Geography education plays a crucial role in enhancing students’ environmental awareness. One of the applicable approaches is the integration of local wisdom into the learning process. Local wisdom reflects the traditional ways communities have preserved environmental balance across generations. This study aims to (1) analyse the types of local wisdom in Kerjo District, (2) examine the implementation of local wisdom in geography learning, and (3) assess the impact of local wisdom on students’ understanding of environmental issues. This research employs a qualitative approach using a case study method conducted at SMA Negeri 1 Kerjo, which has implemented local wisdom-based learning. The research subjects include geography teachers and students. Data collection techniques involve observation, interviews, and analysis of teaching materials and school policy documents. The collected data were analysed through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings of the study are as follows: (1) Kerjo District has eight types of local wisdom, namely Nyadran, Bersih Desa, Tirakatan, Suran, Gotong Royong, Wetonan, Sedekah Bumi, and Rasulan; (2) The implementation of local wisdom-based education at SMA N 1 Kerjo is not yet optimal; (3) Students’ understanding of environmental topics in geography learning at SMA N 1 Kerjo needs improvement. This study highlights the importance of integrating local wisdom into geography education to strengthen students’ comprehension of environmental issues. It serves as a reference for educators and policymakers in developing more contextual and applicable culturally-based curricula in environmental education.
This study seeks to uncover evidence of a latent structure in evolved human culture as it is refracted through contemporary large language models (LLMs). Drawing on parallel responses from six leading generative models to a prompt which asks directly what their training corpora reveal about human culture and behavior, we identify a robust cross-model consensus on a limited set of recurring cultural themes. The themes include narrative meaning-making, affect-first cognition, coalition psychology, status competition, threat sensitivity, and moral rationalization. Each provides grounds for further psychological and sociological inquiry. There is strong evidence of a convergence in these pattern recognition exercises as differences among models are shown to reflect varying explanatory lenses rather than substantive disagreement. We review these findings in the light of the evolving literatures of moral psychology, evolutionary psychology, anthropology, and the computer science literature on large-scale language modeling. We argue that LLMs function as cultural condensates -- compressed representations of how humans describe, justify, and contest their own social lives across trillions of tokens of aggregated communication and narration.
Gopal Krishan, Vivek Diwakar, S. D. Khobragade
et al.
Abstract Groundwater quality assessment is critical due to its susceptibility to a range of natural and anthropogenic influences, which, if unmanaged, can pose serious environmental and public health risks. This study investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics and groundwater quality evaluation in the southwestern districts of Punjab, India, with a focus on sustainable resource management. A total of 242 groundwater samples were systematically collected during the summer of 2019 across the districts of Mansa, Fazilka, Muktsar, Bathinda, Firozpur, and Faridkot. The samples were analyzed for almost all major cations, anions and other physicochemical parameters. Relative abundance of cations was Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K & anions were SO4 2− > HCO3 − > Cl− > NO3 − > F. Elevated concentrations of sulphate & nitrate were detected, highlighting the impact of agrochemical inputs. The plots of Wilcox and USSL plots revealed a declining trend in groundwater suitability for irrigation, affecting both shallow and deep aquifer sources, due to increasing salinity and sodium hazards. Hydrochemical data was interpreted using Gibbs diagram, Piper’s trilinear plot and Durov diagram to understand the various geochemical processes affecting the groundwater quality. Hydrochemical analysis indicates that rock–water interactions, evaporation & anthropogenic processes predominantly control groundwater composition, as evidenced by high levels of sodium and chloride. This study is significant as the surface water resources are limited and the quality and quantity of groundwater are deteriorating with time due to anthropogenic inputs. These findings underscore the necessity of continuous monitoring and informed groundwater management strategies to mitigate contamination and ensure long-term sustainability.
Water supply for domestic and industrial purposes, Environmental sciences
The evolution of morality presents a puzzle: natural selection should favor self-interest, yet humans developed moral systems promoting altruism. We address this question by introducing a novel Large Language Model (LLM)-based agent simulation framework modeling prehistoric hunter-gatherer societies. This platform is designed to probe diverse questions in social evolution, from survival advantages to inter-group dynamics. To investigate moral evolution, we designed agents with varying moral dispositions based on the Expanding Circle Theory \citep{singer1981expanding}. We evaluated their evolutionary success across a series of simulations and analyzed their decision-making in specially designed moral dilemmas. These experiments reveal how an agent's moral framework, in combination with its cognitive constraints, directly shapes its behavior and determines its evolutionary outcome. Crucially, the emergent patterns echo seminal theories from related domains of social science, providing external validation for the simulations. This work establishes LLM-based simulation as a powerful new paradigm to complement traditional research in evolutionary biology and anthropology, opening new avenues for investigating the complexities of moral and social evolution.
The Rutherford scattering experiment, conceived by Ernest Rutherford and carried out by Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden, provided the first direct evidence of a compact atomic nucleus, fundamentally altering the understanding of atomic structure. The original experiment involved directing alpha particles from a radioactive source toward a thin gold foil and observing their deflection using a zinc sulfide scintillation screen. This paper presents an accessible and low-cost approach to reproducing the key features of the Rutherford experiment using commercially available components, offering a practical platform for educational demonstrations and introductory nuclear physics investigations.
Large Language Models (LLMs) have demonstrated unprecedented capabilities across various natural language processing tasks. Their ability to process and generate viable text and code has made them ubiquitous in many fields, while their deployment as knowledge bases and "reasoning" tools remains an area of ongoing research. In geography, a growing body of literature has been focusing on evaluating LLMs' geographical knowledge and their ability to perform spatial reasoning. However, very little is still known about the internal functioning of these models, especially about how they process geographical information. In this chapter, we establish a novel framework for the study of geospatial mechanistic interpretability - using spatial analysis to reverse engineer how LLMs handle geographical information. Our aim is to advance our understanding of the internal representations that these complex models generate while processing geographical information - what one might call "how LLMs think about geographic information" if such phrasing was not an undue anthropomorphism. We first outline the use of probing in revealing internal structures within LLMs. We then introduce the field of mechanistic interpretability, discussing the superposition hypothesis and the role of sparse autoencoders in disentangling polysemantic internal representations of LLMs into more interpretable, monosemantic features. In our experiments, we use spatial autocorrelation to show how features obtained for placenames display spatial patterns related to their geographic location and can thus be interpreted geospatially, providing insights into how these models process geographical information. We conclude by discussing how our framework can help shape the study and use of foundation models in geography.
The kasnak oak (Quercus vulcanica [Boiss. and Heldr. ex] Kotschy) is an endemic oak species in Türkiye whose largest distribution area is in the western part of the Turkish Lake District. The literature on current plant studies has emphasized some of the natural distribution areas of the kasnak oak in Türkiye to be found in the Murat, Türkmen, and Şaphane mountains in Kütahya province. The kasnak oak’s distribution is unknown regarding Budağan Mountain (İnyanı Peak 1612 m) which lies between Tavşanlı and Emet districts in western Kütahya. The field studies carried out in July 2022 on Budağan Mountain were the first to identify the presence of the kasnak oak there. Kasnak oaks are located in the dry forest area formed of junipers on land made of limestone at an altitude range of 1430-1600 m on Budağan Mountain, with dolines offering a more favorable environment in terms of humidity, especially on the northern side of the mountain. Young kasnak oak groups develop at the base of the dolines and have a height of 3-4 m Individual oaks can reach 80 cm in diameter and 12 m in length.This study involves the natural distribution of the kasnak oak, an endangered (NT) group according to the risk categories of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), on Budağan Mountain, an area that has not been previously studied in detail. In addition, the study aims to contribute to the information about the natural distribution of this endemic species and to reveal the area’s ecological characteristics.
Jamison Pinheiro Ribeiro, Andréa Cristina Dorr, Carine Dalla Valle
et al.
A cadeia produtiva do açaí, devido às suas propriedades altamente nutricionais, aos seus benefícios à saúde, ao seu grande valor cultural e potencial de comercialização, tem ganhado destaque no mercado nacional e internacional. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa consiste em mapear e caracterizar os agentes que compõem os elos dessa cadeia produtiva no município de Concórdia, estado do Pará. Este estudo caracteriza-se como qualitativo de cunho exploratório-descritivo, realizado através da coleta de dados por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com os atores envolvidos na cadeia produtiva de açaí. Para a análise dos dados, foi utilizada a técnica de análise de conteúdo. Os achados deste artigo evidenciam as interligaçoes entre os elos que compõem a cadeia produtiva dentro do município, destacando a participação dos(as) agricultores(as) familiares no processo de produção, os agentes envolvidos na etapa de distribuição da cadeia, em que os atravessadores possuem certa predominância, e, por fim, o elo de beneficiamento, cujos responsáveis são a cooperativa, as agroindústrias e os batedores artesanais, chegando até os consumidores finais. Diante disso, conclui-se neste estudo que a cadeia produtiva evidenciou como o ambiente institucional permeia o desenvolvimento das atividades econômicas, dentro da base de produção, distribuição e beneficiamento, estabelecendo, assim, relações entre todos os agentes envolvidos na cadeia produtiva do açaí.
Chun-Wei Huang, Si Ying Yau, Chiao-Ling Kuo
et al.
Study region: The Choushui River Fan, Taiwan. Study focus: Groundwater overdraft has led to not only groundwater depletion but also environmental disasters, such as subsidence and seawater intrusion in the Choushui River Alluvial Fan, Taiwan. The influence of land subsidence is gradually shifting from the coast to the center of the fan and threatening Taiwan high-speed rail. However, it remains a great challenge to manage and model the groundwater aquifer due to numerous unregulated wells. This study maps and locates private wells using deep learning technologies. We trained and validated convolutional-based deep learning neural networks (DNNs), using street view images. We applied the DNNs to a land subsidence area along the Taiwan high-speed rail, termed the Golden Corridor in Taiwan. The results showed that DNNs can recognize pumping wells with at least 90% accuracy. The testing cases showed their capability to recall all the pumping wells in three road segments along the Golden Corridor. Finally, we spatially estimated potential pumping of a subsidence area using the fine-trained DNNs. New hydrological insights for the region: Given the prevalence of unknown private pumping in the Choushui River Fan, our image data-driven computer vision approach not only eases labor-intensive private well investigations but also advances hydrologic understanding for groundwater modeling. We enhance comprehension of unknown sinks and provide their spatial distribution to improve groundwater modeling.
Ester Gil-Beltrán, Cristian Coo, Isabella Meneghel
et al.
IntroductionThis work is a dual study employing a cross-sectional approach and a diary method to investigate how physical exercise can become a habit. Guided by the Upward Spiral Theory of Lifestyle Change, we examined the role of prioritizing positivity and engaging in physical exercise with others as advantageous resources and their impact on the relational loop of physical exercise behavior, emotions, and engagement.MethodsThe first study involved a sample of 553 participants, and the second study included 146 participants, all of whom were employed and regularly engaged in physical exercise. We utilized structural equation modeling and multilevel analysis for the respective studies.ResultsThe results of the first study indicate that individuals exercise more when they experience higher levels of engagement and positive emotions, particularly when exercising with others and prioritizing positivity. The findings of the second study reveal that prioritizing positivity acts as a precursor to positive emotions during physical exercise, which in turn reinforces the relational loop between emotions and exercise behavior.DiscussionBoth studies conclude that individuals who prioritize positivity experience better psychological wellbeing and higher engagement in physical exercise.
Geospatial knowledge graphs have emerged as a novel paradigm for representing and reasoning over geospatial information. In this framework, entities such as places, people, events, and observations are depicted as nodes, while their relationships are represented as edges. This graph-based data format lays the foundation for creating a "FAIR" (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) environment, facilitating the management and analysis of geographic information. This entry first introduces key concepts in knowledge graphs along with their associated standardization and tools. It then delves into the application of knowledge graphs in geography and environmental sciences, emphasizing their role in bridging symbolic and subsymbolic GeoAI to address cross-disciplinary geospatial challenges. At the end, new research directions related to geospatial knowledge graphs are outlined.
Analysis of land use change in Nazlou district of Urmia in the 2005-2018 time series
Abstract Population growth, increased prosperity, the spread of technology, and the improper use of land have in recent decades imposed many changes on land. Nazlou district in Urmia city has been exposed to many changes due to its favorable natural conditions, location in the development paths of Urmia-Cir and Urmia-Bazargan, establishment of numerous industrial estates and so on. So planning to manage these changes requires studying land use changes. The purpose of this study was to detect land use changes in Nazlou district in Urmia city using Landsat TM and OLI satellite images by Object Oriented Classification. Also, two methods of change detection and change intensity index in land use change monitoring were used to investigate the severity and trend of land use changes. This study was descriptive and analytical and data collection was done by documentary method. The survey showed that during the study period (2005-2018) of the total area of 77498.37 hectares, the total area under study was approximately 25981.56 ha (33.52%). The highest level of change in 2005 relates to the level of the horticulture, with its downward trend in 2018. In contrast, changes in rangeland and dryland land use have an increasing trend, respectively.
A simple experiment was conducted to test the ability of the Chinese-based generative artificial intelligence (AI) platform, Wenxin Yige, to render images of urban street views of different countries. The study found that images generated by this AI platform may contain continental-level stereotypes in terms of showing the level of economic development and modernization. Street view images generated from Wenxin Yige do not adequately represent the diverse range of urban landscapes found across different nations. Using these generated images for geography education or outreach initiatives could inadvertently strengthen people's existing stereotypical views about individual countries.
A. Arnaiz-Villena, José Palacio-Gruber, Valentín Ruíz-del-Valle
et al.
Paleolithic/Neolithic (Megalithic) Lineal Scripts have been found in big or small rocks with or without megalithic context. Huelva (South West Spain) megalithic rocks presented engraved signs apparently contained in the Iberian-Tartessian semi-syllabary and this region is in the core of Tartessian civilization. Iberian-Tartessian scripts have been found in South West Algeria, Canary Islands and Iberia. The genesis of this type of writing may have more ancient roots than established (1st Century BC) as Strabo stated that it may be thousands of years older. The finding of the same Iberian-Tartessian signs within such a big geographic area supports that demic diffusion substitution either from East Mediterranean or Russian steppes is not found in Iberia according to physical anthropology traits and also genetic studies from different research groups from different countries: Iberians, North Africans and Canary Islanders are genetically close supporting prehistorical contacts also sustained by Sahara Desert rapid desiccation followed by people migration. On the other hand, it is difficult to understand Paleolithic /Neolithic-Megalithic Lineal rock inscriptions continuity in such a long period without a known language, considered identical or related to Iberian, or political unit unless Basque language, or similar one, was present in Paleolithic time, as suggested by some authors. Paleolithic Lineal scripts have also been found in Java (Indonesia) and South Africa. It is feasible that worldwide Mother Goddess religion which extended since Paleolithic to Neolithic/Megalithic times may be the one common certain and documented character available to blame of such a surprising unity and continuity of rock lineal engravings.
Megan A. Carney, Debi Chess, Michelle Rascón-Canales
Abstract Black geographies, Black feminist anthropology, and related fields have provided substantial evidence attesting to the effects of racially violent spatial practices such as dispossession, racial segregation, mass incarceration, and redlining for the health outcomes and life chances of Black communities and other racialized groups, and conversely, the political and healing potential of placemaking projects. We foreground theory from Black geographies and Black feminist work on care to examine care/giving cartographies at the height of the COVID‐19 pandemic. We present findings from semi‐structured interviews conducted virtually in 2021 that combined care/giving narratives and counter‐mapping with 20 African American residents of Tucson, Arizona, as part of a longer‐term community‐based placemaking project. Interview data underscore the spatial and discursive pervasiveness of anti‐Blackness, including within biomedical spaces of care, and negative effects on health. We argue that narratives centering care/giving alongside practices of counter‐mapping are indictments of the institutional structures abetting anti‐Black racism as a structuring, spatial logic. [anti‐Black racism, COVID‐19, caregiving, counter‐mapping]
Alicja Zielkowska, Karol Ciejka, Kamil Rogatko
et al.
Background: Tooth loss as a result of trauma most often affects young people, especially in the summer time. Implantation is considered the correct method of proceeding in the case of missing teeth. However, it is not indicated in this age group due to the constantly developing skeletal system and the change in spatial relations in the stomatognathic system. A more favorable, but less likely to be successful, method is replantation, which is more dependent on patient compliance.
Objectives: presentation of the clinical procedure in the case of avulsed tooth 21, with particular emphasis on the time and method of providing first aid.
Methods: a case report based on an anamnesis and physical examination with the use of medical records, including radiological records, of a 14-year-old boy after an injury.
Conclusions: The most important factors determining the success of the replantation procedure are: the time from the injury to contact with the dentist, and storage medium of an avulsed tooth. Both are only dependent on the person who has been injured or the guardian of minors. For this reason, it is important to raise public awareness of first aid in dentistry. Successful replantation of a tooth that has been outside the socket for more than 60 minutes may be associated with complications such as ankylosis or root resorption. However, even in case of the above- mentioned sequelae, the profit and loss balance is favorable, because the replanted tooth prevents bone loss, which is crucial due to future implantation, and the possible development of ankylosis in the developmental age can be treated with the decoronation procedure.
Abstract The p-center location problem in an area is an important yet very difficult problem in location science. The objective is to determine the location of p hubs within a service area so that the distance from any point in the area to its nearest hub is as small as possible. While effective heuristic methods exist for finding good feasible solutions, research work that probes the lower bound of the problem’s objective value is still limited. This paper presents an iterative solution framework along with two optimization-based heuristics for computing and improving the lower bound, which is at the core of the problem’s difficulty. One method obtains the lower bound via solving the discrete version of the Euclidean p-center problem, and the other via solving a relatively easier clustering problem. Both methods have been validated in various test cases, and their performances can serve as a benchmark for future methodological improvements.
Networks have always played a special role for human beings in shaping social relations, forming public opinion, and driving economic equilibria. Nowadays, online networked platforms dominate digital markets and capitalization leader-boards, while social networks drive public discussion. Despite the importance of networks in many economic and social domains (economics, sociology, anthropology, psychology,...), the knowledge about the laws that dominate their dynamics is still scarce and fragmented. Here, we analyse a wide set of online networks (those financed by advertising) by investigating their value dynamics from several perspectives: the type of service, the geographic scope, the merging between networks, and the relationship between economic and financial value. The results show that the networks are dominated by strongly nonlinear dynamics. The existence of non-linearity is often underestimated in social sciences because it involves contexts that are difficult to deal with, such as the presence of multiple equilibria -- some of which are unstable. Yet, these dynamics must be fully understood and addressed if we aim to understand the recent evolution in the economic, political and social milieus, which are precisely characterised by corner equilibria (e.g., polarization, winner-take-all solutions, increasing inequality) and nonlinear patterns.