Complex Adaptive Process Research Articles

Assessment of Metaliteracy Competencies Among Library Professionals in Indian Institutes of Technology

The digital revolution has reshaped academic libraries, requiring new skills from library professionals. This study explores how library professionals at Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are adapting to this change through their metaliteracy skills. By surveying 144 library professionals across IITs, we uncovered a complex process of digital adaptation and professional growth. Our findings reveal that most professionals are confidently entering the digital era, with three-quarters showing proficiency in basic digital tools. However, beneath this digital fluency lies a more intricate picture. While many excel in traditional tasks like database management and information retrieval − 65% reported high proficiency – there is notable reluctance when engaging with emerging technologies and cybersecurity challenges. Surprisingly, gender significantly influenced how professionals approached information evaluation and synthesis. Experience, though important for many metaliteracy skills, seemed less relevant in addressing modern concerns such as privacy protection and detecting misinformation. One of the most revealing findings is the gap between competence and teaching ability: although many professionals possess strong technical skills, only 31.5% feel confident in teaching these skills to others. This highlights the urgent need for targeted professional development that considers both gender dynamics and varying experience levels. By shedding light on these patterns, our study offers a pathway to reinforce the digital infrastructure of India’s leading technical institutions, ensuring library professionals can guide future researchers through an increasingly complex information landscape. Our findings not only enhance our understanding of metaliteracy in academic libraries but also provide practical insights for designing training programs to address these gaps. Ultimately, this work contributes to the broader discussion on digital transformation in academic libraries and the evolving role of library professionals in the digital age.

Biochemical Blood Parameters in the Treatment for Dyspepsia

Many issues of newborn calves diseases etiology have not been fully studied and the practical experience of many veterinarians shows with proper diagnosis and treatment that it is possible to achieve a sharp reduction in the young animals mortality. With the birth of calves complex adaptation processes to new conditions occur. The next level of development depends on immunity development. Although a range of different drugs are used to treat dyspepsia in newborn calves, they are not always successful, and it depends on the complex of measures used. The aim of the conducted research is to study the state and dynamics of metabolism in the neonatal period with dyspepsia in newborn calves; to study the effectiveness of the probiotic, along with its impact on the clinical situation; to determine the effectiveness of the drug when used for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes. Probiotic Vetom-15.1 was used in different age groups. As a result, it was found that biochemical blood parameters improved significantly.

Integrated omics analysis reveals the effect of feeding scarcity on the lipid metabolism and apoptosis in Nibea coibor

Food scarcity was a crucial challenge to fish in natural waters, necessitating a complex adaptive process for them to cope with. This study estimated the effects of four different feeding strategies (daytime feeding, DF; intermittent fasting, IF; continuous fasting, CF; nighttime feeding, NF) on the growth, metabolism, and health of Nibea coibor. The lowest weight gain rate and steatosis degree occurred in the CF group, which had the highest bacterial load in the liver and the lowest survival rate after Vibrio harveyi infection. The IF group had the highest serum GLU, LAC, and COR levels and the lowest hepatic bacterial loads post V. harveyi challenge. The NF group had higher serum GLU level (P < 0.05) and lower survival rate compared to DF. Notably, the integrated analysis of transcriptome and metabolome screened out significantly differential genes (dgke, pla2g12b, axin2) and metabolite (Glycerophosphocholine), which were all involved in lipid metabolism and downregulated in CF (P < 0.05). The correlation analysis of phenotypic indicators with the transcriptome and metabolome showed that gadd45 and l-carnitine were positively and negatively correlated with bacterial infection resistance, respectively. In general, this study suggested fasting influenced weight gain and bacterial infection resistance of N. coibor, through regulating genes and metabolites related to lipid metabolism and apoptosis, providing valuable reference significance on the impact of feeding rhythm on fish.

Bio-Inspired Adaptive and Responsive Protein-Based Materials.

In nature, the inherent adaptability and responsiveness of proteins play a crucial role in the survival and reproduction of organisms, enabling them to adjust to ever-changing environments. A comprehensive understanding of protein structure and function is essential for unraveling the complex biological adaptive processes, providing new insights for the design of protein-based materials in advanced fields. Recently, materials derived from proteins with specific properties and functions have been engineered. These protein-based materials, distinguished by their engineered adaptability and responsiveness, range from the nanoscale to the macroscale through meticulous control of protein structure. First, the review introduces the natural adaptability and responsiveness of proteins in organisms, encompassing biological adhesion and the responses of organisms to light, magnetic fields, and temperature. Next, it discusses the achievements in protein-engineered adaptability and adhesion through protein assembly and nanotechnology, emphasizing precise control over protein bioactivity. Finally, the review briefly addresses the application of protein engineering techniques and the self-assembly capabilities of proteins to achieve responsiveness in protein-based materials to humidity, light, magnetism, temperature, and other factors. We hope this review will foster a multidimensional understanding of protein adaptability and responsiveness, thereby advancing the interdisciplinary integration of biomedical science, materials science, and biotechnology.

The Seeds of Corruption. How Religions go through the Laws of Adaptation

This article explores the concept of 'adaptive symbiosis' between religion and culture, challenging the notion of religions as static or immutable entities by showcasing their dynamic engagement with and adaptation to local cultural contexts. The notion of ‘adaptive symbiosis’ transcends mere coexistence or amalgamation, embodying a deep, complex process of mutual adaptation. Within this evolutionary dance, both religion and culture emerge not merely as participants but as co-creators of a new reality. Through the examination of various religious traditions—such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and others—it illustrates how religions evolve in symbiotic relationships with host cultures, leading to the creation of hybrid cultural-religious identities. Highlighting the mechanisms of biological adaptation—mutualism, amensalism, commensalism, and parasitism—as metaphors, the article delves into the complex interplay between religious teachings and cultural integration. It argues against viewing religions as immutable, instead presenting them as evolving entities that contribute to the richness and diversity of human civilization, especially in the context of globalization. This dynamic, evolving space of adaptive negotiations underlines the importance of understanding the fluid nature of cultural and religious boundaries in contributing to novel forms of expression and identity. Through this exploration, we aim to shed light on the enduring and evolving relationship between religion and culture, highlighting how this dynamic interplay contributes to the richness and diversity of human civilization.

Recent selection and introgression facilitated high-altitude adaptation in cattle

During the past 3000 years, cattle on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau have developed adaptive phenotypes under the selective pressure of hypoxia, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and extreme cold. The genetic mechanism underlying this rapid adaptation is not yet well understood. Here, we present whole-genome resequencing data for 258 cattle from 32 cattle breeds/populations, including 89 Tibetan cattle representing eight populations distributed at altitudes ranging from 3400 m to 4300 m. Our genomic analysis revealed that Tibetan cattle exhibited a continuous phylogeographic cline from the East Asian taurine to the South Asian indicine ancestries. We found that recently selected genes in Tibetan cattle were related to body size (HMGA2 and NCAPG) and energy expenditure (DUOXA2). We identified signals of sympatric introgression from yak into Tibetan cattle at different altitudes, covering 0.64%–3.26% of their genomes, which included introgressed genes responsible for hypoxia response (EGLN1), cold adaptation (LRP11), DNA damage repair (LATS1), and UV radiation resistance (GNPAT). We observed that introgressed yak alleles were associated with noncoding variants, including those in present EGLN1. In Tibetan cattle, three yak introgressed SNPs in the EGLN1 promoter region reduced the expression of EGLN1, suggesting that these genomic variants enhance hypoxia tolerance. Taken together, our results indicated complex adaptation processes in Tibetan cattle, where recently selected genes and introgressed yak alleles jointly facilitated rapid adaptation to high-altitude environments.

The dynamics of language shifts in migrant communities: Implications for social integration and cultural preservation

This study examines language shifts within migrant communities, focusing on the social and cultural implications of adopting a new dominant language while maintaining heritage languages. It explores the impact of these dynamics on community cohesion, identity, and intergenerational communication. The paper also discusses the role of educational and social policies in supporting multilingualism and cultural diversity as assets in the integration process. This paper delves into the multifaceted dynamics of language shifts within migrant populations and examines their profound implications for social integration and cultural preservation. Migrant communities undergo a complex linguistic adaptation process influenced by various factors, including historical contexts, socio-economic conditions, and government policies. The phenomenon of language shift, wherein migrants gradually adopt the dominant language of the host country while potentially losing proficiency in their native language, represents a fundamental aspect of this adaptation process. This paper explores the nuanced interplay between linguistic assimilation and cultural retention among migrants, highlighting the intricate mechanisms through which language shapes their sense of belonging and cultural identity. Language is a gateway to social integration, facilitating interactions with the host society and enhancing access to employment, education, and public services. However, the pursuit of linguistic assimilation often entails challenges such as discrimination, linguistic barriers, and feelings of alienation, posing significant obstacles to migrants' integration efforts. Moreover, the erosion of native languages within migrant communities can engender a sense of loss and disconnection from cultural heritage, raising concerns about preserving linguistic diversity and intergenerational transmission of cultural knowledge. This paper examines the role of language policies and educational initiatives in shaping language dynamics within migrant communities. Government interventions, ranging from language proficiency requirements for citizenship to bilingual education programs, profoundly influence migrants' linguistic trajectories and cultural adaptation experiences. Keywords: Language, Communities, Social Integration, Cultural Preservation, Policies, Multiculturalism.

Main Biological Models of Resilience.

Resilience is a complex process of adaptation to new conditions that would permit a positive outcome after adversities, traumas or other sources of stress. However, despite the growing interest in this topic, there is no universally accepted definition and no comprehensive bio-behavioural model. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the main biological models that have been theorized to date, with a focus on new alternative theories to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development and strengthening of resilience, with potential implications for the prevention of some psychopathological disorders. This review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and includes 185 studies published in English in PubMed and Embase up to December 2023. Most studies use the stress-related model, which conceptualizes resilience as the absence of symptoms after the stressful event and mainly deal with the differences between stress-prone and resilient phenotypes in animals exposed to stress. However, the results of this search seem to suggest that resilience might be an independent construct with biological bases rooted in the stress system and the social brain, and widely sculptured by individual and environmental factors, especially early life events and affiliation. This work contributes to ongoing efforts to understand the intricate mechanisms of resilience, while highlighting the potential of improving social relationships since our birth to promote coping strategies towards stress and traumas, and even a peaceful world.

Hayekian psychological economics: a preliminary look

AbstractRecently, there has been a lively discussion of “Hayekian Behavioral Economics” in Behavioral Public Policy). We aim to contribute to this debate by identifying the main building blocks of a Hayekian psychology. We highlight that the starting point for Hayek was the quest to understand why humans are typically quite successful in navigating the world. In Hayek's framework, the individual mind is conceptualized as a “system within a system”, i.e., the mind is a complex adaptive system that is continuously interacting with the wider socio-cultural system. Three core ideas are central to a Hayekian psychology: subjectivity, learning and adaptation. We argue that these ideas are quite different from the still dominant heuristics-and-biases perspective and lead to different emphases in economic and social science explanations. One, economists should be cautious in their interpretation of experimental findings since subjective meaning is central to agents' behavior. Two, static and isolated models of individuals' biases might underestimate people's capacity to learn with and from others. And three, despite complex processes of adaptation of the mind and the market, a Hayekian framework is consistent with economists' “explanations of the principle” and “pattern predictions.”

The Adaptation of Global Norms The 1951 Refugee Convention in Indonesia

This article aims to explain and answer the research question: Why did the localization of the global norms of the 1951 Refugee Convention in Indonesia lead to the issuance of Presidential Regulation No. 125 of 2016? Indonesia has been a transit area for refugees since 1979 and is the third country in ASEAN with the highest number of refugees. However, Indonesia has never formally and officially adopted the 1951 Refugee Convention. To answer the research question, this study applies the concept of norm localization proposed by Acharya (2004) as the framework for the analysis. This concept explains that the localization process of global norms might lead to three possible outcomes: acceptance of the norms, adaptation and modification of the norms, or complete rejection of the norms. The adaptation of the global norms is the result of adjusting some elements of the norm that are considered more appropriate to the local situations. In this article, we argue that the consideration of humanitarian values, national interests, and domestic challenges are the three most significant domestic factors that influence the process of norm localization in Indonesia. This article discusses how the three factors influenced the process of policy/decision-making on how Indonesia should deal with its refugee issues. In conclusion, we mainly argue that Presidential Regulation No. 125 of 2016 is the result of a complex adaptation process of the UN 1951 Refugee Convention, which involved multidimensional issues, as well as a multi-actor that represents various interests.

Development of a GPGPU-parallelized FDEM based on extrinsic cohesive zone model with master-slave algorithm

This paper proposes a novel general-purpose graphic-processing-units (GPGPU) parallel computing approach to an extrinsic cohesive zone model (ECZM) - based combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM) for simulating rock fracturing. The proposed GPGPU-parallelized ECZM-FDEM incorporates a master–slave algorithm as an alternative to the complex adaptive remeshing process, which is usually used in ECZM but has prevented it from being parallelized using GPGPU. Numerical experiments of the Brazilian test and uniaxial compression test of rocks are conducted to compare the proposed ECZM-FDEM with a GPGPU-parallelized FDEM using the intrinsic cohesive zone model (ICZM-FDEM). Results show that the proposed method can not only overcome the accuracy degradation of calculated stresses and deformations that is inevitable in ICZM-FDEM but also reasonably simulate rock fracturing. Moreover, the proposed GPGPU-parallelized ECZM-FDEM achieves a maximum relative speed-up of 13 times over GPGPU-parallelized ICZM-FDEM due to efficient contact calculations and larger stable time steps. Thus, the proposed ECZM-FDEM is more physically sound and more computationally efficient compared with ICZM-FDEM, which may contribute to the further developments of FDEM.

Two-speed genomes of Epichloe fungal pathogens show contrasting signatures of selection between species and across populations.

Antagonistic selection between pathogens and their hosts can drive rapid evolutionary change and leave distinct molecular footprints of past and ongoing selection in the genomes of the interacting species. Despite an increasing availability of tools able to identify signatures of selection, the genetic mechanisms underlying coevolutionary interactions and the specific genes involved are still poorly understood, especially in heterogeneous natural environments. We searched the genomes of two species of Epichloe plant pathogen for evidence of recent selection. The Epichloe genus includes highly host-specific species that can sterilize their grass hosts. We performed selection scans using genome-wide SNP data from seven natural populations of two co-occurring Epichloe sibling species specialized on different hosts. We found evidence of recent (and ongoing) selective sweeps across the genome in both species. However, selective sweeps were more abundant in the species with a larger effective population size. Sweep regions often overlapped with highly polymorphic AT-rich regions supporting the role of these genome compartments in adaptive evolution. Although most loci under selection were specific to individual populations, we could also identify several candidate genes targeted by selection in sweep regions shared among populations. The genes encoded small secreted proteins typical of fungal effectors and cell wall-degrading enzymes. By investigating the genomic signatures of selection across multiple populations and species, this study contributes to our understanding of complex adaptive processes in natural plant pathogen systems.

From Threatening Chaos to Temporary Order through a Complex Process of Adaptation: A Grounded Theory Study of the Escalation of Intensive Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

To ensure high-quality care, operationalize resilience and fill the knowledge gap regarding how to improve the prerequisites for resilient performance, it is necessary to understand how adaptive capacity unfolds in practice. The main aim of this research was to explain the escalation process of intensive care during the first wave of the pandemic from a microlevel perspective, including expressions of resilient performance, intervening conditions at the micro-meso-macrolevels and short- and long-term consequences. A secondary aim was to provide recommendations regarding how to optimize the prerequisites for resilient performance in intensive care. A grounded theory methodology was used. First-person stories from different healthcare professionals (n70) in two Swedish regions were analyzed using the constant comparative method. This resulted in a novel conceptual model (including 6 main categories and 24 subcategories), and 41 recommendations. The conclusion of these findings is that the escalation of intensive care can be conceptualized as a transition from threatening chaos to temporary order through a complex process of adaptation. To prepare for the future, the components of space, stuff, staff, system and science, with associated continuity plans, must be implemented, anchored and communicated to actors at all levels of the system.

The effects of music on anxiety and depression in adult patients undergoing haemodialysis: a literature review

The clinical condition experienced by dialysis patient affects his biopsychosocial functioning, as it alters his life rhythms, personal resources, and emotional ties, creating feelings of uncertainty for the future. This requires a complex process of psychological adaptation which often leads to the manifestation of two important expressions such as anxiety and depression. Music in support of conventional treatments promotes the care of the human being in all its aspects: physical, psychological, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual as it represents a sort of “escape”, and allows a detachment from reality, albeit momentary. It acts as a regulator of emotions and mood, also creating beneficial effects on hemodynamic parameters such as blood pressure and heart rate. Furthermore, musical stimulations are able to stimulate pleasure by acting directly on the neuroanatomical structures responsible for attention, learning, thinking and behavior. The aim of this literature review is to describe the effect of music on anxiety and depression in patients undergoing haemodialysis in order to propose it as a therapeutic intervention during dialysis treatment.

Integrated Analysis of Metabolome and Transcriptome Reveals Insights for Low Phosphorus Tolerance in Wheat Seedling.

Low phosphorus (LP) stress leads to a significant reduction in wheat yield, primarily in the reduction of biomass, the number of tillers and spike grains, the delay in heading and flowering, and the inhibition of starch synthesis and grouting. However, the differences in regulatory pathway responses to low phosphorus stress among different wheat genotypes are still largely unknown. In this study, metabolome and transcriptome analyses of G28 (LP-tolerant) and L143 (LP-sensitive) wheat varieties after 72 h of normal phosphorus (CK) and LP stress were performed. A total of 181 and 163 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were detected for G28CK vs. G28LP and L143CK vs. L143LP, respectively. Notably, the expression of pilocarpine (C07474) in G28CK vs. G28LP was significantly downregulated 4.77-fold, while the expression of neochlorogenic acid (C17147) in L143CK vs. L143LP was significantly upregulated 2.34-fold. A total of 4023 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were acquired between G28 and L143, of which 1120 DEGs were considered as the core DEGs of LP tolerance of wheat after LP treatment. The integration of metabolomics and transcriptomic data further revealed that the LP tolerance of wheat was closely related to 15 metabolites and 18 key genes in the sugar and amino acid metabolism pathway. The oxidative phosphorylation pathway was enriched to four ATPases, two cytochrome c reductase genes, and fumaric acid under LP treatment. Moreover, PHT1;1, TFs (ARFA, WRKY40, MYB4, MYB85), and IAA20 genes were related to the Pi starvation stress of wheat roots. Therefore, the differences in LP tolerance of different wheat varieties were related to energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, phytohormones, and PHT proteins, and precisely regulated by the levels of various molecular pathways to adapt to Pi starvation stress. Taken together, this study may help to reveal the complex regulatory process of wheat adaptation to Pi starvation and provide new genetic clues for further study on improving plant Pi utilization efficiency.

Cultural dimensions of the effects of the covid-19 pandemic on university teachers in schools in Colombia and Mexico

The sudden change generated at the time of the context of the Covid -19 pandemic, in university teachers led them to experience changes as a result of confinement where it implied the development of their academic work from another context and making use of other forms and strategies. educational technologies. Objective: To analyze the cultural dimensions of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on university teachers from three educational centers in Colombia and one in Mexico. Methodology: study design: cognitive cultural anthro- pological, focuses on analyzing how people from different cultures acquire information about the world, how they process it, make decisions and act in ways considered appropriate for other members of their culture (cultural transmission). It is developed in four university centers in Colombia and Mexico, 160 teachers are studied in the first phase of the study through free listings through an open online survey. Findings: the term work overload was included in the four participating sites, with the greatest weight in Bogotá and Cali (Colombia). And in the personal, the presence of COVID-19 itself, negative emotional states, and economic-so- cial effects resulting from prevention measures were highlighted. Also, in complex processes of adaptation, learning and transformation in the use of technological teaching media. Conclusions: the confinement, the uncertainty of the disease, the presence in their families and the changes in the work-family context generated an impact on their professional, personal, economic and social spheres in the teachers of the studied university centers in Colombia and Mexico.

Interface of resilience with other related concepts in physiological and psychosocial/spiritual domains.

Interface of resilience with other related concepts in physiological and psychosocial/spiritual domains.

Predicting 1-year in-stent restenosis in superficial femoral arteries through multiscale computational modelling.

In-stent restenosis in superficial femoral arteries (SFAs) is a complex, multi-factorial and multiscale vascular adaptation process whose thorough understanding is still lacking. Multiscale computational agent-based modelling has recently emerged as a promising approach to decipher mechanobiological mechanisms driving the arterial response to the endovascular intervention. However, the long-term arterial response has never been investigated with this approach, although being of fundamental relevance. In this context, this study investigates the 1-year post-operative arterial wall remodelling in three patient-specific stented SFA lesions through a fully coupled multiscale agent-based modelling framework. The framework integrates the effects of local haemodynamics and monocyte gene expression data on cellular dynamics through a bi-directional coupling of computational fluid dynamics simulations with an agent-based model of cellular activities. The framework was calibrated on the follow-up data at 1 month and 6 months of one stented SFA lesion and then applied to the other two lesions. The calibrated framework successfully captured (i) the high lumen area reduction occurring within the first post-operative month and (ii) the stabilization of the median lumen area from 1-month to 1-year follow-ups in all the stented lesions, demonstrating the potentialities of the proposed approach for investigating patient-specific short- and long-term responses to endovascular interventions.

Socio-political passport of Zakarpattia (Ukraine): a brief history of the region’s survival in Central Europe

Zakarpattia is perhaps the only region of contemporary Ukraine which during the twentieth century has experienced complex political processes of regionalization and adaptation to different states and their political systems. A characteristic feature of the changes in the region was a frequent transition of political conditions from authoritarian to democratic styles of state governing of the title nations which had implanted in Zakarpattia their political rules trying to change the political culture and political consciousness of local elites and citizens.

Come Back Stronger After Suffered for Child Sexual Abuse: A Case Study to Understand the Family Resilience Process

Background: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is quite prevalent in Indonesia, with an increased rate over several years. The negative impacts of CSA have been investigated in several studies and the coping strategies for CSA survivors. However, the resilience at the family level is rarely analyzed. This study investigates the resilience process of the CSA survivor's families after they were affected by the CSA incident. Methods: Using a qualitative approach, we collected the data by interviewing and observing a family suffering from a CSA incident, the Geulis family (informant pseudonym). Data then were analyzed using thematic analysis with a family resilience model developed by Henry et al. (2015). Results: The CSA incident has led to several adverse events in the Geulis (family, including unintended pregnancy, dropping out of school, hesitancy to stay in the hometown and loss of job and family income. With the support from extended family and some organizations, Geulis and her mother were able to find a new place to live and a new job for Geulis' mother, and Geulis was able to start a new relationship and continue her study for a while. The complex and continuous adaptation process of the Geulis family was also analyzed using the family adaptive systems component. Conclusion: The Geulis family could function normally after experiencing the negative impact of CSA with some adjustment in their life and dynamic process in the family. Environment, including extended family, government, and non-government organizations, plays a vital role in supporting family resilience.