Humboldt State University

Globally, military expenditures continue to rise, while capacities for conflict prevention, diplomacy, and peacebuilding remain persistently underfunded. Concurrently, rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping military strategy, information environments, and geopolitical dynamics. These developments underscore the urgent need for a renewed peace ethics capable of addressing militarized AI, structural security asymmetries, and the transformative power of emerging technologies. This essay argues for a shift from a predominantly militarized conception of security toward a comprehensive framework grounded in human security, multilateralism, and a proactive “AI for Peace” agenda. Drawing on United Nations frameworks, the 2025 UN call to rebalance military spending, contemporary peace research (including the 2025 Friedensgutachten of the German Peace Research Institutes), and current geopolitical challenges, the essay develops conceptual foundations, policy alternatives, and ethical criteria, and presents a focused case study illustrating how AI for Peace tools could support conflict mediation and peace assessment in the ongoing Russian–Ukrainian war.

I quantified River Otter use of a coastal, recreational wetland complex on the shores of Wigi/Humboldt Bay, Northern California, from direct observation of individuals and examination of sign left at scent mark stations over 2 calendar years. Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary consists of constructed ponds and marshes for wastewater treatment, tidal lagoons, and restored saltmarsh that are accessed daily by bikers, hikers, and dog walkers. River Otters were present in the wetland complex on 96.7% of 598 observation days (July 2020–June 2022). Single River Otters were most frequently observed (51.7% of 1382 sightings) followed by groups of 2–5 adults (27.3%), mother-pup groups (17.4%), and periodically, lone pups. River Otters entered from adjacent Wigi/Humboldt Bay using 4 crossover pathways into ponds at both southern and northern ends of the study area. Within the wetland complex, River Otters used well-traveled crossovers that were typically in corners or at the narrowest width of land between ponds (x̄ = 15.9 m). Nineteen crossovers went over human footpaths-bike trails, and 6 were across a road or underneath through culverts. Most River Otter scat at crossovers contained undigested parts of birds (n = 300), fish (n = 235), crustaceans (n = 111), aquatic insects (n = 83), and amphibians (n = 5). Waterbirds were apparently taken more than fish in 8 of 12 mo in the annual cycle, peaking in November and March. River Otter hunting sessions for waterbirds generally occurred in 3 finishing marshes (hemi-marsh-like ponds at the end of the water treatment progression through the complex), characterized by mat-forming, submergent, and deep emergent vegetation where ducks and coots foraged. River Otter fishing sessions generally occurred in 2 lagoons open to tidal fluctuations and characterized by salt-adapted deep emergent vegetation and algae, which contained a variety of fish originating from adjacent Wigi/Humboldt Bay. All River Otters, including singles, mother and pup groups, and groups ≥2 adults were observed pursuing each type of prey, including waterbirds, large fish, small fish, and smaller items. River Otters used 12 tactics to pursue waterbirds, which were different than when fishing or pursing other aquatic prey. River Otters regularly attacked waterbirds from hidden positions in dense cover along shorelines and islands. River Otters sometimes appeared to “hide” in plain view while partially submerged and fully extended from nose-to-tail, perhaps signaling the appearance of a stationary or drifting log (aggressive masquerade) when targeting waterbirds. River Otters used 7 tactics to pursue fish and small aquatic prey, most frequently diving repeatedly to the bottom (patch-fishing), routing-out fishing in floating mat vegetation, and spinning to extract fish from submerged algae beds. River Otters hunting in a wetland may create a sense of fear and redistribution of prey (waterbirds and fish) similar to other apex predators. Beside foraging for food, River Otters used ponds, slough channels, islands, and shorelines in the wetland complex to achieve all other important aspects of daily and seasonal activities (e.g., reproduction and pup rearing to frequenting haul out sites used for body maintenance, rest, and socializing) all in full view of keen observers visiting this popular recreational site. Foraging River Otters regularly stopped swimming and diving to watch people and dogs that used adjacent footpaths and roads, quantified by an otter's directed eye-gaze. Usually, River Otters showed only the top portion of their heads but sometimes rose higher out of the water (periscoping) while waiting and watching people. River Otters also appeared to “hide” in plain view, perhaps practicing the drifting log display (protective masquerade), when observing and potentially being observed by people and dogs. After initially pausing to watch people, River Otters generally resumed swimming or diving (51.6% of 182 occasions) within 5 s, but almost a third of the time changed direction of travel and moved farther away, and members of mother-pup groups were more likely to change direction. Key attributes that encouraged River Otters’ use of the constructed wetlands are described.

Abstract Historical changes in psychosocial functioning at the end of life have been underexplored, and conflicting scenarios have been proposed regarding secular trends in the rate of decline: While the compression of morbidity hypothesis predicts a steeper rate of decline over historical time, the concept of “manufactured survival” suggests that the rate of decline has become shallower. This pre-registered study (https://osf.io/jd8xr) examined how individuals’ changes in well-being in the last years of life and their correlates differ over historical time. Data were derived from a longitudinal study of a nationally representative sample of Japanese older adults aged 60+ years. We compared two death-year cohorts based on individuals’ year of death (earlier: 1987-1999 versus later: 2000-2012) case-matched based on age at death and sex (n = 668 per cohort). Well-being was indicated by life satisfaction and depressive symptoms. Multilevel models found death-year cohort differences in life satisfaction but not depressive symptoms. While the levels of and rates of changes in life satisfaction did not differ across death-year cohorts, the association between physical health and well-being was stronger in the later-deceased cohort. These findings suggest that terminal decline in life satisfaction accelerates in interaction with disease particularly in later cohorts, with those who more recently passed away with high disease load experiencing lower levels of life satisfaction and more rapid declines. These secular trends may be due to societal advancements in healthcare systems enabling later-born cohorts to be more likely to survive with health declines.

The authors would like to make the following corrections to the published paper [...]

Abstract This study investigates the cost of job loss to household incomes, and the extent to which initial earnings losses are compensated through the labor market, within the household, and by the social security programs. Using survey and administrative data from Denmark, Finland, Germany, and the UK (1990–2018), we estimate short- and long-term effects of job loss with a dynamic difference-in-differences model. Job loss reduces household income by 17 per cent in the UK while only 5 to 6 percent in other countries during the first year. These losses gradually diminish and disappear over the long run. Across all countries, market (i.e. re-employment) is the main source of compensation, while the role of household and state compensations varies in line with the national compensation strategies. State compensation is crucial in mitigating immediate income losses, while market compensation becomes even more important over time. Household compensation mainly substitutes for weaker market and state protections.

Relying on the nonlinear optical effect of difference-frequency generation, passively carrier-envelope stabilized comb systems are currently considered the simplest option for generating combs with zero carrier-envelope offset frequency ${f_{{\mathbf{ceo}}}}$, that is, without relying on electronic servo loops or additional acousto-optic shifters. However, recent measurements indicated statistically significant deviations from a perfect vanishing ${f_{{\mathbf{ceo}}}}$. Here, we show that temperature-drift-induced refractive index changes in subsequent distribution or booster amplifiers may give rise to an effective Doppler shift of the measured ${f_{{\mathbf{ceo}}}}$, thwarting precision frequency measurements up to the mHz level. Comparing this hypothesis with temperature-dependent refractive index data and gain spectra, we find excellent quantitative agreement with measurements. Mitigating these problems by allowing for sufficient warm-up times of the external amplifiers, the ${f_{{\mathbf{ceo}}}}$ mean value of a difference frequency comb is measured as -0.55±1.55 µHz, which is statistically equivalent to 0. The corresponding stability supersedes the current best optical clocks by an order of magnitude, with an overlapping Allan deviation of <1·10-17 at 1 s and 5.36×10-21 at 100,000 s. Previously often considered negligible, the temperature drift of external distribution or booster amplifiers plays a critical role in obtaining similar stabilities in frequency metrology for all kinds of ${f_{{\mathbf{ceo}}}}$-stabilized combs.

Abstract Calculus plays an important role in economics, especially within economic theory. However, the way economists use calculus differs from how mathematicians understand and teach calculus. In this paper, we first present examples from micro- and macroeconomics illustrating the kind of calculus used in economics concretely. We then provide an overview on features of calculus in economics which we draw from the examples. Finally, we point out challenges for economics students relating the mathematical content in the examples presented and the features identified, and discuss several consequences for teaching calculus to economics students. The paper advances knowledge in as much as the specificities of calculus for economics students have received scant attention in mathematics education research, despite the high relevance of economics for modern society and the large number of students enrolled in economics study programs.

This article examines the activities of prestigious universities in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, focusing on innovations within their educational systems, similarities and differences across institutional structures, and their broader contributions to global knowledge and society.Special emphasis is placed on the development of material and technical infrastructure, the scope of scientific research, international collaboration networks, and the implementation of scholarship and grant programs.These initiatives are shown to play a crucial role in enhancing teaching quality and shaping research with contemporary relevance.The study highlights that such universities hold a significant position not only within their national frameworks but also in the scientific, economic, social, and cultural development of the wider world.Attention is further given to the historical trajectories and development paths of these institutions, underlining the importance of both scientifictechnological progress and the human factor in shaping modern universities.The article also addresses the question of -What constitutes an Innovative and Entrepreneurial University?, evaluating the role of universities in knowledge production and applied research.Finally, the study discusses the implementation of entrepreneurial functions in Azerbaijani and other post-Soviet higher education institutions, identifying existing progress as well as limitations, and analyzing the underlying causes and consequences.

How people relate to and see themselves as part of nature relations differs worldwide and often depends on culture and worldviews. Nonetheless, challenging the dominant Euro-Western epistemic domination is needed to attain more equitable and sustainable future visions. This change entails fostering decolonial mediation between different knowledge systems in a context of intersectional difference. The collective struggles of Black, Indigenous, and other Women of Color (BIWOC) for self-determination shed light on pathways of decolonial mediations and how to attain epistemic equity when thinking about the future. Echoing the call of BIWOC to use decoloniality in knowledge co-creation, we co-created a border space together with 20 BIWOC in the Putumayo department of Colombia. In this space, we jointly envisioned three radical visions of the Amazon through scenario-building exercises between 2022 and 2023. Storytelling is a powerful tool to capture the BIWOC’s differentiated experience of the world and to explore their individual and collective emancipation from different forms of oppression. Decolonial mediations support the (co-)design of a “safe enough” space for questioning and rethinking Euro-Western domination. Our research also indicates that incorporating decolonial praxis into sustainability transformation research can allow for a more radical envisioning of the future. • We craft three new visions for the Amazon through scenario-building exercises • Storytelling helps to rethink Euro-Western dominant imaginaries • Decoloniality is an effective tool to examine gender and racial inequity • Decolonial practices in sustainability enable envisioning radical futures