Cooperative Contributions Research Articles

Which emissions belong to us? The case for contributory value-chain emissions accounting

States and other climate actors now commonly set ‘net zero’ targets – pledging that, by a certain date, they will put no more carbon into the atmosphere than they take out. However, there is controversy over what exactly should count as attaining such targets. The method of emissions accounting that states currently use – territorial emissions accounting – is often criticized as problematic, but a fully satisfactory explanation of the problem is needed. We argue that the key both to understanding the problem and to solving it is that there is a specific kind of cooperative contribution – a mereological contribution – that a national net zero commitment needs to make to global climate action in order to meet the standards that global citizens should hold states to. On this basis, we propose an alternative method – Contributory Value-Chain Accounting – showing how it can be qualified to reflect trade relationships between net-zero-aligned countries, and defending it against the objections that it involves double counting, is infeasible and too informationally demanding, and that it would send the wrong incentive signals.

Aqueous Mixtures of Deep Eutectic Solvents: Tuning the Reaction Medium and Photocatalyst for Highly Selective Amine Oxidation

AbstractHarvesting light as a source of energy for driving chemical processes is an important aspect of tacking the looming energy crisis. The challenge lies in making the process sustainable while retaining the efficiency and selectivity. In this work, deep eutectic solvents and their aqueous mixtures are used to replace acetonitrile as the reaction medium for the photocatalyzed amine oxidation. It is observed that the use of deep eutectic solvents as reaction media leads to >90% conversion but presents issues with efficient workup due to high viscosity. The use of water a cosolvent mitigates the issue. Further modification of the catalyst surface with alizarin enables the use of higher water content (in a 1:1 ratio) and leads to high conversion (>90%) at one-tenth of irradiation intensity. The high yield and selectivity eliminate the need for tedious purification steps to isolate the product. Control experiments indicate cooperative contributions by TiO2, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPO), and alizarin as mechanistic factors responsible for the enhanced reactivity.

Bilateral relations as a key element of international cooperation — 48–54

Today, domestic institutions and organizations maintain bilateral relations in the scientific field with more than fifty countries around the world, and the number of existing bilateral agreements reaches five thousand. For Ukrainian scientists, integration into the European Research Area is an opportunity to deepen cooperation with the EU scientific community, and for the state, it is a tool for adapting EU standards and norms in the field of science and innovation. The article examines the place of bilateral relations as a key element of strengthening international cooperation. The insufficient level of research on assessing the level of influence of the scale of bilateral cooperation on the development of international cooperation is emphasised. The main stages of the development and strengthening of bilateral scientific and technical cooperation (contributions of the parties, project implementation, obtaining scientific returns and practical results, determining medium and long-term consequences) are considered. The main directions of international cooperation in the scientific field with the EU and NATO countries in the framework of Ukraine’s integration into the European Scientific Area and the role of bilateral scientific and technical cooperation in this process are analysed. It is emphasized that modern research project support programmes already at the application stage require that the participating organization has a foreign partner in one of the participating countries, which encourages domestic organizations to enter into bilateral agreements to access grant opportunities. The article also outlines further prospects for strengthening bilateral cooperation in Ukraine.

Molecular Tailoring Approach for the Direct Estimation of Individual Noncovalent Interaction Energies in Molecular Systems.

The noncovalent interactions (NCIs) are omnipresent in chemistry, physics, and biology. The study of such interactions offers insights into various physicochemical phenomena. Some indirect approaches proposed in the literature for exploring the NCIs are briefly reviewed in Section 1 of this Perspective. These include: (i) Shift in the stretching frequency of an X-Y bond involved in X-Y···Z interaction. (ii) Topological analysis of molecular electron density. (iii) Empirical equations derived employing experimental and theoretical quantities. However, a direct method for estimating individual intramolecular/intermolecular interaction energies has been conspicuous by its absence from the literature. We have developed a molecular tailoring approach (MTA)-based method enabling a direct and reliable estimation of the energy of intra- as well as intermolecular interactions. This method offers a direct and reliable estimation of these interactions, in particular of the hydrogen bonds (HB) in molecules/weakly bound clusters along with the respective cooperativity contribution. In Section 2, the basis of our method is discussed, along with some illustrative examples. The application of this method to a variety of molecules and clusters, with a special emphasis on estimating the HB energy along with the energy of other NCIs is presented in Section 3. Section 4 discusses some computational strategies for applying our method to large molecular clusters. The last Section provides a summary and a discussion on future developments.

Teacher instructional practices: untangling their complex relations with self-efficacy, job satisfaction, stress, and cooperation among mathematics teachers

BackgroundTeacher instructional practices play crucial roles not only in shaping the happenings in the classrooms but also in facilitating students’ understanding and success rates in mathematics. However, previous studies on teachers’ factors that bolster or undermine instructional practices often consider the influence of these factors on instructional practices in isolation.ObjectiveOn the contrary, we took an inclusive approach in the present study to quantify and disentangle the complex relationship between self-efficacy, job satisfaction, stress, cooperation, and instructional practices with a focus on mathematics teachers.MethodsWe used structural equation modelling to analyze the generated data from 1,304 Norwegian secondary school mathematics teachers.ResultsThe results showed that teacher self-efficacy contributes the most to teacher instructional practices through direct and mediating effects. It mediates the effects of stress and cooperation on teachers’ practices. The contribution of teacher cooperation to instructional practices supersedes teacher stress while the effect of job satisfaction is not substantial. Also, instructional practices that include frequent use of techniques of cognitive activation, clarity of instruction, and classroom management are more prevalent among female than male mathematics teachers in Norway.ConclusionBy implications, these findings revealed that teacher self-efficacy and teacher cooperation are prime factors which interventions could bring about the desired improvement in classroom practices among mathematics teachers.

Self-Association and Microhydration of Phenol: Identification of Large-Amplitude Hydrogen Bond Librational Modes.

The self-association mechanisms of phenol have represented long-standing challenges to quantum chemical methodologies owing to the competition between strongly directional intermolecular hydrogen bonding, weaker non-directional London dispersion forces and C-H⋯π interactions between the aromatic rings. The present work explores these subtle self-association mechanisms of relevance for biological molecular recognition processes via spectroscopic observations of large-amplitude hydrogen bond librational modes of phenol cluster molecules embedded in inert neon "quantum" matrices complemented by domain-based local pair natural orbital-coupled cluster DLPNO-CCSD(T) theory. The spectral signatures confirm a primarily intermolecular O-H⋯H hydrogen-bonded structure of the phenol dimer strengthened further by cooperative contributions from inter-ring London dispersion forces as supported by DLPNO-based local energy decomposition (LED) predictions. In the same way, the hydrogen bond librational bands observed for the trimeric cluster molecule confirm a pseudo-C3 symmetric cyclic cooperative hydrogen-bonded barrel-like potential energy minimum structure. This structure is vastly different from the sterically favored "chair" conformations observed for aliphatic alcohol cluster molecules of the same size owing to the additional stabilizing London dispersion forces and C-H⋯π interactions between the aromatic rings. The hydrogen bond librational transition observed for the phenol monohydrate finally confirms that phenol acts as a hydrogen bond donor to water in contrast to the hydrogen bond acceptor role observed for aliphatic alcohols.

Unalienated labor as cooperative self‐determination: Aristotle and Marx

AbstractIn this paper, I offer an original interpretation of Marx's conception of unalienated labor, which I frame as a response to Aristotle's view of work, or technē. Both Aristotle and Marx share a particular conception of freedom as “normative self‐determination,” according to which an activity is free insofar as it does not depend for its value on externally valuable things. For instance, when my activity is a mere means for satisfying some need separate from it, it comes to depend for its value on the externally valuable effect—the “needs‐meeting”—it achieves. Or, when my activity is only causally—but not normatively—enabled by the cooperative contributions of others, it comes to depend for its value on those externally valuable contributions. On Aristotle's view, work is unleisurely (ascholos) and servile (doulos) because it is normatively dependent in both of these ways. For Marx, by contrast, work possesses the capacity to “internalize” these external determinants of its value. Unalienated work does this, first, by satisfying “internal” needs, or needs whose satisfaction does not constitute a normatively external effect of the work that satisfies them. The satisfaction of internal needs is valuable because of the manner or way in which they are satisfied. Second, unalienated work would not only be causally, but also normatively, enabled by the contributions of others, in that those contributions would help to make it the distinctively valuable act that it is. Unalienated work would be valuable because, and not despite, its cooperative character. In both of these respects, then, cooperation is essential to make work fully free.

Pemanfaatan Content Management System (CMS) Berbasis PHP sebagai Media Digital Upaya Branding Pengenalan Diri (Personal) pada Koperasi Konsumen KPRI Pascapanen Bogor

Community Service is one of the important points of the Tridharma of Higher Education. In essence, lecturers are facilitators who play an active role in activities that are beneficial to society. Currently partners only have a few computers and only a small number of staff are able to operate computers properly. The public will be able to get to know more closely the role and contribution of the KPRI Pascapanen Cooperative by opening a blog which contains personal branding and activities carried out by staff and members or administrators of the KPRI Pascapanen Bogor Cooperative. Community service activities with target partners, namely staff and members of the KPRI Pascapanen Cooperative, have been carried out by providing training on the use of a PHP-based Content Management System (CMS) as digital media for self-introduction (personal) branding efforts at the KPRI Pascapanen Cooperative. Activities were carried out offline in the KPRI Pascapanen Cooperative Secretariat Hall. The results of the activity show that partners' skills and abilities have increased in utilizing a PHP-based Content Management System (CMS) as digital media for self-introduction branding efforts for KPRI Pascapanen cooperative staff.

Beyond subsistence? The role of rural cooperatives in driving smallholder commercialization in Ethiopia

AbstractThe transition from subsistence to market‐oriented agriculture holds the potential to boost rural economic progress and improve the well‐being of the rural poor in developing countries. Despite this potential, there is limited understanding of the key drivers for smallholder commercialization. In this study, we utilize comprehensive three‐wave panel data collected from three major maize‐producing regions in Ethiopia to examine the role of agricultural cooperatives in promoting smallholder commercialization. Employing a double‐hurdle model, we smallholder commercialization as a two‐step decision process involving market participation and the extent of participation (sales quantity), conditional on market participation. Unobserved heterogeneity is accounted for using a correlated random effect procedure, and the potential endogeneity of cooperative membership is addressed through a control function approach. The findings reveal that cooperative membership increases the probability of market participation and the intensity of sales. However, further analysis demonstrates a heterogeneous relationship between cooperative membership and commercialization, underscoring the importance of targeted interventions to boost the contribution of cooperatives to rural development through commercialization. The main findings highlight that promoting smallholder commercialization through farmer groups necessitates implementing policies to increase cooperative membership, coupled with allocating resources that enhance the contribution of agricultural cooperatives [EconLit Citations: Q12, Q13, Q18].

OsPHR2-mediated recruitment of Pseudomonadaceae enhances rice phosphorus uptake

Plants can shape their root microbiome to promote growth and nutrient uptake. PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE 2 (OsPHR2) is a central regulator of phosphate signaling in rice, but whether OsPHR2 can shape the root microbiome to promote phosphorus uptake is unclear. Here, we investigate the role of OsPHR2 in recruiting microbiota for phosphorus uptake using high-throughput sequencing and metabolite analysis. OsPHR2-overexpressing (OsPHR2 OE) rice showed 69.8% greater shoot P uptake in natural soil compared with sterilized soil under high-phosphorus (HP) conditions, but there was only a 54.8% increase in the wild-type (WT). The abundance of the family Pseudomonadaceae was significantly enriched in OsPHR2 OE roots relative to those of WT rice. Compared with the WT, OsPHR2 OE rice had a relatively higher abundance of succinic acid and methylmalonic acid, which could stimulate the growth of Pseudomonas sp. (P6). After inoculation with P6, phosphorus uptake in WT and OsPHR2 OE rice was higher than that in uninoculated rice under low-phosphorus (LP) conditions. Taken together, our results suggest that OsPHR2 can increase phosphorus use in rice through root exudate-mediated recruitment of Pseudomonas. This finding reveals a cooperative contribution of the OsPHR2-modulated root microbiome, which is important for improving phosphorus use in agriculture.

The Role of Cooperatives in Improving Smallholder Participation in Agri-Food Value Chains: A Case Study of One Local Municipality in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Increases in demand for food, product development, and agribusiness growth provide new opportunities for smallholder farmers in the developing world. Yet, the smallholder farming sector is still confronted by numerous constraints, including low quality and lower levels of produce. Agricultural cooperatives and other farmer organisations have been identified as crucial vehicles to link smallholder farmers with the evolving food systems. However, little is known about their contribution to enhancing their members’ participation in sustainable agri-food chains. This paper aims to explore the effectiveness of agricultural cooperatives in empowering smallholder farmers to participate in sustainable agri-food chains in Eastern Cape, South Africa. In achieving this, the study adopted a multi-stratified sampling procedure to select 119 cooperative members in the study area. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a binary regression model. Our findings revealed that the majority (70%) of cooperatives were participating in crop production. Most (75%) of the cooperative members were old, with a mean average of 52 years. Additionally, the majority (93%) of members reported that agricultural cooperatives contributed positively to their livelihoods. The results of the probit model established that quality, quantity, level of education, and access to information influenced the level of participation in storage, processing, and distribution levels at different levels of significance. Although the findings of this research reported a positive contribution of cooperatives to their members, the study identifies a greater need for cooperatives to be inclusive of young people and improve government support. Also, the study recommends a blended financing model that will cater to smallholder farmers who do not have collateral. Finally, the study recommends that the current extension and advisory services be tailored to cater to the training needs of smallholder farmers.

Can higher education contribute to trust building in a fragmented reality? A Latin American perspective

PurposeThe article aims at exploring the challenges and possibilities of cooperation of higher education in a Latin American social, political and cultural context that faces historical difficulties of integration, as well as the potential contribution of academic cooperation for global citizenship.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a general overview of networks and international centers of academic cooperation of higher education in Latin America. The analysis comprises objectives, countries, stakeholders, activities, projects and scope. The study is based on literature on internationalization, regional integration and the development of higher education, as well as on empirical gathered with networks/centers and key actors in the field. This study was carried out as a mixed qualitative method design. Firstly, a systematic review of a literature corpus of studies produced by Latin-American scholars was performed. Semi-structured interviews were then carried out with a group of scholars who are members of networks.FindingsThe findings include a review of the role of higher education in a politically fragmented reality, a panorama of major networks and international centers of academic cooperation with emphasis on internationalization of higher education, as well as their connections. The are highlighted examples of successful initiatives of cooperation and, based on interviews, there is presented a preliminary view on cooperation and trust building from professionals in higher education in Latin America.Originality/valueIn the last decades, with the growing interest and need for internationalizing higher education, many universities have organized or joined networks and international centers. The article will contribute for mutual knowledge of these spaces, their shortcomings and potentials, thus creating conditions for dialogue among them, as well as with universities in other continents.

Highlighting the interdependence between volumetric contribution of fragility and cooperativity for polymeric segmental relaxation.

The blurring around the link between the isobaric fragility and the characteristic size of cooperative rearranging region for glass-forming liquids has been cleared up by considering volumetric and thermal contributions of the structural relaxation. The measurement of these contributions is carried out for three amorphous thermoplastic polymers using broadband dielectric spectroscopy under pressure, providing an understanding of the link between isobaric fragilities, glass transition temperatures, and microstructures. The cooperative rearranging region (CRR) volume is calculated as a function of pressure using the extended Donth's approach, and the values are compared with the activation volume at the glass transition under different isobaric conditions. By combining these different results, a link between the chemical structure and the influence of pressure/temperature on the molecular mobility can be established. Furthermore, this study shows also a strong correlation between the activation volume, leading to the volumetric contribution of the isobaric fragility, and the CRR volume. Finally, this work highlights the influence of inter- and intra-molecular interactions on thermal and volumetric contributions of the isobaric fragility as a function of pressure.

Contributions of dairy cooperatives to the competitiveness of smallholder dairy farmers in Palabana area of Chongwe District

This study investigates the influence of dairy cooperatives on the competitiveness of small-scale dairy farmers in Palabana, Chongwe district, Zambia. The focus is on several crucial aspects: increasing milk production, enhancing productivity, improving quality, and boosting market share through cooperative membership. Data was collected from 73 randomly selected cooperative members through semi-structured questionnaires using a convergent parallel mixed-method technique. The quantitative data was examined using descriptive statistics and presented visually, while the qualitative data added contextual richness to these conclusions. The findings revealed a significant rise in milk production among members of the cooperative, even though there was a lack of direct provision of nutritional inputs. This implies that additional elements, such as training and the exchange of knowledge, played a key role in these gains. Furthermore, there was widespread mention of training sessions covering a range of dairy management subjects, which highlights the cooperative's efforts to improve farmers' abilities and increase output. Cooperatives played a crucial role in enhancing the quality of milk by offering valuable advice on managing milk quality, specifically in preventing and treating mastitis. Furthermore, farmers saw enhanced market dominance and financial gains as a result of their participation in cooperatives, which was made possible by greater opportunities to access larger markets and engage in joint sales initiatives. This study finds that cooperatives play a significant role in improving the competitiveness of smallholder dairy farmers by increasing yields, productivity, and market access. However, providing more comprehensive support in areas like animal health, input provision, and continuous training could further enhance these benefits. To maintain sustainable growth and competitiveness in the dairy sector, it is important to emphasize the necessity of ongoing improvement in cooperative initiatives.

Contribution of Co-operatives on Women Empowerment

Abstract Cooperatives provide financial and social intermediaries, particularly for women and the underprivileged. Microcredit, micro savings, micro insurance, and micro remittance are among the financial services offered by cooperatives. The simple services of cooperatives attracted backward women, which may have pushed women in that direction. The empowerment of women has been identified by the researcher as the new horizon in this article. When women are empowered, they are independent, enjoy unrestricted movement, and can participate freely in the sectors and fields of their choice. When women achieve economic, social and political strength, the concept of empowerment acquires its full meaning. In this view, the investigation and identification of the role cooperatives have played in raising social and economic status are the main objectives of the study. In order to ensure the study's validity from a review of the literature, data from interviews with members of the Opi Saving and Credit Co-operative in Kirtipur Municipality Ward No. 6 in the Kathmandu District were used as a sample. There are 136 respondents in the sample. According to the study's findings, the co-operative's benefits to women have improved their incomes and raised their standard of life. As a result of their participation, communication, fund management discussions, cooperative power, and accountability, the study's member co-operative women are growing more physically and cognitively engaged.

Actioning usability study findings in the development of the ADLIFE integrated care digital tools.

Introduction: The ADLIFE project aims to improve the quality of life of older people with advanced chronic diseases by providing integrated intelligent personalised care via a digitally enabled holistic and integrated supportive care ICT Toolbox. The two interlinked user-facing tools are firstly, a Personalised Care Plan Management Platform (PCPMP) used by healthcare professionals; and secondly, a Patient Empowerment Platform (PEP) that patients and their informal caregivers use to promote patient self-management. 
 The impact of the ADLIFE digital tools will be explored in a 12-month pilot study conducted across 7 clinical sites in 6 countries to evaluate their impact on a range of health-related, implementation and socio-economic outcomes.
 The development of digital tools needs to be done in continuous collaboration with target end-users. Feedback from prototype testing with typical user scenarios is crucial to identify any remaining issues to resolve ahead of the deployment of such tools. We present the findings from a pre-deployment usability study conducted on the ADLIFE Toolbox.
 Methods: Pilot sites recruited 3-5 participants for their feedback on the PCPMP and PEP tools. Usability data was collected using a standardised Questionnaire for User Interface Satisfaction (QUIS), administered online, following a training workshop and testing by the participants. One site collected feedback via a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) approach for the PEP tool as an option for the activity timeline. The questionnaire responses were analysed to identify the key areas of improvement. The analysis includes a standard scoring system giving an indication of users’ satisfaction with each facet of interest. These scores identify specific features of the ADLIFE tools that have lower usability scores, allowing useful improvements to be made before deployment in the main ADLIFE pilot study. Additional free text comments are used to complement the QUIS scores and provide greater depth of understanding around specific usability issues. PPI responses were analysed separately as the group did not test the tool directly.
 Results: 13 responses were received for PCPMP and 18 for PEP. Overall, the study participants (excluding 10 PPI participants) scored both tools above average, with scores over 66% on average in all questionnaire categories (scores of over 6 out of 9, average score on this scale is 4.5). Some areas of usability scored lower, such as task progression and highlighting where input is required. Together with comments elaborating on scores given, those areas are being assessed further for prioritising updates to the tools and also to be considered in the study planning, such as training materials and communication channels. The PPI feedback provided insight into how ADLIFE tools can fit within the wider context of healthcare and technology. 
 Conclusions: The usability studies have provided an opportunity to get feedback from participants similar to the ADLIFE study participants and make improvements to the ADLIFE tools, training and communication ahead of the pilot study start.
 Acknowledgements: ADLIFE has received funding from the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 875209. The authors thank all partners within ADLIFE for their cooperation and valuable contribution.

SIKLUS HIDUP KOPERASI UNTUK KEBERLANJUTAN KOPERASI PEGAWAI UNIVERSITAS JENDERAL SOEDIRMAN

Cooperative sustainability is a critical factor in ensuring operational survival and cooperative contribution to its members and surrounding communities. The study aims to study the sustainability of the General University of Soedirman Employee Cooperative (KPRI KOSUKU) through a life cycle analysis approach of the cooperative. This research uses a method of cooperative life cycle analysis consisting of five main phases: (1) economic justification; (2) organizational design; (3) growth, success, and heterogeneity; (4) introduction and introspection; and (5) choice. The analysis uses the annual report of KPRI KOSUKU from 2012 to 2022. The results of the research show that KPRi KOSUKU, through the analysis of the life cycle of cooperation, has passed through these 5 stages and is currently at the maturity stage of the lifecycle of cooperation. Data for this analysis was obtained through interviews with cooperative managers, analysis of financial reports, and literature surveys. This cooperation has managed to build a stable market share, offer a variety of services, and generate consistent profits. Factors that contribute to sustainability include efficient management, active participation of members, and adaptation to environmental change. However, the study also identifies some of the challenges that KPRI KOSUKU may face in the future, such as increasing competition and changing regulations. Therefore, these cooperatives need to continue to develop sustainable strategies, such as product diversification, improved services, and the use of information technology, to ensure their operational sustainability. This research is expected to provide guidance for KPRI KOSUKU and other cooperatives in managing their sustainability. By understanding the life cycle of a cooperative and the factors that influence it, the cooperative can take appropriate action to maintain sustainability and continue to benefit its members and surrounding communities

Asymmetric gating of a human hetero-pentameric glycine receptor

Hetero-pentameric Cys-loop receptors constitute a major type of neurotransmitter receptors that enable signal transmission and processing in the nervous system. Despite intense investigations into their working mechanism and pharmaceutical potentials, how neurotransmitters activate these receptors remains unclear due to the lack of high-resolution structural information in the activated open state. Here we report near-atomic resolution structures resolved in digitonin consistent with all principle functional states of the human α1β GlyR, which is a major Cys-loop receptor that mediates inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system of adults. Glycine binding induces cooperative and symmetric structural rearrangements in the neurotransmitter-binding extracellular domain but asymmetrical pore dilation in the transmembrane domain. Symmetric response in the extracellular domain is consistent with electrophysiological data showing cooperative glycine activation and contribution from both α1 and β subunits. A set of functionally essential but differentially charged amino acid residues in the transmembrane domain of the α1 and β subunits explains asymmetric activation. These findings provide a foundation for understanding how the gating of the Cys-loop receptor family members diverges to accommodate specific physiological environments.

Phase-engineering modulation of Mn-based oxide cathode for constructing super-stable sodium storage

The Mn-based oxide cathode with enriched crystal phase structure and component diversity can provide the excellent chemistry structure for Na-ion batteries. Nevertheless, the broad application prospect is obstructed by the sluggish Na+ kinetics and the phase transitions upon cycling. Herein, we establish the thermodynamically stable phase diagram of various Mn-based oxide composites precisely controlled by sodium content tailoring strategy coupling with co-doping and solid-state reaction. The chemical environment of the P2/P'3 and P2/P3 biphasic composites indicate that the charge compensation mechanism stems from the cooperative contribution of anions and cations. Benefiting from the no phase transition to scavenge the structure strain, P2/P'3 electrode can deliver long cycling stability (capacity retention of 73.8 % after 1000 cycles at 10 C) and outstanding rate properties (the discharge capacity of 84.08 mA h g−1 at 20 C) than P2/P3 electrode. Furthermore, the DFT calculation demonstrates that the introducing novel P'3 phase can significantly regulate the Na+ reaction dynamics and modify the local electron configuration of Mn. The effective phase engineering can provide a reference for designing other high-performance electrode materials for Na-ion batteries.

Cooperativism and its role in promoting sustainable food systems in Portuguese speaking countries1

AbstractThe objective of this article is to describe characteristics of the cooperative sector and highlight the contributions of agricultural cooperatives in promoting sustainable and resilient food systems in Brazil, Guinea‐Bissau, Portugal, and São Tomé and Principe. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with representatives of national organizations linked to cooperativism and leaders of agricultural cooperatives in the four countries. We found great discrepancies between the institutional and regulatory environments of cooperativism in Brazil and Portugal, which have institutionalized national systems of representation, regulation, and support for the sector, and São Tomé and Principe and Guinea‐Bissau, whose environments are fragile and insecure for cooperatives. However, despite the challenges, the cases of cooperatives analyzed show how these organizations are fundamental to their members and their communities, offering technologies, social and cultural support, and technical services to their members and undertaking actions and projects to make agriculture more sustainable and productive. We conclude that the cooperative sector and cooperatives, especially those formed and run by family farmers, have taken on the role of sustainable development agents.