Coordination Scheme Research Articles

Nanoengineering of Phosphate/Phosphonate Drugs via Competitive Replacement with Metal‐Phenolic Networks to Overcome Breast Tumor with Lung and Bone Metastasis

AbstractPhosphate and phosphonate drugs are vital in building organisms, regulating physiological processes, and exhibiting diverse biological activities, including antiviral, antibacterial, antineoplastic, and enzyme‐inhibitory effects. However, their therapeutic potential is limited by the lack of advanced nanoengineering technologies. Herein, a competitive coordination strategy for nanoengineering phosphate/phosphonate drugs is introduced. By leveraging the difference in coordination capabilities between polyphenols and phosphates/phosphonates with metal ions, various phosphate/phosphonate‐based nanodrugs using metal‐phenolic networks (MPNs) as templates and phosphate/phosphonate drugs as competitive agents are constructed. The dynamic nature of these coordination bonds imparts stimuli‐responsiveness to the nanodrugs, allowing for targeted release and therapy. As a proof of concept, Fe3+ and galangin are used to form the MPN template, zoledronic acid and cGAMP as competitive agents, and DOX as the loaded drug to construct DOX@Fe‐galangin@Fe‐zoledronic acid‐cGAMP nanodrugs. The results demonstrate that, by triggering pyroptosis and activating the cGAS‐STING pathway, the nanodrugs exhibit potent cytotoxicity and accurate selectivity in eradicating orthotopic breast tumors, and activate an antitumor immune response against lung and bone metastases. Because the competitive coordination strategy is applicable to a variety of phosphate/phosphonate agents, it holds significant potential for enhancing the clinical efficacy of phosphate/phosphonate drugs and advancing nanodrug development for complex therapeutic applications.

Oriented and Continuous Phase Epitaxy Enabled by A Highly Dendrite‐Resistant Plane Toward Super‐High Areal Capacity Zinc Metal Batteries

AbstractUnstable Zn metal anodes with dendrites/side reactions are becoming the main obstacle to the practical application of zinc‐based aqueous batteries. Epitaxial growth has been considered to be an effective strategy for solving these issues, especially for inducing the (002) plane growth. Nonetheless, the (002)‐textured Zn is difficult to achieve highly stable Zn anode under high capacity resulting from its large lattice distortion. Herein, the Cu single atom anchored polymeric carbon nitride (Cu@PCN) is synthesized by a facile thermal polymerization method. Serving as multifunctional protective layer on Zn surface, the Cu@PCN can provide massive nucleation sites at a nano‐level and uniformize the electron distribution through coordination engineering. Optimizing the coordination structures of single Cu and N atoms within the carbon matrix enables a redistribution for electric field and regulates ion flux. More importantly, this coordination strategy with single atoms is first reported to customize oriented and continuous phase epitaxy along highly dendrite‐resistant Zn(101) plane by reducing (101) surface energy. This pattern of oriented dense deposition leads to stable and reversible Zn plating/stripping is achieved, which delivers an extended cycling life of 550 h at 10 A cm−2, 20 mAh cm−2. The practical full cell also displays stable performance for 1200 cycles.

Numerical Modeling of Two-Phase Fluid Filtration for Carbonate Reservoir in Two-Dimensional Formulation

This work considers the isothermal process of incompressible viscous fluid filtration in an oil-saturated, fractured-porous reservoir. A study of the pressure and water saturation distribution process is carried out for a case in which a production well is put into operation. For this problem, i.e., a mathematical model in a two-dimensional formulation, a numerical method and a parallel algorithm are proposed. The mathematical model of two-phase filtration is written in accordance with the classical laws of continuum mechanics and Darcy’s law and also includes a function of fluid exchange between low-permeability pores and high-permeability natural fractures within the framework of the Warren–Root model. The numerical solution is based on the finite-difference method and a splitting scheme of physical processes and spatial coordinates. For a split system with respect to piezoconductivity, an implicit finite-difference scheme with fixed saturations is constructed, and with respect to saturation transfer, explicit and implicit difference schemes are constructed. For parallel implementation of the developed numerical approach, a method based on geometric parallelism is selected. Testing of the developed method is performed using the example of calculating liquid mass transfer for a wide range of parameters. To verify the model, the obtained calculated pressure curves are compared with field data recorded by a deep-well measuring device. The results allow for estimation of the distribution of reservoir pressure and water saturation depending on the permeability of the fracture set and the pore part. The obtained results allow for monitoring of well operations, reducing unexpected accident risks and optimizing the development system in order to increase oil production in fractured-porous reservoirs. Computational experiments confirm the efficiency of the developed numerical algorithm and its parallel implementation.

Integrated market scheduling with flexibility options

This work presents a generic optimization framework using advanced mixed-integer programming techniques to integrate day-ahead and balancing markets with distributed energy resources such as storage, electric vehicles, demand response, and Transmission and Distribution System Operators' coordination schemes. The day-ahead model determines optimal initial energy scheduling, while the balancing model optimizes energy and reserve products for three market designs with varying Transmission and Distribution System Operators’ coordination. The framework is applied to the interconnected Greek-Bulgarian-Romanian power system, considering 2030 installed capacities.The model outputs illustrate market coupling scenarios among Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece, highlighting clear price signals and distributed energy resources flexibility. Results reveal the significance of a diverse energy mix for energy security and show that Transmission and Distribution System Operators’ coordination significantly influences ancillary service prices, with reductions of up to 80 % in certain scenarios. Net demand values determine electricity flow direction. Flexibility providers like storage can cover up to 100 % of the upward congestion management requirements and 11 % of upward balancing energy, helping smooth energy allocation from intermittent renewables. The impact of electric vehicle penetration on generation scheduling is minimal. The proposed model offers valuable insights for system operators, market participants, and policymakers, enabling them to provide accurate price signals and optimize resource allocation.The integrated day-ahead and balancing market models support efficient renewable energy integration, emissions reduction, enhanced grid stability, and investment in low-carbon technologies. This aligns with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change goals, contributing to the development of sustainable and resilient energy systems.

Breaking Symmetry for SHG Response: Lanthanide Acetate Crystals via Water Molecule Regulation Strategy.

In the field of nonlinear optical (NLO) materials research, the design and synthesis of novel materials are crucial for advancing modern scientific and technological development. This study employs an innovative coordination strategy, building upon the existing structure of [Ln2(CH3COO)6(H2O)4]·4H2O (Ln = Tb, Sm), to successfully synthesize a series of acetate rare-earth metal compounds [Ln2(CH3COO)6(H2O)]n [Ln = Tb(1), Er(2), Y(3)] by regulating the number of water molecules. This approach achieved a structural transition from centrosymmetric (CS) to noncentrosymmetric (NCS), endowing these compounds with significant nonlinear optical responses. We discovered that reducing the coordinated water molecules and introducing acetate as a bidentate ligand is an effective method for modulating crystal structure and realizing NLO performance. This finding not only deepens the understanding of the structure of acetate salts but also provides important theoretical and experimental support for the development of materials with potential NLO propeties.

Coordination mechanisms applied to logistical systems for local disaster preparedness: a Latin American case

Purpose The study aims to present an agent-based simulation model (ABM) for exploring interorganizational coordination scenarios in local disaster preparedness. This approach includes local actors and logistical processes as agents to compare various strategic coordination mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach The ABM model, developed in the Latin American context, specifically focuses on a case study of Colombia. Three coordination mechanisms (centralized, decentralized and cluster-type) have been evaluated using three performance indicators: effectiveness, efficiency and flexibility. Findings Simulation results show that the decentralized scenario outperforms in terms of efficiency and flexibility. On the contrary, the centralized and cluster-type scenarios demonstrate higher effectiveness, achieving a greater percentage of requirements coverage during the disaster preparedness stage. The ABM approach effectively evaluates strategical coordination mechanisms based on the analyzed performance indicators. Research limitations/implications This study has limitations due to the application of results to a single real case. In addition, the focus of the study is primarily on a specific type of disaster, specifically hydrometeorological events such as flash floods, torrential rains and landslides. Moreover, the scope of decision-making is restricted to key actors involved in local-level disaster management within a municipality. Originality/value The proposed ABM model has the potential as a decision-making tool for policies and local coordination schemes for future disasters. The simulation tool could also explore diverse geographical scenarios and disaster types, demonstrating its versatility and broader applicability for further insights and recommendations.

Computational joint action: Dynamical models to understand the development of joint coordination.

Coordinating with others is part of our everyday experience. Previous studies using sensorimotor coordination games suggest that human dyads develop coordination strategies that can be interpreted as Nash equilibria. However, if the players are uncertain about what their partner is doing, they develop coordination strategies which are robust to the actual partner's actions. This has suggested that humans select their actions based on an explicit prediction of what the partner will be doing-a partner model-which is probabilistic by nature. However, the mechanisms underlying the development of a joint coordination over repeated trials remain unknown. Very much like sensorimotor adaptation of individuals to external perturbations (eg force fields or visual rotations), dynamical models may help to understand how joint coordination develops over repeated trials. Here we present a general computational model-based on game theory and Bayesian estimation-designed to understand the mechanisms underlying the development of a joint coordination over repeated trials. Joint tasks are modeled as quadratic games, where each participant's task is expressed as a quadratic cost function. Each participant predicts their partner's next move (partner model) by optimally combining predictions and sensory observations, and selects their actions through a stochastic optimization of its expected cost, given the partner model. The model parameters include perceptual uncertainty (sensory noise), partner representation (retention rate and internale noise), uncertainty in action selection and its rate of decay (which can be interpreted as the action's learning rate). The model can be used in two ways: (i) to simulate interactive behaviors, thus helping to make specific predictions in the context of a given joint action scenario; and (ii) to analyze the action time series in actual experiments, thus providing quantitative metrics that describe individual behaviors during an actual joint action. We demonstrate the model in a variety of joint action scenarios. In a sensorimotor version of the Stag Hunt game, the model predicts that different representations of the partner lead to different Nash equilibria. In a joint two via-point (2-VP) reaching task, in which the actions consist of complex trajectories, the model captures well the observed temporal evolution of performance. For this task we also estimated the model parameters from experimental observations, which provided a comprehensive characterization of individual dyad participants. Computational models of joint action may help identifying the factors preventing or facilitating the development of coordination. They can be used in clinical settings, to interpret the observed behaviors in individuals with impaired interaction capabilities. They may also provide a theoretical basis to devise artificial agents that establish forms of coordination that facilitate neuromotor recovery.

A Review of Immunotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer

The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to oncological care has transformed the management of various malignancies, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), offering improved outcomes. The first-line treatment of recurrent and malignant HNSCC for many years was combined platinum, 5-fluorouracil, and cetuximab. Recently, the ICI pembrolizumab was approved as a first-line treatment, with or without chemotherapy, based on tumor and immune cell percentage of programmed-death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Multiple head and neck (HN) cancer trials have subsequently explored immunotherapies in combination with surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation. Immunotherapy regimens may be personalized by tumor biomarker, including PD-L1 content, tumor mutational burden, and microsatellite instability. However, further clinical trials are needed to refine biomarker-driven protocols and standardize pathological methods to guide combined regimen timing, sequencing, and deescalation. Gaps remain for protocols using immunotherapy to reverse oral premalignant lesions, particularly high-risk leukoplakias. A phase II nonrandomized controlled trial, using the ICI nivolumab, showed a 2-y cancer-free survival of 73%, although larger trials are needed. Guidelines are also needed to standardize the role of dental evaluation and care before, during, and after immunotherapy, specifically in regard to oral immune-related adverse events and their impact on cancer recurrence. Standardized diagnostic and oral care coordination strategies to close these gaps are needed to ensure continued success of HN cancer immunotherapy.

The low-dimensional units modulation of 3D floral Fe/Ni@C towards efficient microwave absorption

Metal-organic frameworks (MOF) derivatives have great potential in microwave absorption (MA) due to their customizable components, topology, and high porosity. However, the correlation between the structural parameters of the low-dimensional units and the MA performance of the 3D MOF derivatives remains unclear. Herein, we prepared a series of floral Fe/Ni@C with different petal sizes and aspect ratios to investigate the effect of low-dimensional structural parameters on the MA properties of 3D MOF derivatives. Specifically, we proposed a competitive coordination strategy. By adjusting the ratio of coordination metals, we successfully obtained floral FeNi-MOF-74 with different petal sizes and aspect ratios. Subsequently, the floral Fe/Ni@C was obtained by thermal-field modulation. It shows that, on the one hand, as the petal size increases, the conductive path is extended and the electron hopping is enhanced, thus facilitating the conductivity loss. And, with the rise of the petal aspect ratio, the tip effect is enhanced, which strengthens the polarization loss. On the other hand, the graphitization degree of the carbon components as well as the size and magnetic properties of the alloy particles can be effectively modulated by optimizing the thermal field modulation temperature. Noteworthily, under the conditions of a coordination metal ratio of 1:1 and an annealing temperature of 700 °C, the obtained MOF derivative exhibited excellent microwave absorption (−65.47 dB at 1.56 mm) and broadband (6.09 GHz at 1.76 mm). This strategy provides new ideas for modulating the microstructure and electromagnetic properties of MOF derivatives.

Efficient Li+/Mg2+ separation by two-dimensional montmorillonite membrane with stable channel structure through ion exchange and metal–organic coordination strategy

Two-dimensional (2D) nanochannel membranes stacked by nanosheets are promising membrane separation materials. However, intrinsic swelling properties of 2D membrane have emerged as a significant challenge to establish stable nanochannels and achieve high separation performance. Inspired by the natural ion exchange property of montmorillonite (MMT), we constructed a two-dimensional MMT membrane with robust nanochannels by exchanging Fe3+ into interlayer of the membrane, and further achieved efficient separation of Li+/Mg2+ through coordination manipulation of tannic acid (TA) and Fe3+. Swelling was dramatically prevented by strong interlayer interaction between exchanged Fe3+ and nanosheets resulting in a 32-fold increase in anti-swelling properties. Furthermore, experiments and simulations revealed that TA could rapidly chelate with Fe3+ to form a dense hydrophilic functional layer on the membrane interface, which endowed MMT membranes with enhanced mechanical strength, cation transport and recognition, as well as anti-fouling properties. Consequently, the resulting MMT membranes showed the Li+/Mg2+ selectivity as high as 9.98 with a fast Li+ permeation rate (0.108 mol m-2h−1), which exceeded most of the previously reported membranes. This study proposed a novel strategy to diminish the trade-off effect among stability, ion flux, and selectivity of membranes, and inspired the development of next-generation ion selective separation membranes.

Design of Intelligent Distributed Cable Laying System Based on Multi-machine Cooperative Control Strategy

Abstract To solve the problems of complicated long-distance cable laying process, low laying efficiency and easy cable damage, an intelligent distributed cable laying system based on a multi-machine coordination strategy is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the multi-machine cooperative control strategy of cable clamping push laying is proposed, which solves the problem of complex and low efficiency of long-distance cable laying. Secondly, the intelligent cable-laying machine is developed to realize the perception and adaptive control of the cable-laying field conditions. Finally, an intelligent distributed cable laying system based on a multi-machine cooperative control strategy is developed. The combination of a multi-machine cooperative control strategy and an intelligent cable laying machine further strengthens the cooperation and stability of the whole system and provides a more intelligent and efficient way for cable laying.

Optimal cost predictive BMS considering greywater recycling, responsive HVAC, and energy storage

A crucial aspect of a sustainable city is ensuring that energy and water supplies can adequately meet urban demand. With the scarcity of natural resources and growing electricity and water demand, it becomes increasingly important for consumers to manage their resource usage more efficiently. This paper proposes a novel perspective of demand-side management coordination strategy for a building's water-energy nexus to enhance the resilience and efficiency of the overall electricity-water-heating system. The model is formulated to optimally coordinates the onsite greywater recycling system, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) loads, and distributed energy generation systems with a bidirectional grid connection in a residential building. All subsystems are controlled by a model predictive controller (MPC) receiving real-time time of use (ToU) pricing from electricity and water utilities. The presented mixed integer linear programming model is verified to meet the customers' demands while reducing the operational costs. Results are compared with benchmark systems lacking the water recycling or energy storage system showing 8.3 % operational cost reduction while reducing potable water consumption by 21.5 %. The effect of increased MPC control horizon is also studied showing reduction in cost with increased horizon. Detailed analysis of the proposed framework computational burden and effect of prediction errors is performed to prove the MPC adaptability and robustness. Testing under increased room size and different user preferences further validate the efficacy of the proposed scheme in reducing the operational costs.

Ag-S coordination strategy for high recovery driving stress in recyclable shape memory polymers

To address the issue of low strength and recovery stress in recyclable shape memory polymer (SMP) materials with dynamic covalent bonds in practical applications, we propose a method based on Ag-S coordination interactions to improve dynamic covalent bonds, thereby preparing recyclable SMP with high recovery stress and large recovery strain. The introduction of in situ reduced silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the SMP system play multiple roles, serving as additional physical crosslinking points at the microscale and coordinating with disulfide bonds in the system to construct a multi-level dynamic network structure. This endows the material with exceptional mechanical properties (tensile strength of 25.93 MPa and fracture strain of 1466.83 %) and recovery driving stress (5.59 MPa), while maintaining more than 99 % shape recovery and fixity rate. Furthermore, due to the outstanding photothermal performance of AgNPs, the composite material has acquired remote photothermal driving capabilities. The proposed Ag-S coordination enhancement offers a new approach for SMP materials that achieve both large actuation distance and high recovery stress, holding significant potential for applications in soft robotics and actuators.

A Scoping Review of Factors Affecting COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake and Deployment in Global Healthcare Systems.

Introduction: COVID-19 vaccines were rapidly developed and deployed on a large scale during a global crisis. A range of deployment strategies were used globally to maximize vaccine uptake. In this scoping review, we identify and analyze the main healthcare system and policy factors that guided and influenced COVID-19 vaccination deployment and uptake globally. Materials and Methods: JBI guidelines, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), and the population, concept, and context (PCC) framework were applied. Studies on individual COVID-19 vaccination factors, such as vaccine hesitancy, were excluded. The search was last conducted in May 2024 yielding 26,686 articles from PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and COVID-19 websites. A total of 47 articles and 3 guidance documents were included. The results of the thematic analysis were mapped to the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Results: The results found the following healthcare system and policy factors as integral to COVID-19 vaccination: types of vaccine products, healthcare workforce capacity, procurement strategies, distribution and cold-chain capacity, partnership, coordination, and leadership, information, communication, and registration strategies, delivery models, organizations, the existing health systems and policies on prioritization of at-risk groups and deployment plans. Discussion: Globally, COVID-19 vaccination programs responded to the pandemic by leveraging and reforming the existing healthcare systems, relying on strong leadership and global cooperation (such as the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Initiative). Deployment was enabled by effective communication and adoption of innovative technologies using data-driven policies to create high vaccine demand while overcoming limited vaccine supply and rapidly adapting to uncertainties.

Towards coordinating self-healing instances: Policy-based and non-cooperative game theory-based approaches with location awareness

Self-healing is an essential functionality in Self-Organizing cellular Network (SON). It aims to ensure service continuity by detecting, diagnosing, and compensating network outage after triggering appropriate Cell Outage Compensation (COC) functions according to the outage case. The role of self-healing is increasingly become indispensable, especially in high density network as in 5 G and beyond, in order to maintain the availability and retainability of mobile service and save revenues. However, the essence of COC entails modifications of different Network Control Parameters (NCP) which are under control of SON Functions (SONF) that are related to other self-x functionalities. In addition, it can request different types of compensation functions according to the outage case. Moreover, it requires to harmonize the objectives of the requested stand-alone SONFs over the involved Candidate Cells (CC) in order to re-build a consistent coverage model. Thus, the need for self-coordination is mandatory to guarantee conflict-free outage compensation procedure. In this paper, we propose a novel integrated coordination scheme in order to coordinate Antenna Tilt (AT)-based and Transmission Power (TXP)-based COC functions. Beside their primary targets of conflict avoidance and resolution, we prove that our location-aware coordination mechanisms, which are based on policies and Non-Cooperative Zero-Sum Game (NCZSG) theory, can collaboratively guide greedy stand-alone single-objective COC functions to reach a stable coverage model. The coordination is done even when there is no prior knowledge of the environment or the compensatory algorithms themselves. The choice of optimal Network Control Parameters Values (NCV) is determined according to the function after the coordinator's verification.

Commutative Encryption and Reversible Watermarking Algorithm for Vector Maps Based on Virtual Coordinates

The combination of encryption and digital watermarking technologies is an increasingly popular approach to achieve full lifecycle data protection. Recently, reversible data hiding in the encrypted domain (RDHED) has greatly aroused the interest of many scholars. However, the fixed order of first encryption and then watermarking makes these algorithms unsuitable for many applications. Commutative encryption and watermarking (CEW) technology realizes the flexible combination of encryption and watermarking, and suits more applications. However, most existing CEW schemes for vector maps are not reversible and are unsuitable for high-precision maps. To solve this problem, here, we propose a commutative encryption and reversible watermarking (CERW) algorithm for vector maps based on virtual coordinates that are uniformly distributed on the number axis. The CERW algorithm consists of a virtual interval step-based encryption scheme and a coordinate difference-based reversible watermarking scheme. In the encryption scheme, the map coordinates are moved randomly by multiples of virtual interval steps defined as the distance between two adjacent virtual coordinates. In the reversible watermarking scheme, the difference expansion (DE) technique is used to embed the watermark bit into the coordinate difference, computed based on the relative position of a map coordinate in a virtual interval. As the relative position of a map coordinate in a virtual interval remains unchanged during the coordinate scrambling encryption process, the watermarking and encryption operations do not interfere with each other, and commutativity between encryption and watermarking is achieved. The results show that the proposed method has high security, high capacity, and good invisibility. In addition, the algorithm applies not only to polyline and polygon vector data, but also to sparsely distributed point data, which traditional DE watermarking algorithms often fail to watermark.

BIODIVERSITY IN INDIA: IMPLEMENTATION AND BARRIERS FOR REGULATORY ACTS

India, a megadiverse country, harbors a significant portion of the world's biodiversity, encompassing a variety of ecosystems, species, and genetic resources. The preservation of this biodiversity is crucial, not only for ecological balance but also for sustaining livelihoods and cultural heritage. Over the years, India has implemented several regulatory acts aimed at conserving its biodiversity. However, the effective enforcement of these regulations faces numerous barriers. This paper explores the current state of biodiversity in India, highlighting the successes and limitations of existing regulatory acts. It examines the barriers to effective implementation, such as inadequate funding, insufficient enforcement, bureaucratic red tape, and conflicts between development and conservation goals. By analyzing case studies and policy reviews, this study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the gaps and opportunities within India's biodiversity regulatory framework. Recommendations for enhancing the efficacy of these regulations are also discussed, emphasizing the need for improved coordination, community involvement, and adaptive management strategies.

Encoding spatiotemporal asymmetry in artificial cilia with a ctenophore-inspired soft-robotic platform

A remarkable variety of organisms use metachronal coordination (i.e., numerous neighboring appendages beating sequentially with a fixed phase lag) to swim or pump fluid. This coordination strategy is used by microorganisms to break symmetry at small scales where viscous effects dominate and flow is time-reversible. Some larger organisms use this swimming strategy at intermediate scales, where viscosity and inertia both play important roles. However, the role of individual propulsor kinematics-especially across hydrodynamic scales-is not well-understood, though the details of propulsor motion can be crucial for the efficient generation of flow. To investigate this behavior, we developed a new soft robotic platform using magnetoactive silicone elastomers to mimic the metachronally coordinated propulsors found in swimming organisms. Furthermore, we present a method to passively encode spatially asymmetric beating patterns in our artificial propulsors. We investigated the kinematics and hydrodynamics of three propulsor types, with varying degrees of asymmetry, using Particle Image Velocimetry and high-speed videography. We find that asymmetric beating patterns can move considerably more fluid relative to symmetric beating at the same frequency and phase lag, and that asymmetry can be passively encoded into propulsors via the interplay between elastic and magnetic torques. Our results demonstrate that nuanced differences in propulsor kinematics can substantially impact fluid pumping performance. Our soft robotic platform also provides an avenue to explore metachronal coordination at the meso-scale, which in turn can inform the design of future bioinspired pumping devices and swimming robots.

Research on Investment and Coordination Strategies for Supply Chain Resilience under Supply Disruption Risk

Research on Investment and Coordination Strategies for Supply Chain Resilience under Supply Disruption Risk

“It takes a village”: An ecological analysis of social and emotional learning environments in Malawi

Socially and emotionally competent children thrive in school and life. Crucial to this success is integrating social and emotional learning (SEL) across their developmental ecology, from homes, schools, and communities to society. This case study draws on interviews with 21 parents, 42 teachers, and 12 professionals from diverse educational institutions in Malawi. It illuminates coordination strategies and enabling factors for system-wide support for SEL in and around Malawi's schools. Teachers deliver a compulsory SEL-infused curriculum, sometimes co-instructed with parents, and emphasize daily discipline and behavior modeling. Governmental and nongovernmental organizations collaborate with grassroots initiatives, such as Mothers’ Groups, to provide technical support, teacher training, financial aid, and community-wide discussions to acquaint parents with SEL. These efforts align through multiparty dialogues, aimed at bridging home–school disparities. The findings offer insights for establishing a coherent, system-wide support structure for SEL in Malawi and potentially other countries.