Alternative Framework Research Articles

Collaborating in future states—Contextual instability, paradigmatic remaking, and public policy

AbstractCollaboration is ubiquitous in public policy life, with its presence and profile determined by prevailing governance conditions. Commitments to globalisation and marketisation in the latter part of the 20th century marked the onset of an era defined by collaboration, between and across tiers and spheres of government, with non‐state actors, and through market and network instruments. Current contextual instability poses questions for dominant public policy paradigms and the existing collaborative settlement. This article explores the challenges presented in the current moment and how policymakers and scholars might navigate them. It focuses on how ideas about economics and security shape public policy, illustrating the paradigm‐shifting impact of economism and securitisation. It argues for the replacement of economism and securitisation by sustainability, sovereignty, and justice and demonstrates the latter's engagement with economics and security and their accounting for what have hitherto been ‘subaltern voices’ in public policy. It discusses the implications for collaboration in relation to future collective action problems, more diverse and disconnected ‘publics’, and a more congested and lower trust policy environment. It highlights the need for collaborative plasticity and pluralistic agency.Points for practitioners Public policymaking is shaped by dominant ideas about economics and security; ideas that become ‘taken for granted’ in policy practice. The prevailing ideas of economism and securitisation are being challenged by contextual changes, globally, regionally, and nationally. This creates space for new ideas to shape future public policy. Ideas of sustainability, sovereignty, and justice offer an alternative framework for public policymaking. These ideas can engage productively with economics and security, and they are also inclusive of a wider variety of ‘voices’ particularly those previously marginalised. Collaboration will remain integral to the success of public policy. However, it will need to adapt to new circumstances. This will include defining new purposes, reassessing its appropriateness, reshaping collaborative scope, scale, and form, and refining collaborative activities. A paradigmatic shift in public policy that highlights sustainability, sovereignty, and justice will require the active involvement of a plurality of actors enabled to contribute new knowledge and contest the status quo.

Molecular Modes Elucidate the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxation of Viscous Fluids.

The Bloembergen, Purcell, and Pound (BPP) theory of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation in fluids dating back to 1948 continues to be the linchpin in interpreting NMR relaxation data in applications ranging from characterizing fluids in porous media to medical imaging (MRI). The BPP theory is founded on assuming molecules are hard spheres with 1H-1H dipole pairs reorienting randomly; assumptions that are severe in light of modern understanding of liquids. Nevertheless, it is intriguing to this day that the BPP theory was consistent with the original experimental data for glycerol, a hydrogen-bonding molecular fluid for which the hard-sphere-rigid-dipole assumption is inapplicable. To better understand this incongruity, atomistic molecular simulations are used to compute 1H NMR T1 relaxation dispersion (i.e., frequency dependence) in two contrasting cases: glycerol, and a (non hydrogen-bonding) viscosity standard. At high viscosities, simulations predict distinct functional forms of T1 for glycerol compared to the viscosity standard, in agreement with modern measurements, yet both in contrast to BPP theory. The cause of these departures from BPP theory is elucidated, without assuming any relaxation models and without any free parameters, by decomposing the simulated T1 response into dynamic molecular modes for both intramolecular and intermolecular interactions. The decomposition into dynamic molecular modes provides an alternative framework to understand the physics of NMR relaxation for viscous fluids.

TiO2 Channel Material for Lithium-Ion-Gated Neuromorphic Transistors

Ubiquitous Internet of Things (IoT) platforms have exponentially increased the relay of an abundance of data between memory and processor in current computing architectures, ultimately limiting throughput and advancing towards the von Neumann bottleneck. Brain-inspired computing using neuromorphic devices presents an encouraging alternative framework capable of power-efficient real-time inference, self-learning, and decision-making. This work focuses specifically on ion-gated, three-terminal transistors that rely on electrochemically driven ion intercalation between an electronically insulating electrolyte and a conducting channel. While other nonvolatile memories (NVMs) can be used in neuromorphic devices, electrochemical random-access memory (ECRAM) advantageously enables the programming of multi-states and their retention in the absence of applied power. This talk will present our recent work on anatase TiO2 as a channel material in a lithium-ion-gated, three-terminal transistor. Based on the literature, anatase TiO2 covers a wide channel conductance range and exhibits a linear response, allowing for numerous well-defined synaptic weights [1]. We explore a range of channel conductance values using both potentiostatic and galvanostatic pulsing and correlate material properties to electrical measurements. These results provide a benchmark and roadmap for lithium-ion-based neuromorphic transistors capable of multi-states.[1] Y. Li, E.J. Fuller, S. Asapu, S. Agarwal, T. Kurita, J.J. Yang, and A.A. Talin, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 11, 38982 (2019).

Implementing a proposed framework for enhancing critical thinking skills in synthesizing AI-generated texts

Since the development of open and low-cost generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), the higher education community has witnessed high use of AI-generated texts in scholarly research and academic assignments, attracting ongoing debate about whether such practices constitute cheating. While scholars argue that integrating GenAI tools can enhance productivity, critics raise concerns about the negative effect of such integration on critical thinking (CrT). This study therefore proposed a framework for enhancing students’ CrT skills in synthesizing AI-generated information. The proposed framework is underpinned by various theoretical foundations, encompassing five interconnected step-wise phases (familiarizing, conceptualizing, inquiring, evaluating, and synthesizing). The study was conducted under two separate experiments. The first experiment (Study 1) validated the effectiveness of the proposed framework, providing CrT training to 179 postgraduate students. In the second study (n = 125), additional experiments were undertaken to confirm the effectiveness of the framework in different contexts. An experimental procedure involving pretest and posttest design was implemented wherein participants were randomly allocated to one of three groups: experimental group 1 (exposed to our framework), experimental group 2 (exposed to an alternative self-regulated learning framework), and a control group (exposed to a non-structured framework). Results from Study 1 revealed that the framework enhances students’ CrT skills to synthesize AI-generated texts. However, these CrT skills manifested through various rigorous training aimed at reinforcing learning. While the proposed framework holds considerable value in cultivating CrT skills, significant differences arise across various personality traits. In Study 2, the framework proved to be effective in different contexts. However, it did not make a difference, particularly in its capacity to enhance students’ self-regulated learning compared to other frameworks. We discussed the implications of the findings and recommended it to educators seeking to prepare students for the challenges of the AI-driven knowledge economy.

A refined model for functionally graded graphene nanoplatelets reinforced composite beams under thermal loads

Graphene is highly regarded as a promising material for various engineering purposes due to its remarkable physical characteristics. However, existing higher-order shear deformation theories may struggle to accurately capture the interlaminar mechanical response of functionally graded graphene nanoplatelets (FG-GNP) reinforced composite beams subjected to thermal loads. This arises from the pronounced discrepancies in material properties and thermal expansion coefficients among the various layers, making the interlaminar mechanical behavior of composite structures exceedingly complex under thermal loading. As a result, a meticulous analysis of interlaminar stresses becomes necessary for the structural assessment of GNP-reinforced composite beams under temperature variations. To overcome this limitation, we propose an advanced model incorporating transverse normal thermal deformation, tailored specifically for FG-GNP reinforced composite beams subjected to thermal loads. The developed model primarily boasts two advantages. Firstly, although transverse normal deformation is introduced into the displacement field, no additional displacement variables are increased, thereby maintaining model simplicity and efficiency. Secondly, the model achieves a high-precision interlaminar shear stress field taking into account the interlaminar continuity conditions and temperature effects. Furthermore, the elimination of second-order derivatives of in-plane displacement parameters from the transverse shear stress components leads to a simplification in the finite element implementation. Based on the proposed model, a simple three-node beam element is constructed. The 3D elasticity solutions and the results from alternative modeling frameworks are used to assess the performance of the developed model. Additionally, a comprehensive investigation is conducted to explore the effects of various parameters on the deformations and stresses of GNP-reinforced composite beams.

Optimal configuration method of photovoltaic energy storage in distribution network based on source-load coordination

Abstract To enhance the configurability of photovoltaic energy storage within distribution network systems and foster synchronized development of power sources and loads, a source-load coordinated approach for optimal photovoltaic energy storage configuration in distribution networks is introduced. An alternative multi-objective framework for optimal allocation of photovoltaic energy storage capacity in distribution networks is formulated, which is the optimal goal of maximum economic benefit of photovoltaic energy storage, the optimal goal of minimum network loss and the optimal goal of source-network load coordination. The constraints of the system’s power flow, energy storage charging and discharging capabilities, and an optimized allocation strategy for energy storage are established, and the objective function is solved with full consideration of source-network load coordination factors. The energy storage optimization is updated in the iterative process. Based on the update results, the process for optimal allocation of photovoltaic energy storage in the distribution network has been devised to attain the most efficient allocation. Experimental results indicate a minimal discrepancy between the actual and specified energy storage output, along with a reduced average output power resulting from the optimized photovoltaic energy storage configuration, which shows excellent performance in energy storage optimization configuration.

Toward an Alternative Pedagogical Framework to Learner-Centered Pedagogy: Historically Nurtured and Currently Valued Pedagogies in Tanzania

Toward an Alternative Pedagogical Framework to Learner-Centered Pedagogy: Historically Nurtured and Currently Valued Pedagogies in Tanzania

T.S. Eliot and the Malaise of Modernity: An Islamic critique

T.S. Eliot, a towering figure in the literary world, casts illuminating beams across the fragmented and spiritually barren modern landscape. This paper thoroughly examines Eliot’s oeuvre on modernity through an Islamic lens. By drawing upon Islam's philosophical and spiritual traditions, this research juxtaposes Eliot’s poetic evaluation and tapestry of Islamic perspectives as an ointment to heal the wounds of modern society. At the core of this inquiry, Islamic concepts such as the acknowledgment of the oneness of God (tawhid), mystical Islamic belief and practice (sufiism), and social solidarity (ummah) challenge Eliot’s perspective on modern sickness. This analysis also delves into Eliot’s poetic tapestry to explore how Eliot weaves a solution to the chaos of the modern era, including the fragmentation of identity, the decay of traditional values, and the existential crisis of humanity. This comparative discussion reveals how Islamic thought offers an alternative framework for comprehending the challenges of modernity. Ultimately, the research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of Eliot’s enduring critiques and the multifaceted Islamic responses to the complexities and disorders of the modern man living under the influence of modern Western civilization.

Space and the return of Rome

Rapid development and increased human impact in outer space has necessitated space sustainability strategies. To protect the continued use of outer space and celestial bodies, policy makers and scholars have proposed and attempted to manage the domain through a variety of mechanisms e.g. treaty formulation, cooperative engagement/assertion, adherence to the Common Heritage of Mankind principle (CHM) and International Law. However, despite nearly 65 years of space activity, questions about how the domain is defined and how sovereignty is applied remain, with commonly used terms being controversial and imprecise. By examining fundamental concepts and early legal principles applied to modern shared resources, we can better understand both the essential attributes and development of the space domain. We assert that the principles of res nullius and res communis can be used to both define shared resource domains and measure their operational development. We understand these principles not as distinct categories, but as a continuum, upon which all shared resource domains lie, thus presenting an alternative framework for describing the shared domain.

Review of Human Resource Management in the Field of Public Management and Public Administration

The goal of this research is to elevate the importance of Human Resources Management within public management and administration. Many empirical studies published in academic journals between 2000 and 2019 corroborate this aim. The study's outcomes underscore variations among different disciplines and pinpoint shortcomings in particular nations. Furthermore, the findings provide directions for future research endeavors, proposing alternative theories, frameworks, research methodologies, and approaches to enhance the pertinence of Human Resources Management research in public sector contexts.

The varying levels of contrasting adaptation in Central Asia’s climate change politics

ABSTRACT Central Asia is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. There is, however, a lack of research on how local businesses, political elites and the general public perceive the need for comprehensive greening initiatives to address its consequences. To account for the material and ideational factors influencing clean energy transition in Central Asian petrostates, I offer an alternative analytic framework that I call ‘contrasting adaptation’. I argue that the energy transition has resulted in two contradictory responses at multiple levels of political governance: a formal response that is broadly supportive of new ‘green’ identities and policies, and an informal response that seeks to delay plans to decarbonize local business models and continues to prioritize ‘old’ oil and gas activities through new transnational networks. Drawing on a model of actor interactions at different levels of climate governance, I examine ‘contrasting adaptation’ – its constituent policies and discourse – to provide a better theorized framework for understanding climate politics in Central Asia. I use comparative analysis of the climate policies of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the two Central Asian petrostates that pledged to carbon neutrality, informed by documentary and textual sources, and discourse analysis.

GUP corrected black holes with cloud of string

We investigate shadows, deflection angle, quasinormal modes (QNMs), and sparsity of Hawking radiation of the Schwarzschild string cloud black hole’s solution after applying quantum corrections required by the Generalised Uncertainty Principle (GUP). First, we explore the shadow’s behaviour in the presence of a string cloud using three alternative GUP frameworks: linear quadratic GUP (LQGUP), quadratic GUP (QGUP), and linear GUP. We then used the weak field limit approach to determine the effect of the string cloud and GUP parameters on the light deflection angle, with computation based on the Gauss–Bonnet theorem. Next, to compute the quasinormal modes of Schwarzschild string clouds incorporating quantum correction with GUP, we determine the effective potentials generated by perturbing scalar, electromagnetic and fermionic fields, using the sixth-order WKB approach in conjunction with the appropriate numerical analysis. Our investigation indicates that string and linear GUP parameters have distinct and different effects on QNMs. We find that the greybody factor increases due to the presence of string cloud while the linear GUP parameter shows the opposite. We then examine the radiation spectrum and sparsity in the GUP corrected black hole with the cloud of string framework, which provides additional information about the thermal radiation released by black holes. Finally, our inquiries reveal that the influence of the string parameter and the quadratic GUP parameter on various astrophysical observables is comparable, however the impact of the linear GUP parameter is opposite.

Revealing multi-scale spatial synergy of mega-city region from a human mobility perspective

ABSTRACT Spatial synergy is strengthened integration and connection between cities in a mega-city region, transcending administrative boundaries. The central flow theory suggests that the mega-city regions are formed by the interconnected flows of people across cities, making the spatial synergy can be measured by assessing the aggregation and intensity of flows and interactions between cities and regions. Human mobility data, such as mobile phone data and social media check-ins, enable the tracking of human movements, thus facilitating the transition of central flow theory from theoretical constructs to empirical research. To this end, this study presents an alternative data-driven framework to reveal the multi-scale spatial synergy of mega-city regions from a human mobility perspective. It uncovers homogeneously spatial communities with high inter-city integration using community detection. Strong internal spatial connections of 2.13 billion mobility are filtered using network backbone extraction. An experiment in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China, demonstrates a multi-scale and multi-core hierarchical spatial synergy in the PRD region. The detailed findings are as follows: (1) Three cities attract the majority of human mobility. Mobility distance is short in urban centers and long in suburban areas. (2) The spatial integration pattern shows the detected communities reveal the hierarchical integration pattern with three main integrated regions: Guangzhou-Foshan-Zhaoqing, Shenzhen-Dongguan-Huizhou, and Zhuhai-Zhongshan-Jiangmen. (3) The spatial connection pattern illustrates the close ties of 9 cities and three core cities, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Foshan. These results provide a human-centric understanding of urban synergy and deeper insights into central flow theory, which supports cooperative development in mega-city regions.

A Critical Review of Executive Compensation Policies Grounded in ESG Principles

High executive salaries often lead executives to prioritize short-term gains over long-term ESG benefits. This review explores how reducing executive compensation, influenced by environmental regulations, impacts innovation in sustainable technologies. As shareholders demand more ESG-focused models, the traditional compensation model is shifting to link compensation with environmental and social goals. The literature focuses on greenhouse gas emissions, employee satisfaction, and regulatory compliance. This review covers global ESG-based incentives, followed by country-specific approaches in China, France, Germany, India, Italy, South Africa, Sweden, and the United States. It concludes with alternative frameworks from financial institutions. Executives are more likely to engage in environmental initiatives when personal gains are tied to these goals. Equity-based incentives are favored over salary-based bonuses. Concepts like the parity pill aim to increase investor trust and transparency. As investors become more environmentally conscious, they expect companies to align with these values. Executives are encouraged to prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term personal gains.

Edward W. Said: Not so lost reflections On Lost Causes such as the one-state solution

ABSTRACT The article examines the enduring relevance of Edward Said's perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, juxtaposing contemporary challenges with Said's visionary advocacy for a one-state solution. The analysis delves into the complexities of the evolving Middle East dynamics, emphasising the need to reconsider alternative frameworks. Central to our analysis is Said's intellectual ethos, which champions the role of secular intellectuals and profoundly influences his democratic values, his defence of a binational state, and his staunch support for academic freedom. Said's legacy serves as a guiding beacon, stressing the moral imperative to challenge entrenched power structures and advocate for truth. The article explores Said's arguments for a binational state rooted in democratic principles and universal values, arguing that despite scepticism and political marginalisation, his vision offers a compelling pathway toward reconciliation and peace, transcending conventional paradigms and amplifying marginalised voices. This approach highlights how Said's commitment to democracy and intellectual freedom shapes his support for causes other believe to be hopeless and continues to inspire contemporary discourse.

A New Perspective on the Homogeneous Coordinate System for Calculating Interatomic Distances and Their Derivatives in Terms of Internal Coordinates

AbstractIn many chemical physics calculations, efficient computation of interatomic distances and their derivatives using internal coordinates is essential for understanding molecular structure and dynamics. This paper explores the homogeneous coordinate system as an alternative framework to simplify these calculations. It is proven that computing interatomic distances using the Euclidean model of 3D space requires almost 60% more operations than the homogeneous model, which may represent a significant difference in molecular dynamics simulations.

Social Systems of Flexible Production: Organizational Conditions for the Resurgence of Craft

Abstract Against the background of a growing interest in the resurgence of craft work, this article examines the organizational conditions that characterize craft-based production in contemporary society and how they help to facilitate craft resurgence. The paper identifies three organizational conditions of contemporary craft-based production, relating to the mass market, producing by means of flexible specialization, and using infrastructures. By applying a historical lens, I argue that these organizational conditions have formed into a particular way of organizing craft-based production which is attuned to local and temporal specificities. Therefore, this study builds on a complementary, symbiotic notion of craft which considers industrial manufacture, serial production and digital technologies to be constitutive of craft making. By offering an alternative conceptual framework to grasp the resurgence of craft, this article contributes to the understanding of organizational resilience.

Culturally Local Perspectives Are Imperative to Scientific Excellence and Health Equity in Eating Disorders Research: Commentary on Monocello et al. (2024).

This commentary discusses a principal contribution of Monocello et al.'s paper presenting a cultural models approach to body fatness perceptions, which provides a rigorous and systematic means of identifying analytic categories that are locally meaningful, in contrast to categories derived from a solely universalizing perspective. In situating their work within an underrepresented population in eating disorders research-young men in South Korea-the authors step beyond the constraints of a universalizing, or etic, framework for probing how body dissatisfaction relates to eating disorder risk. The value of an alternative analytic framework, based on a culturally local, or emic, perspective on how bodies are perceived is demonstrated through the use of a cultural models approach exploring the relationship between culturally defined conceptualizations of body image and eating disorder risk. Understanding such relationships and the meanings attributed to the myriad aspects of body image through locally grounded frameworks provides an essential tool for investigators and clinicians to better understand the lived experience of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, and also to inform more culturally salient approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. An emic approach that centers local perspectives and priorities also facilitates participation of communities underrepresented in research in knowledge production.

Learning to express reward prediction error-like dopaminergic activity requires plastic representations of time

The dominant theoretical framework to account for reinforcement learning in the brain is temporal difference learning (TD) learning, whereby certain units signal reward prediction errors (RPE). The TD algorithm has been traditionally mapped onto the dopaminergic system, as firing properties of dopamine neurons can resemble RPEs. However, certain predictions of TD learning are inconsistent with experimental results, and previous implementations of the algorithm have made unscalable assumptions regarding stimulus-specific fixed temporal bases. We propose an alternate framework to describe dopamine signaling in the brain, FLEX (Flexibly Learned Errors in Expected Reward). In FLEX, dopamine release is similar, but not identical to RPE, leading to predictions that contrast to those of TD. While FLEX itself is a general theoretical framework, we describe a specific, biophysically plausible implementation, the results of which are consistent with a preponderance of both existing and reanalyzed experimental data.

Categorical and dimensional aspects of stimulant medication effects in adult patients with ADHD and healthy controls.

Psychiatric disorders are categorized on the basis of presence and absence of diagnostic criteria using classification systems such as the international classification of diseases (ICD) and the diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders (DSM). The research domain criteria (RDoC) initiative provides an alternative dimensional framework for conceptualizing mental disorders. In the present paper, we studied neural and behavioral effects of central stimulant (CS) medication in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and healthy controls using categorical and dimensional stratifications. AX-Continuous Performance Task (AX-CPT) was utilized for the later purpose, and participants were classified as "reactive" or "proactive" based on their baseline proactive behavioral index (PBI). Out of the 65 individuals who participated (33 healthy controls and 32 patients with ADHD), 53 were included in the final analysis that consisted of 31 healthy controls and 22 ADHD patients. For the dimensional stratification, a median split of PBI scores divided participants into "reactive" and "proactive" groups irrespective of whether they had ADHD or not. Participants performed AX-CPT in conjunction with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before and after CS medication. We found no significant within or between group CS effect when participants were categorically assigned as healthy controls and ADHD patients. For the dimensional stratification, however, CS selectively increased activation in frontoparietal cognitive areas and induced a shift towards proactive control mode in the reactive group, without significantly affecting the proactive group. In conclusion, the neural and behavioral effects of CS were more clear-cut when participants were stratified into dimensional groups rather than diagnostic categories.