Why don’t we look to the west?

Paleontological data indicate that the beginning of Java Island’s human habitation took place at the Plio-Pleistocene boundary, around 2.4 Ma, along with uplift process and glacial-interglacial cycles. However, the oldest Homo erectus fossil was mainly found in the eastern part of Java Island where age-dating indicates that they were from ca. 1.5 Ma, especially along the riverbanks of Bengawan Solo and Brantas, such as Perning, Sangiran, Kedungbrubus, Ngandong, Ngawi, Trinil, and Sambungmacan.Recently, Pleistocene sites were discovered from the western part of Java, e.g., Rancah (Ciamis), Semedo (Tegal), and Bumiayu (Brebes) with their archeological, paleontological, and paleoanthropological potentials. This work will present the significance of the potential, especially paleoanthropological data from the new sites, and their implications to the Quaternary prehistory research strategies determination in the future.We present new geological, archeological, paleontological, and paleoanthropological evidence from those mentioned sites. The result shows that the distribution of Homo erectus were extended to the western part of Java, between 1.8-1.7 Ma, older than the oldest previous finding of Homo erectus from Perning and Sangiran. This finding suggests a new window of the human arrival on this island. So, why don’t we look to the west? Intensive research in the future should be addressed to the western part of Java Island.

Aktualisasi Amanat Agung Yesus Melalui Tinjauan Historis Pertumbuhan Gereja Kristen Di Pulau Batam

Batam Island has diverse social characteristics that are shown by many ethnicities, traditions, and religions. This diversity exists as a result of the population on this island is dominated by domestic migrants from all around Indonesia. In line with the expansion of industry in Batam, the island's population is rapidly increasing, which is accompanied by the establishment of various types of worship places. Based on population growth, it is essential to examine the historical development of churches of all denominations as well as the establishment of worship places in other religions. The research method used in this writing is qualitative research method by conducting literature review related to church growth. The result of this historical review was, the growth of Christian churches in Batam is not as fast as the growth of mosques, but that does not mean it has decreased in number. They continue to grow and shift geographically in various ways. Clearly, Christianity has spread far from its historical origins and supports Jesus' great commission of making disciples of all nations, baptizing him, and teaching the gospel throughout the world. Abstrak: Pulau Batam merupakan wilayah dengan unsur masyarakat heterogen yang ditunjukkan dengan keberagaman suku, adat istiadat, serta agama yang dianut oleh masyarakat pulau Batam. Keberagaman ini terbentuk karena masyarakat di pulau Batam didominasi oleh pendatang yang berasal dari seluruh Indonesia. Seiring dengan pertumbuhan industri di pulau Batam, maka pertumbuhan penduduk juga meningkat pesat dan diikuti juga bertumbuhnya berbagai macam rumah ibadah. Berdasarkan latar belakang pertumbuhan penduduk tersebut, maka perlu dilakukan tinjauan historis perkembangan gereja dari semua denominasi dan juga berdirinya rumah ibadah agama -agama lainnya. Penulisan ini menggunakan metodologi kualitatif dengan melakukan penelitian kepustakaan atau kajian literatur yang berhubungan dengan pertumbuhan gereja. Hasil tinjauan historis ini adalah pertumbuhan gereja Kristen tidak sepesat pertumbuhan masjid tetapi bukan berarti berkurang dalam jumlah. Mereka terus bertumbuh dan bergeser secara geografis dalam berbagai cara, Jelas agama Kristen telah menyebar jauh dari asal usul historisnya dan mendukung amanat agung Yesus yaitu menjadikan semua bangsa murid, membaptiskannya dan mengajar injil keseluruh dunia.

Molecular Detection of Zoonotic and Non-Zoonotic Pathogens from Wild Boars and Their Ticks in the Corsican Wetlands

Corsica is the main French island in the Mediterranean Sea and has high levels of human and animal population movement. Among the local animal species, the wild boar is highly prevalent in the Corsican landscape and in the island’s traditions. Wild boars are the most commonly hunted animals on this island, and can be responsible for the transmission and circulation of pathogens and their vectors. In this study, wild boar samples and ticks were collected in 17 municipalities near wetlands on the Corsican coast. A total of 158 hunted wild boars were sampled (523 samples). Of these samples, 113 were ticks: 96.4% were Dermacentor marginatus, and the remainder were Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma scupense and Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. Of the wild boar samples, only three blood samples were found to be positive for Babesia spp. Of the tick samples, 90 were found to be positive for tick-borne pathogens (rickettsial species). These results confirm the importance of the wild boar as a host for ticks carrying diseases such as rickettsiosis near wetlands and recreational sites. Our findings also show that the wild boar is a potential carrier of babesiosis in Corsica, a pathogen detected for the first time in wild boars on the island.

Spatial and temporal analysis for mangrove community healthiness in Liki Island, Papua-Indonesia

Indonesian mangrove declined significantly in the last two decades which has been considered to deliver a negative impact for adjacent communities in small islands. Mangrove quality monitoring was conducted during Nusa Manggala Expedition in 2018, which was aimed to analyze forest structure and healthiness using spatial-temporal investigation in Liki island, Papua. Field data were collected from 10m-×-10m quadratic plots which were distributed following stratified purposive sampling method. Spatial and temporal was implemented using Sentinel 2 imagery on this area from 2016 to 2021. The result of this field study had considered that mangrove in Liki island was in moderate healthiness since the MHI value was between 33.33%-66.67%. It was supported by remote sensing analysis in 2018 which showed that the moderate MHI area was dominant by approximately 42% compared to the excellent area in about 33%. Liki’s mangrove had experienced a declining trend of excellent category from 2016 and reached the lowest area of its category in 2018. In the last four-year observation, excellent areas gradually increased which was covering 57.68% of forest MHI. The dynamic of mangrove healthiness on this island tended to be delivered by natural events.

Potential Source Analysis of Macrodebris in Untung Java Island by Using Trajectory Particle Modelling

Untung Java is one of the small islands in Thousand islands. One of the most highlighted problems on this island is the accumulation of macrodebris that occurs in the coastal and mangrove ecosystems. The purpose of this study is to determine the most potential source point for distributing debris to Untung Java Island by using a hydrodynamic model and particle trajectory model of MIKE 21. The scenario of the simulation is using pre-reclamation condition in 1999 and 2019. The estuary in Jakarta Bay is illustrated as the starting point for debris transport. Five other estuaries as potential source assumption are selected, namely Cisadane, Citarum, Muara Angke, Ciliwung and Cikeas. The validation data model used tidal data from Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Sea Level Monitoring by utilizing Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) method. The RMSE is calculated up to 0.49-12.78%. The tidal current of Jakarta Bay is simulated up to 0.015-0.375 m/s. The Cisadane estuary is the most potential source as a supplier of macrodebris to Untung Java Island due to its debris movement pattern and the nearest distance to the island.

Modelling sea surface currents in the eastern coast of Bawean Island, East Java

Bawean Island is located in the middle of the Java Sea, approximately 80 km north of Gresik Regency, East Java Province. The coastal area of Bawean Island is famous for its potential as a marine tourism area because it has a well-preserved coral reef ecosystem. The potential for tourism development on this island requires the support of environmental suitability. The dynamics of ocean currents as an important parameter for small island development is important to be analyzed. This study aims to determine the characteristics of currents in the eastern coast of Bawean Island through the hydro-oceanographic model. The data used in this modelling was hourly wind and tide data from the period of 2020-2021. The results showed that the velocity of surface current speed in the study area was weak (<0,5 m/s). There was a significant difference of current direction during the west monsoon season and the first transitional season. Validation of model simulation and ADCP measurements produce MAE values 0,014 and 0,035 as well as MAPE values 12,75% and 27,48%.

A Preliminary Investigation of Insect Succession Patterns on Decomposing Carrion on Rottnest Island (WA)

Introduction: Pivotal component of medico-legal investigations is the determination of time since death, or (minimum) postmortem interval, (min) PMI. Forensic entomology can provide reliable estimates of (min) PMI using carrion insect species. Carrion insect arrival and departure occurs in predictable and sequential waves, however, successions may vary depending on geographical location and environmental conditions. Hence, it is crucial to refer to insect succession data of the same region where the death scene occurs. A current gap in forensic entomology research is on carrion-breeding species and succession on decomposition remains/carrions on small islands. Rottnest Island is located off the south-west coast of Perth. The aim of this study was to establish baseline data of carrion insect fauna present on this island, and to provide entomological evidence that may aid in any future investigations on the island. Methods: A list of the insect taxa associated with two decomposing swine hindquarters during the summer season was compiled over a 15-day study period and compared with published mainland data obtained during the same period of the year. Results: Ten insect taxa representing four families were collected and identified in association with the decomposing carrion. The first wave of colonising Diptera species included Calliphoridae species and Sarcophagidae species. The second wave of Diptera comprised Muscidae species, in addition to beetles. Furthermore, ants and spiders were noted throughout the trial. Conclusions: Comparing the results on Rottnest Island with currently available data from mainland WA, showed that the composition of insect speciesand the patterns of succession were similar.

Fleeing to World’s End today (Floreana, Galápagos): Microislandness in a global changing world

Floreana, the smallest and least inhabited island in the Galapagos, is considered both a “hell” and a “paradise”; a remote and isolated place and, at the same time, a context that today has more comforts and privileges than the Mainland. Extensive ethnography developed over a decade, which analyses the practices, discourses and tactics of the islanders and other social actors, shows how Floreana residents live with high levels of transformation, resemanticise, and creatively blend elements of continuity and innovation. The historical and anthropological analysis of anthropisation on this island reveals a process characterised by dynamism, paradox, and ambivalence, resulting in unique tactics of empowerment by a heterogeneous population that has, nonetheless, generated a strong local identity. The study describes a complex microislandness, in which isolation and hyper-connectivity are compatible, and where State wages, environmental protectionism, tourism, the Internet, and other global features do not impede but rather favour the concept of fleeing to and living ‘at World’s End’ in an experience that resituates the local within the global.

Mitochondrial introgression by ancient admixture between two distant lacustrine fishes in Sulawesi Island

Sulawesi, an island located in a biogeographical transition zone between Indomalaya and Australasia, is famous for its high levels of endemism. Ricefishes (family Adrianichthyidae) are an example of taxa that have uniquely diversified on this island. It was demonstrated that habitat fragmentation due to the Pliocene juxtaposition among tectonic subdivisions of this island was the primary factor that promoted their divergence; however, it is also equally probable that habitat fusions and resultant admixtures between phylogenetically distant species may have frequently occurred. Previous studies revealed that some individuals of Oryzias sarasinorum endemic to a tectonic lake in central Sulawesi have mitochondrial haplotypes that are similar to the haplotypes of O. eversi, which is a phylogenetically related but geologically distant (ca. 190 km apart) adrianichthyid endemic to a small fountain. In this study, we tested if this reflects ancient admixture of O. eversi and O. sarasinorum. Population genomic analyses of genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms revealed that O. eversi and O. sarasinorum are substantially reproductively isolated from each other. Comparison of demographic models revealed that the models assuming ancient admixture from O. eversi to O. sarasinorum was more supported than the models assuming no admixture; this supported the idea that the O. eversi-like mitochondrial haplotype in O. sarasinorum was introgressed from O. eversi. This study is the first to demonstrate ancient admixture of lacustrine or pond organisms in Sulawesi beyond 100 km. The complex geological history of this island enabled such island-wide admixture of lacustrine organisms, which usually experience limited migration.

Health care of Cyprus

In terms of its efficiency and accessibility, the health care of Cyprus is not inferior in many ways to the systems of medical care in a number of developed countries of the world. By placing the main emphasis on the organization of preventive care, the Cypriots were able to achieve quite a high level of life expectancy — 85 years for women and 81 years for men. Due to its excellent geographical position and mild climate, the country has a special attraction in terms of medical tourism, the most popular areas of which are plastic cosmetology, dentistry, and reproductive medicine. Foreigners who come for medical services have the opportunity not only to improve their health, but also to have a wonderful rest, enjoy Mediterranean cuisine, golden sandy beaches and blessed sunshine. Fortunately, nature provides all the opportunities for this — scientists say that at least 300 days a year are sunny on this island.