Desired Path Research Articles

Anthropocene Desire Lines: A Coal Story

In this experimental visual essay, we follow an imaginary lump of coal across space and time from its Gondwanan beginnings, through its extraction from the Talcher Coalfields in Odisha in India, combustion in a thermal power plant in Ennore in Tamil Nadu, and into the future through its multitude of postcombustion afterlives. We do so through the figure of ‘anthropocene desire lines’, which draws on Karen Coelho’s idea of ‘water lines’ (Coelho 2022) and Gabrielle Hecht’s idea of ‘residual governance’ (Hecht 2023), to track how flows of earthly matter that begin in subterranean strata, and, mobilized by ideas of power, growth and national pride, result in indifference towards the molecular colonization of bodies, soils, waters and airs they produce (Mendes 2017). The essay compresses the deep, everyday and future times of coal and its geologic, territorial, microscopic and planetary scales into a single textual/visual narrative. In this way, it draws out simultaneities across time and interconnections across space, as a way of developing a relational Anthropocene imaginary.

Metropolitan spatial structure based on commuting pattern: a comparison between Jakarta and Surabaya metropolitans

ABSTRACT Different urban structures can present different problems. Therefore, it is important to organize the spatial structure of the city to ensure the movement and welfare of city residents. Metropolitan Jakarta and Surabaya are the two largest metropolitan areas in Indonesia and play a very important role as centres of national social and economic activities. This study aims to identify urban spatial structures based on commuter movement patterns in both metropolitan areas. This is done by calculating the spatial interaction and visualization of the Desire Line Map. The results of the analysis show that Jakarta and Surabaya Metropolitan Areas still tend to be monocentric because the attraction of their movements is still dominated by their respective cores.

Strategic Transportation Planning: Soft Mobility Network Planning Technical Report

This technical report presents a comprehensive approach to soft mobility network planning, focusing on assessing the potential for growth in bicycle infrastructure. Utilizing GIS-based analysis and multi-criteria decision-making, the study aims to identify and prioritize areas for new bike infrastructure development. The methodology involved defining influential factors, selecting variables from available datasets, assigning value levels, weighting parameters, and generating cycling infrastructure potential maps. Factors such as connectivity, safety, and attractiveness are considered, with each variable assessed and scored based on current conditions and ideal benchmarks. The results highlight high-potential areas for infrastructure improvement and propose desired lines to enhance the existing network. Limitations of the study, including data currency and grid dimensions, are acknowledged, suggesting avenues for future research and improvement. Overall, the study underscores the importance of integrated planning approaches and the utilization of spatial analysis tools in promoting cycling as a sustainable and accessible mode of transportation

The Development of Modeling Shared Spaces to Support Sustainable Transport Systems: Introduction to the Integrated Pedestrian–Vehicle Model (IPVM)

The significance of developing shared road infrastructure in cities throughout the world is growing. Driven by the need to improve traffic management in ways that enhance multiple sustainability outcomes, developing the tools needed to test shared space proposals is becoming more sought after by responsible agencies. This paper reviews approaches to simulation modeling focused on representing and assessing shared spaces, culminating in a new approach presented here called the Integrated Pedestrian–Vehicle Model (IPVM)—a novel framework that combines social force models, car-following models and other algorithms from the robotics domain to better describe both mobility and activity within a shared space. The IPVM recognizes that while shared spaces are inherently multimodal, past efforts have tended to use pedestrian models as a starting point. Most consider the interaction of pedestrians with other pedestrians and static road infrastructure. Shared space models are generally microscopic models that integrate a social force model with a variety of car-following models to describe the interaction between vehicles and pedestrians. However, there is little research and few practical methodologies that address the long-range conflict avoidance between vehicles and pedestrians. This aspect is crucial for accurately representing the desire lines and pathways of pedestrians and active transport users in complex environments like shared spaces. The IPVM describes and visualizes shared road infrastructure with an absence of separating infrastructure between users and outputs. It generates metrics that can be used in conjunction with the latest evaluation approaches to gauge the sustainability credentials of shared space road proposals. Enhanced modeling of shared space solutions can lead to more effective implementation, which can potentially reduce the presence of cars, increase public and active transport use and lead to a more sustainable transport system.

Crispr-Based Editing of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells for Disease Modeling.

The CRISPR system, as an effective genome editing technology, has been extensively utilized for the construction of disease models in human pluripotent stem cells. Establishment of a gene mutant or knockout stem cell line typically relies on Cas nuclease-generated double-stranded DNA breaks and exogenous templates, which can produce uncontrollable editing byproducts and toxicity. The recently developed adenine base editors (ABE) have greatly facilitated related research by introducing A/T > G/C mutations in the coding regions or splitting sites (AG-GT) of genes, enabling mutant gene knock-in or knock-out without introducing DNA breaks. In this study, we edit the AG bases in exons anterior to achieve gene knockout via the ABE8e-SpRY, which recognizes most expanded protospacer adjacent motif to target the genome. Except for gene-knockout, ABE8e-SpRY can also efficiently establish disease-related A/T-to-G/C variation cell lines by targeting coding sequences. The method we generated is simple and time-saving, and it only takes two weeks to obtain the desired cell line. This protocol provides operating instructions step-by-step for constructing knockout and point mutation cell lines.

Making Sense of Critical Suicide Studies: Metaphors, Tensions, and Futurities

Critical suicide studies is a relatively new area of research, practice, and activism, which we believe can offer creative new vantage points with which to ‘think’ suicide into the future. We present findings from a qualitative research study undertaken to understand how critical suicide studies is being conceptualized by those who draw from this orientation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine scholars, practitioners, activists, and/or those with lived and living experience of suicidality. To analyze the data, we used reflexive thematic analysis and drew on a social constructionist orientation. We discovered that metaphors were an important way of conceptualizing and reflecting upon critical suicide studies. Four themes were generated: critical suicide studies is a site of respite and fortification; critical suicide studies is a felt experience; critical suicide studies is a desire line; critical suicide studies is yearning. We contend that the dominant language available to describe suicide and suicide prevention might not be adequate for expressing the complexities and contradictions of suicide prevention practice or suicide’s ultimate unknowability. We call for more diverse, inclusive, and expansive frameworks for understanding and responding to suicide and show the potential of joining other critical scholars and social movements to build a more just, caring, and inclusive world.

Robust learning control for autonomous vehicle with network delays and disturbances

This paper deals with a robust learning nonlinear model predictive control (RL-NMPC) scheme under time-varying delays and disturbances. It is well known that the in-vehicle network has considerable advantages over the traditional point-to-point communication. However, on the other hand, these technologies would also induce the probability of time-varying delays, which would be a hazard in the active safety of over-actuated autonomous vehicles (AVs). To enjoy the advantages and deal with in-vehicle network delays and external disturbances, a robust learning nonlinear model predictive control (RL-NMPC) scheme is proposed. First, the machine learning (Support Vector Machine called SVM) method is adopted to train delayed measurement signals and disturbances. Then, according to the predictions of the SVM and corrupted sensory signals, the Unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is applied to acquire accurate predictions of the vehicle motion states. Furthermore, the NMPC scheme is used to generate real-time control signals by solving an open-loop optimization problem. The main purpose of the addressed problem is to design a robust learning controller to ensure that the AVs can track the desirable path and run smoothly suffering network delays and disturbances. Finally, simulations with a full-vehicle model are carried out to show the effectiveness of our proposed control scheme.

Digital Desire Paths: Exploring the Role of Computer Workarounds in Emergent Information Systems Design

ABSTRACT The information systems literature generally conceptualises information system (IS) workarounds as negative disturbances that need to be avoided. IS design literature has emphasised the need to incorporate user behaviour in emergent IS design. Surprisingly, information systems research has kept the literatures on workarounds and IS design separate and remains silent on how workaround behaviour can inform information system design. In this research, we explore six workarounds in two case organisations and analyse the connections between them. We develop the concept of digital desire paths to describe the process how information system designers improve the system design by observing how users use and work around the system. Digital desire paths offer a novel interpretation of workarounds as input for information systems design and thereby serve as instance of the principle of guided emergence in action design research.

Policy as a catalyst in shaping mobility sector transition for developing countries

This paper presents a modified technology innovation system (MTIS) approach applicable to developing countries. Evidence collected over three decades 1992–2022, shows how policy plays a catalytic role in managing multidimensional low-emission mobility transitions in developing countries such as Pakistan. This paper follows policy and the network of actors, institutions and technology in compressed natural gas (CNG)-based mobility transition in Pakistan. Event-based analysis helped in mapping the development of respective functions, which is later validated by expert consultation. Between 1992 and 2002, deliberate policies for early adoption were put in place to strategically manage a desired transition path. This involved providing guidance and knowledge diffusion through demonstration to increase entrepreneurial activities and market formation. The accelerated diffusion during the take-off period during 2003–2012 was due to the entry of private businesses and multinational companies speeding up entrepreneurial activity and market-formation functions. However, there was a clear policy-driven roll-back and deceleration during 2013–2022. Policies designed to ban CNG licence issuance and renewal resulted in detrimental effects on market and entrepreneurial activities. Social struggle arising from roll-back is now caught in a dilemma if policy innovation will lead to re-emergence of CNG or will support a new transition cycle through the emergence and adoption of electric vehicles in the mobility space of Pakistan. Rapid shifts in the global landscape of innovation and market conditions are creating a need for the effective handling of cascading transition management in developing countries. This paper outlines how lessons learnt from Pakistan’s CNG-MTIS can help in shaping electric vehicle MTIS not only in Pakistan, but also in many other developing countries. It is recommended that, in order to manage cascading transitions in developing countries, new approaches and strategies for reskilling, retraining and redirecting finances to address stranded assets be employed. This can mitigate the negative impacts on those affected by transformation and create an environment for a just transition that restores trust in policy and accelerates transformative change.

Monometallic Ultrasmall Nanocatalysts via Different Valence Atomic Interfaces Boost Hydrogen Evolution Catalysis.

Synergistic monometallic nanocatalysts have attracted much attention due to their high intrinsic activity properties. However, current synergistic monometallic nanocatalysts tend to suffer from long reaction paths due to restricted nanoscale interfaces. In this paper, we synthesized the interstitial compound N-Pt/CNT with monometallic atomic interfaces. The catalysts are enriched with atomic interfaces between higher valence Ptδ+ and Pt0, allowing the reaction to proceed synergistically within the same component with an ideal reaction pathway. Through ratio optimization, N2.42-Pt/CNT with a suitable ratio of Ptδ+ and Pt0 is synthesized. And the calculated turnover frequency of N2.42-Pt/CNT is about 37.4 s-1 (-0.1 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)), six times higher than that of the commercial Pt/C (6.58 s-1), which is the most intrinsically active of the Pt-based catalysts. Moreover, prepared N2.42-Pt/CNT exhibits excellent stability during the chronoamperometry tests of 200 h. With insights from comprehensive experiments and theoretical calculations, Pt with different valence states in monometallic atomic interfaces synergistically accelerates the H2O dissociation step and optimizes the Gibbs free energy of H* adsorption. And the existence of desirable hydrogen transfer paths substantially facilitates hydrogen evolution reaction kinetics.

Modified smell detection algorithm for optimal paths engineering in hybrid SDN

Optimal path engineering in hybrid software defined networking environments involves leveraging traditional networking and software defined capabilities to determine the most efficient paths for network traffic. In hybrid software defined networks, some parts of the network may be controlled by controllers, while others rely on traditional routing protocols. Leveraging the OpenFlow protocol, widely used in such deployments, to program flow entries in software defined switches is one approach to achieving optimal path engineering in hybrid software defined networks. By specifying specific rules and policies in the switches, we can control traffic forwarding behaviour and steer traffic along desired paths based on application requirements. In this work, the smell detection algorithm, a new variant of bio-inspired method, is adopted to explore its capability in routing. The new paradigm of smell detection agent, its architecture, protocols used, and the concept of hybrid defined network is also explained. A comprehensive experimental examination of within the controller, an algorithm based on smell detecting agents computes the most efficient route from where it began to the intended destination. Simulation results readily demonstrate the smell detection agent based technique's effective functioning in getting the optimum direction. In this work, bio-inspired algorithms outperformed conventional algorithms in terms of performance.

Desire lines: Filipina transwomen and black girls’ wayward paths in the imperial city

This article explores desire, beauty, and waywardness in the narratives of transwomen in the Philippines through the theoretical and artistic intersections between Saidiya Hartman’s book Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Histories of Riotous Black Girls, Troublesome Women and Queer Radicals (2019) and PJ Raval’s film Call Her Ganda (2018). I foreground how these concepts are collectively imagined and lived out by black girls in early 20th century New York and transwomen in present-day US military bases in the Philippines: where geo-political pressures shape the environment of the city and our paths through public life and intimacy within it. The confluence of transphobia, racial aggression, and military intimidation perpetuated by the presence of US soldiers in Philippine soil, I argue, stems from the same criminalizing and racist logic that the US government has imposed on black communities for centuries. This article traces definitions of the wayward in 20th century New York and how these have developed in and through the environment of the city from the metropole, the United States, and to the neo-colony, the Philippines. Through the narratives that Hartman and Raval foreground in their texts, I argue that the girls’ practice of agency gives rise to a “wayward” figure, one that re-shapes the bounds of the city through her marginal position. Transwomen and black girls’ desirous movements are foundational, not merely marginal, to life in the imperial city. In this light, waywardness resists definition from the law and its agents in its longing for life and stubbornly creates a present and a future otherwise.

Mental Health of Emerging Private Primary School Teachers: An Exploratory Case Study in Gaborone, Botswana

The development of any nation is premised on the nature and level of education of its citizens. It is in this regard that education is viewed as the most powerful weapon to end poverty and craft a desirable path for a sustainable future. Consequently, the health and well-being of teachers become apparent to deliver quality education. The purpose of this study was to explore the mental health of emerging private primary school teachers in Gaborone, Botswana. A qualitative research approach of the interpretive paradigm was used to guide this study. The study was couched within social constructionism theoretical framework. Population of the study comprised all teachers, school principals and members of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of emerging private primary schools. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select rich informants regarding mental health knowledge of teachers in schools under study. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 3 principals and 5 teachers. Focus group interview (FGI) was managed with 3 parents that were members of the PTA in the selected private schools. The study established that work overload, teacher burnout, job insecurity and unstable work relations fuelled mental health problems. The study recommends the establishment of strong social welfare networks among staff members, settlement grant for newly employed teachers and expeditious processing of documentations for professional practice.

Automatic Navigation of a Microrobotic Swarm for Tracking Multiple Mobile Targets

Microrobotic swarms actuated by magnetic fields have attracted considerable attention in the field of automatic control. Developing effective control schemes for microrobotic swarms to track multiple mobile targets is still a major challenge. In this work, we propose an optimized rapidly-exploring random tree star (ORRT*) algorithm to generate desired paths connecting the swarm and the targets. A path selection strategy is developed to select the shortest path, and subsequently the immediate target to track is determined. The sliding mode (SM) motion controller is then presented to achieve the tracking of multiple mobile targets using microrobotic swarms. Comparisons are performed to validate the effectiveness of the control scheme, including the path planner and the motion controller. Finally, simulations and experiments of tracking multiple mobile targets in a virtual micromaze are conducted.

Effectiveness of self-awareness training for young adults on improving their professional skills: a Quasi-experimental study

Background: Young adulthood is a productive phase in an individual's life, marked by a shift towards achieving higher academic success and pursuing desired career paths. In this context, awareness of merits and demerits is vital in attaining desired goals. Therefore, the objective of the current study is to evaluate the differences in self-awareness skills among undergraduate students before and after participating in a life skills intervention program. Method: The study used a quasi-experimental design involving 243 students from four private undergraduate colleges. A half-day self-awareness training program was provided using activity-based participatory approaches. Data were collected pre and one-month post-intervention through a semi-structured questionnaire validated by two mental health professionals and three industry experts. Results: Of the 243 participants, 55.55% were female, and 44.44% were male. A significant number of female participants were in the age group of 18 to 20 (Male: 68 (62.96), Female: 113 (83.7), p<0.001) compared to male participants. The life skills intervention significantly enhanced participants' abilities to connect with like-minded individuals (Pre-in: 46.5%, post-in: 52.26%, p<0.01), make new friends (pre-in: 54.32%, post-in: 66.67%, p<0.002), and engage in team interaction (pre-in: 39.09%, post-in: 68.72%, p<0.001). additionally, there were improvements in adopting a positive approach towards tasks (pre-in: 62.14%, post-in: 64.2%, p<0.058) and prioritizing assignments (pre-in: 27.57%, post-in: 53.91%, p<0.001). Conclusions: Our study observed a significant improvement in the domains of harmony, self-belief, adaptability, and discipline post-intervention among students.

Prebreeding and genetic enhancement of cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.) using diploid wild Helianthus species in India

Pre-breeding activities using promising diploid wild Helianthus like Helianthus annuus (wild), H. argophyllus, H. praecox, H. debilis and H. petiolaris and popular cultivar (ARM-243B) have been initiated at ICAR Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad to increase the frequency of desirable genes, wider adaptability and a broad genetic base. Wider variability was observed for yield and yield contributing traits besides disease reactions within and between species. Evaluation of a few populations for biotic stresses and yield related traits resulted in the identification of desirable introgression lines. The highest seed yield (42.5 g/plant) was reported in combinations with H. annuus (wild), H. petiolaris (40.2 g/plant) and H. debilis (39.8 g/plant). Interspecificderivatives derived from H. praecox were found resistant to powdery mildew. Interspecific derivatives of H. argophyllus, namely PB-1001, PB-1003, PB-1005, PB-1007, PB-1008, PB-1014, and PB-1019 were resistant to leafhoppers, while PB-1003, PB-1005, and PB-1007 exhibited resistant reactions to downy mildew under sick plot conditions. H. debilis derivatives viz., PB-120, PB-127, PB-128, PB-129 and PB-130 recorded >40% oil content. The pre-breeding lines derived from these interspecific cross combinations serve as an invaluable reservoir of genes for carrying out basic studies on the key traits as well as the exploitation of agronomically desirable traits in the AICRP sunflower breeding programmes.

Exploration of Genetic Variability and Trait Association for Root Architecture RelatedTraits under Aerobic Conditions in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

In this study, we performed exploration of genetic variability for root architecture related traits in a mapping population derived from TI-128×BPT 5204, such as length, volume, fresh and dry weight, in influencing nutrient and moisture uptake during 60 days after sowing under aerobic conditions at three diverse environments for the selection of desirable lines. The variance analysis, revealed significant variations (p ≤ 0.005) for all studied traits, indicating a broader sense of genetic variability for selection purposes. Significant positive correlation was recorded between all the traits under study. The rice lines viz., TB 1, TB4, TB 8, TB 24, TB 51, TB 67 and TB 107 exhibited comparatively higher RL, RV and RDW, than all the checks used in the present study. The identified lines exhibiting better root architectural traits can benefit in developing a suitable DSR cultivar with better adaptability and performance under dry direct seeded rice conditions.

Efficient cutting path planning for a non-spherical tool based on an iso-scallop height distance field

Iso-scallop height machining means, when machining a freeform surface, the scallop height between any two neighboring tool paths on the surface will be a constant (i.e., the given threshold), which is preferable among various freeform surface machining strategies due to its high machining efficiency as well as better machine tool’s dynamics. However, all the existing iso-scallop height path planning methods pertain to only the ball-end or flat-end types of tools. In recent years, the non-spherical cutting tool has become more and more popular, especially for five-axis machining of complex freeform surfaces, majorly owing to its non-constant curvature which can be utilized to adaptively fit the tool to the surface to both avoid the local gouging and enlarge the cutting width. However, there have been no reported works on iso-scallop height five-axis tool path generation for a non-spherical tool, and, in this paper, we present one. Specifically, we first define and construct two fields on the surface to be machined-the collision-free tool orientation field (vector) and the iso-scallop height distance field (scalar). The iso-lines of the scalar field and their associated tool orientation field vectors then naturally serve as potential iso-scallop height five-axis tool paths, and we present a propagation-based algorithm to construct the desired tool path from the iso-lines. The computer simulation and physical cutting experiments confirm that everywhere on the surface, except maybe near the saddle curves of the scalar filed, the scallop height is exactly the given threshold. By adding the saddle curves as extra tool paths, the final machined surface then is assured of the required scallop height requirement.

유아교육 전공 체험 학습을 통한 고교생의 진로 인식 탐색

Purpose: This study was conducted to explore high school students’ career and major recognition through major experiential learning.
 Methods: S high school students who participated in an “Open University” program at C university in Chungcheongnamdo were targeted. Participants were asked to write a journal about their departmental and major experiential learning. The collected data were categorized, and content analysis wasconducted.
 Results: First, the high school students who participated in the major experiential learning expressed both astonishment and perplexity while re-evaluating Childhood Education. Second, high school students who participated in the study examined their propensities and careers in earnest. Although Childhood Education was not their current desired career path, students discovered their interests and the recognition that it could fit with their individual propensities emerged. Furthermore, student sreflected on their past inappropriate discipline and education in Physical Education classes and recognized the value and importance of appropriate movement education.
 Conclusion: First, opportunities for experiential majors linked to high schools and universities should be continuously provided to help high school students. Second, to develop high school students' career awareness, confidence enhancement and appropriate guidance at school are required.

Generation Mean Analysis for quantitative traits in the population of AKDRMS 21-54 x YH3 cross of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Aim: To study the genetic components of inheritance for 12 quantitative traits which leads into genetic improvement by identification of gene actions for yield and yield related traits. Methodology: Twelve quantitative traits for yield and yield attributing traits were studied at Agricultural College, Bapatla during Rabi 2021-22 deploying Hayman's five parameter model generation mean analysis in estimating the gene effects in the population (P1, P2, F1, F2 and F3) generated from the cross AKDRMS 21-54 x YH3. Estimated mean effects affirm the existence of significant variation in the traits studied. Significance of either one or both, scales C or D inferred the existence of epistatic interaction for the traits studied. Digenic non-allelic interaction model explained the gene action of the traits studied in the present investigation. Results: The generation mean for all the traits showed the importance of both additive and dominance type of gene effects. Among the epistatic gene effects, the additive x additive gene interaction was reported predominant for shoot length, plant height, flag leaf length, spikelet fertility and flag test weight. The gene interaction is associated with homozygosity, therefore, pedigree method of breeding may be adopted for isolation of desirable lines, while for all other traits, along with grain yield per plant, dominance x dominance gene interaction was found to be pre-dominant. The gene interaction is not fixable, hence, population improvement approaches, would be effective. Interpretation: Dominance x dominance gene interaction was predominant for grain yield per plant and majority of yield component traits studied coupled with duplicate epistasis, infers to takeup population improvement approaches, such as bi-parental mating and recurrent selection, followed by isolation of purelines in later generations for competent improvement. Key words: Epistasis, Five parameter model, Generation Mean Analysis, Quantitative traits, Rice