Hunting and sale of Pangolins across Sub-Saharan Africa: a preliminary analysis

Pangolins (Pholidota: Manidae) are hunted and traded for their meat and scales. We conducted preliminary analyses on the hunting and sale at markets of four species of pangolin across Sub-Saharan Africa based on data from the OFFTAKE database. Our analyses show that all four species of African pangolin are hunted and sold at markets throughout much of Sub-Saharan Africa. The proportion of pangolins as part of the total vertebrates hunted has increased significantly during the 43 years, from 1972-2014, for which we have data

Towards understanding interactions between Sustainable Development Goals: the role of environment–human linkages

Only 10 years remain to achieve all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) globally, so there is a growing need to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of action by targeting multiple SDGs. The SDGs were conceived as an ‘indivisible whole’, but interactions between SDGs need to be better understood. Several previous assessments have begun to explore interactions including synergies and possible conflicts between the SDGs, and differ widely in their conclusions. Although some highlight the role of the more environmentally-focused SDGs in underpinning sustainable development, none specifically focuses on environment-human linkages. Assessing interactions between SDGs, and the influence of environment on them, can make an important contribution to informing decisions in 2020 and beyond. Here, we review previous assessments of interactions among SDGs, apply an influence matrix to assess pairwise interactions between all SDGs, and show how viewing these from the perspective of environment-human linkages can influence the outcome. Environment, and environment-human linkages, influence most interactions between SDGs. Our action-focused assessment enables decision makers to focus environmental management to have the greatest impacts, and to identify opportunities to build on synergies and reduce trade-offs between particular SDGs. It may enable sectoral decision makers to seek support from environment managers for achieving their goals. We explore cross-cutting issues and the relevance and potential application of our approach in supporting decision making for progress to achieve the SDGs

Effectiveness of stratospheric solar-radiation management as a function of climate sensitivity

If implementation of proposals to engineer the climate through solar-radiation management (SRM) ever occurs, it is likely to be contingent on climate sensitivity. However, modelling studies examining the effectiveness of SRM as a strategy to offset anthropogenic climate change have used only the standard parameterizations of atmosphere–ocean general circulation models that yield climate sensitivities close to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project mean. Here, we use a perturbed-physics ensemble modelling experiment to examine how the response of the climate to SRM implemented in the stratosphere (SRM-S) varies under different greenhouse-gas climate sensitivities. When SRM-S is used to compensate for rising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, its effectiveness in stabilizing regional climates diminishes with increasing climate sensitivity. However, the potential of SRM-S to slow down unmitigated climate change, even regionally, increases with climate sensitivity. On average, in variants of the model with higher sensitivity, SRM-S reduces regional rates of temperature change by more than 90% and rates of precipitation change by more than 50%.Engineering and Applied Science

Testing general relativity with accretion onto compact objects

The X-ray emission of neutron stars and black holes presents a rich phenomenology that can lead us to a better understanding of their nature and to address more general physics questions: Does general relativity apply in the strong gravity regime? Is spacetime around black holes described by the Kerr metric? This white paper considers how we can investigate these questions by studying reverberation mapping and quasi-periodic oscillations in accreting systems with a combination of high-spectral and high-timing resolution. In the near future, we will be able to study compact objects in the X-rays in a new way: advancements in transition-edge sensors (TES) technology will allow for electron-volt-resolution spectroscopy combined with nanoseconds-precision timing.Comment: White paper submitted for Astro2020 Decadal Survey. 8 pages, 2 figure

The Controversy Surrounding Net Neutrality

The topic of Net Neutrality is one that I came across via a social media campaign that encouraged users to contact their Congress people and voice their thoughts. I became aware of the principle very near to the time of its legal establishment, as described in the history portion of this document. It is important to note that my intention was to analyze Net Neutrality and understand its pro’s and cons. I wanted to report on both sides, and offer my own input on the matter. Before I was able to write my own thoughts, the decision to uphold Net Neutrality was put into action, and I thought at that point, my opinion may have been irrelevant. However, laws are a product of the people who create them, and the people who create them are those that are inspired to make change. Although a decision has been made, it has been made by such inspired people, and it can be changed further by the same inspired people if necessary. The law is not unable to be changed, and that much is evident in the development of this topic. I consider my opinion, then, to be founded in both inspiration and a desire for change and growth

Assessing Patterns of Social Engagement in Typically Developing Children, Children with Mental Retardation, and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using a Standardized Playground Observation Checklist

Prior research in the area of play in children suggests that children\u27s interactions with one another can predict their social competence, their social skill development, and their ability to establish and maintain social relationships. However, most prior research has been carried out in contrived playgroups under adult direction or supervision; few studies have been carried out in naturalistic settings without adult interference. This retrospective, predictive study reviewed archival data to assess similarities and differences in playground interactions between typical children, children with mental retardation, and children with autism spectrum disorder. The study introduced a structured playground observation checklist in order to standardize playground behavior observations. Three groups of children identified as: typical (N=37), children with mental retardation (N=24), and children with autism spectrum disorder (N=20) were studied to determine similarities and differences in social competence and to assess the utility of the playground behavior checklist as part of a comprehensive assessment of autism spectrum disorder. As predicted, the use of a structured playground observation checklist accurately identified differences between and among the three groups studied