler on the Roof. On the other side of the Wall, the Jewish community had reached a comfortable and high plateau with regular cultural events in its community center. It offered an ever-expanding cultural program, with a broad variety of concerts and recitals. In clear contrast to East Berlin, the West Berlin community offered a rich array of anniversary events that displayed the community’s alliance with Israel, the United States, and West Germany.

Sodium storage with high plateau capacity in nitrogen doped carbon derived from melamine-terephthalaldehyde polymers

Sodium, one of the most widespread metal in the earth’s crust, can be mined virtually everywhere and holds great promise as electroactive material in sodium-ion batteries to compete with commercial...