Emergence Of Concept Research Articles

Making a World of Climate Insecurity: The Threat Multiplier Frame and the US National Security Community

Abstract How do dominant framings of climate change and security shape the future trajectory of climate security? This article answers these questions by analyzing the dominant threat multiplier framing of climate change and security in the American national security context. Using the emergent worldmaking concept, it argues that American national security organizations’ intellectual and physical responses to questions of climate security risk creating a dismal and limited future in which national security systems adopt a reactive and managerial posture toward the effects of climate change. The key effect of this frame is to reorient questions of climate and security around the priorities and agendas of national security organizations rather than at the sources of need and instability.

Mitochondrial plasticity: An emergent concept in neuronal plasticity and memory

Mitochondria are classically viewed as ‘on demand’ energy suppliers to neurons in support of their activity. In order to adapt to a wide range of demands, mitochondria need to be highly dynamic and capable of adjusting their metabolic activity, shape, and localization. Although these plastic properties give them a central support role in basal neuronal physiology, recent lines of evidence point toward a role for mitochondria in the regulation of high-order cognitive functions such as memory formation. In this review, we discuss the interplay between mitochondrial function and neural plasticity in sustaining memory formation at the molecular and cellular levels. First, we explore the global significance of mitochondria in memory formation. Then, we will detail the memory-relevant cellular and molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial plasticity. Finally, we focus on those mitochondrial functions, including but not limited to ATP production, that give mitochondria their pivotal role in memory formation. Altogether, this review highlights the central role of mitochondrial structural and functional plasticity in supporting and regulating neuronal plasticity and memory.

Synergy as the Failure of Distributivity.

The concept of emergence, or synergy in its simplest form, is widely used but lacks a rigorous definition. Our work connects information and set theory to uncover the mathematical nature of synergy as the failure of distributivity. For the trivial case of discrete random variables, we explore whether and how it is possible to get more information out of lesser parts. The approach is inspired by the role of set theory as the fundamental description of part-whole relations. If taken unaltered, synergistic behavior is forbidden by the set-theoretic axioms. However, random variables are not a perfect analogy of sets: we formalize the distinction, highlighting a single broken axiom-union/intersection distributivity. Nevertheless, it remains possible to describe information using Venn-type diagrams. The proposed multivariate theory resolves the persistent self-contradiction of partial information decomposition and reinstates it as a primary route toward a rigorous definition of emergence. Our results suggest that non-distributive variants of set theory may be used to describe emergent physical systems.

Interstitial Cystitis Chatter: A Qualitative Evaluation of Bladder Instillation Online

To qualitatively assess the perception and experiences of bladder instillation for interstitial cystitis among women on Reddit, a widely used anonymous social media platform. "r/interstitialcystitis," a Subreddit with >27,000 subscribers, was queried for bladder instillation among women with interstitial cystitis in November 2023. Posts were analyzed qualitatively by 3 independent researchers. Grounded theory principles were applied to derive preliminary themes. These themes were then used to develop emergent themes. Sixty-three posts with 637 responses published between 2022-2023 were analyzed. Qualitative analysis yielded 4 themes: (1) IC/BPS anxiety and depression, (2) limited treatment options for IC/BPS pain, (3) exhausting all IC/BPS treatment options before bladder instillation, (4) bladder instillation ineffectiveness for IC/BPS pain. Three emergent concepts were derived: (1) a prevailing sense of desperation for relief among women with IC/BPS, (2) women are fearful and apprehensive about bladder instillation, (3) a perception of bladder instillation as the final recourse for women suffering from IC/BPS. This study represents the first evaluation of bladder instillation as a therapeutic from a social media community focused exclusively on IC/BPS. These results capture patient's experiences with nonurological associated syndromes and indicate a role for physicians to address mental health concerns in patients with IC/BPS, in addition to opportunities to improve patient education on bladder instillations.

Experiences and barriers with home bladder manometry in the pediatric neurogenic bladder population: A qualitative study

Patients with neurogenic bladder are at risk of developing renal deterioration secondary to increased intravesical pressures. To date, urodynamics is the gold standard test to properly assess bladder dynamics. Home bladder manometry is a low-cost and simple method to evaluate bladder pressures and volumes during clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). Previous literature has shown that home manometry measurements correlate with urodynamic pressures and hydronephrosis on ultrasound. However, no studies have evaluated the challenges and barriers faced by caregivers with the process. Our objective was to investigate the experiences and perceptions of caregivers, healthcare providers, and nurses with home manometry. We conducted semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with 23 stakeholders. Stakeholders included caregivers of pediatric spina bifida neurogenic bladder patients, providers, and nursing staff. Grounded Theory Methods were used to analyze transcripts and identify preliminary concepts that described attitudes towards the current home bladder manometry process. Interview participants were composed of 10 (43%) caregivers, 9 (40%) healthcare providers, and 4 (17%) nursing staff. The mean age was 39 years (range 26-66). The four themes identified during discussions were perspectives on home manometry, patient-specific characteristics, challenges with home manometry, and learning experience. All caregivers expressed understanding and agreement with the purpose and importance of home manometry. Emergent concepts identified as targets for improvement were the need for standardization of teaching processes with focus on hands-on practice, understanding of patient characteristics and the home environment that make the process more challenging, and the need for appropriate materials including extension tubing and catheters. Home bladder manometry is a feasible and beneficial way for neurogenic bladder patients to monitor their bladder pressures and volumes at home. This qualitative study offers valuable insights into the experiences and viewpoints of caregivers, healthcare providers, and nurses regarding both home manometry and the general experience with CIC.

What sexual well-being really means for older adults: a systematic review of the literature

ABSTRACT Sexual well-being (SWB) is a significant and understudied element of older adults’ health and well-being, and quality of life. The goal of this systematic review is to identify the researched topics in this field and assess the quality of the research while minimizing bias through a peer-to-peer review process. We searched several databases, including the Cochrane Database, Psy-Redalyc, PubMed, Scielo, Scopus and Google Scholar, resulting in 181,278 references. Ultimately, 62 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. These studies involved over 46,500 individuals with ages ranging from 55 to 99, from twenty-one different countries. Our study identified a variety of variables under the concept umbrella of SWB, including sexual satisfaction, sexual health, sexual interest, sexual experiences and behaviors, sexual intimacy, expressions of love and attitudes toward sexuality in different countries. The studies reveal diverse perspectives on the determinants, expressions, and challenges associated with SWB in old age. Common themes such as the importance of sexual satisfaction, intimate relationships, and the rejection of a universal decline in sexual interest, challenge ageist stereotypes. The emergent concepts, including the linking of physical to emotional health, the impact of technology, the inclusion of LGBTQIA+, older couples and people now in their 80s and 90s underscore the multifaceted nature of SWB in later life. As societies continue to age, embracing a more inclusive and nuanced approach to research and interventions will be pivotal in enhancing the overall well-being for older individuals.

Operationalizing the social capital of collaborative environmental governance with network metrics

Abstract Background
Social capital is frequently invoked as a reason for engaging in collaborative environmental governance. Yet we have a limited understanding of how collaborative environmental governance mobilizes different types of social capital and how the advantages and costs of social capital accrue for different groups of people. Explicit measures of social capital, such as through social network methods, will help build an understanding of how social capital facilitates collective processes and for whom.
Methods
We reviewed highly cited articles in Web of Science and Scopus using “social capital” as the search term to identify foundational and emergent social capital concepts. In the context of collaborative environmental governance, we operationalized these social capital concepts with network measures drawn from our expertise and highlighted existing empirical relationships between such network measures and collaborative outcomes.
Review results
We identified two different camps of social capital concepts - one based on social relations that could be readily operationalized with social network measures and the other based on actor characteristics that can further contextualize network data. Relational social capital concepts included social relations among actors; the collective social setting in which relations are embedded; and the advantages and costs that social capital confers to individuals and the collective. Social capital concepts based on actor characteristics included socio-cognitions (e.g., trust, norms, identification with a group, shared meanings) and community engagement (e.g., group membership, civic participation, volunteerism). Empirical evidence using social network approaches to measure social capital reveals patterns in relationship building that influence collaborative and other sustainability outcomes.
Discussion
Social network approaches described here may help define and quantify the social capital mobilized by collaborative governance. Additional research is necessary to track the social capital of collaboratives over time, link it to outcomes, and better understand the social justice implications of collaborative governance.

A Case Demonstration of the Open Health Natural Language Processing Toolkit From the National COVID-19 Cohort Collaborative and the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery Programs for a Natural Language Processing System for COVID-19 or Postacute Sequelae of SARS CoV-2 Infection: Algorithm Development and Validation.

A wealth of clinically relevant information is only obtainable within unstructured clinical narratives, leading to great interest in clinical natural language processing (NLP). While a multitude of approaches to NLP exist, current algorithm development approaches have limitations that can slow the development process. These limitations are exacerbated when the task is emergent, as is the case currently for NLP extraction of signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). This study aims to highlight the current limitations of existing NLP algorithm development approaches that are exacerbated by NLP tasks surrounding emergent clinical concepts and to illustrate our approach to addressing these issues through the use case of developing an NLP system for the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and PASC. We used 2 preexisting studies on PASC as a baseline to determine a set of concepts that should be extracted by NLP. This concept list was then used in conjunction with the Unified Medical Language System to autonomously generate an expanded lexicon to weakly annotate a training set, which was then reviewed by a human expert to generate a fine-tuned NLP algorithm. The annotations from a fully human-annotated test set were then compared with NLP results from the fine-tuned algorithm. The NLP algorithm was then deployed to 10 additional sites that were also running our NLP infrastructure. Of these 10 sites, 5 were used to conduct a federated evaluation of the NLP algorithm. An NLP algorithm consisting of 12,234 unique normalized text strings corresponding to 2366 unique concepts was developed to extract COVID-19 or PASC signs and symptoms. An unweighted mean dictionary coverage of 77.8% was found for the 5 sites. The evolutionary and time-critical nature of the PASC NLP task significantly complicates existing approaches to NLP algorithm development. In this work, we present a hybrid approach using the Open Health Natural Language Processing Toolkit aimed at addressing these needs with a dictionary-based weak labeling step that minimizes the need for additional expert annotation while still preserving the fine-tuning capabilities of expert involvement.

A Retrospective Analysis of Cultural Patriarchy in Majid Rafizadeh’s A God Who Hates Women: A Woman’s Journey Through Oppression

Cultural patriarchy is the male dominance practiced in the name of culture in a society. Majid Rafizadeh, an Iranian American author, businessman, political scientist, and academician, is known for his distinguished writings on gender equality in Middle Eastern regions. His famous novels are A God Who Hates Women: A woman’s journey through oppression and My Story of Child Marriage. The present study has chosen Majid Rafizadeh’s autobiographical novel, A God Who Hates Women: A woman’s journey through oppression, to determine a retrospective analysis of cultural patriarchy. The methodology of the present study uses textual analysis from qualitative research to analyze the selected novel. The current research emphasizes that the oppression of women is due to male dominance. Hence, the culture of that particular society instills this dominance in the minds of men. It is evident in the selected novel. Society’s culture determines the roles and performances of men and women in both private and public areas. Thus, culture influences people’s collective consciousness. Religion, on the other hand, instructs the people to follow a code of conduct to protect their cultural heritage. Furthermore, the current study analyzes the chosen novel using Judith Butler’s gender performativity theory and Raymond William’s dominant, residual, and emergent cultural concepts. The current research is an attempt to analyze cultural patriarchy to propose a solution for achieving gender equality in society.

Origin of anticlastic curvature in a cellular metaplate

Generating a three-dimensional curved surface from flat sheets using simple mechanical actuation is a crucial step in developing functional shape-shifting materials. Among the methodologies relying on emergent concepts, the traditional cellular solid-based plate, with its highly porous structures, provides a versatile tool for creating doubly curved surfaces through planar bending actuation. Leveraging a combination of digital fabrication, physical experiments, finite element simulation (FES), and linear elasticity theory, we demonstrate how such a cellular metaplate can exhibit doubly curved shapes. By extending Lamb's classical theory of the anticlastic effect in thin elastic plates to our cellular metaplate, we develop a scaling law for the crossover length below which the doubly curved surface appears as bc∼bLamb/ρ, where bLamb∼Rw, with R being the externally imposed radius of curvature, w being the plate thickness, and ρ being the relative density of a given cellular geometry. The prediction is validated by our experiment and FES. The proposed framework is versatile and emphasizes the fundamental physical principles governing the mechanics of shape-morphing surfaces. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

The coherent emergentist concept of machines; or why the popular concept of artificial intelligence is a materialist anthropomorphism

The concept of artificial intelligence is very popular in both science and culture today. Similarly, the concept of emergence has become quite popular during the last decades in the sciences. For example, it is commonplace in the case of machines to speak of an overall blueprint and several different material components; thus, we can regard the blueprint as a kind of comprehensive emergent additive. However, is it true then that the machine, due to this plus component, is not material? Practically nobody wants to acknowledge that. Still, in practice, there are no machines without added blueprints. In my paper, based on Samuel Alexander’s original concept of emergence, I will investigate these problems and contradictions, which stem from the materialist interpretation of the concept, and I will present a coherent emergentist concept of machines, according to which machines are clearly a unique kind between simple material things and living beings.

Sustainable Entrepreneurial Orientation (SEO), and Organizational Performance: A Gender-Moderated Perspective in Peru

Sustainable Entrepreneurial Orientation (SEO) is an emergent concept and a complex dynamic capability that could explain the behavioral predisposition of individuals and organizations to contribute to sustainable development. This study examined the impact of decision-makers' SEO on the organizational performance of their companies. In addition, the study evaluated the moderating role of gender in the relationship between SEO and performance. The approach of the study was explanatory and non-experimental. It used a PLS-SEM technique on a sample of 121 decision-makers of micro and small enterprises operating in different sectors in Peru, a highly entrepreneurial country in Latin America. After validating the SEO measurement from the individual perspective, the results showed that SEO does affect performance. However, the moderating role of gender on the SEO-performance relationship was not empirically validated. This study contributes to the literature on sustainable entrepreneurship by confirming that the phenomenon of SEO, typically assessed at the organizational level, is also an important antecedent of organizational performance when viewed from the individual perspective. Although the moderating effect of gender was not proven, this study provides insightful directions on the SEO-performance relationship. Thus, by validating the SEO instrument that considers its components from an individual perspective, the literature on this strategic orientation has been expanded.

Essential Roles of PIEZO1 in Mammalian Cardiovascular System: From Development to Diseases.

Mechanical force is the basis of cardiovascular development, homeostasis, and diseases. The perception and response of mechanical force by the cardiovascular system are crucial. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating mechanotransduction in the cardiovascular system are not yet understood. PIEZO1, a novel transmembrane mechanosensitive cation channel known for its regulation of touch sensation, has been found to be widely expressed in the mammalian cardiovascular system. In this review, we elucidate the role and mechanism of PIEZO1 as a mechanical sensor in cardiovascular development, homeostasis, and disease processes, including embryo survival, angiogenesis, cardiac development repair, vascular inflammation, lymphangiogenesis, blood pressure regulation, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, ventricular remodeling, and heart failure. We further summarize chemical molecules targeting PIEZO1 for potential translational applications. Finally, we address the controversies surrounding emergent concepts and challenges in future applications.

Emergent concepts in local economic development

This paper identifies and explores the local economic development concepts that are the focus of the most highly cited papers published between 2013 and 2023. It finds that many emergent concepts describe the functioning of modern, knowledge-intensive economies (agglomeration, innovation ecosystems, mission-led innovation, global production networks, Industry 4.0, smart cities and institutions) and the uncertainty they are experiencing (economic resilience, gig economy and work from home). Other concepts deal with the opportunity associated with greater inclusion (female entrepreneurship) and the changing nature of rural economies. Finally, substantial emerging literature tackles the opportunities and challenges associated with the transition to an economy that does not outstrip the planet’s natural resources (clean energy transition, circular economy and degrowth). These ideas do not reconcile easily into a coherent framework. The challenge for local economic development practitioners is to work in partnership with others to integrate these concepts into an approach that makes sense for their communities.

Unmaking-with AI: Tactics for Decentering through Design

This article explores the intersections and resonances between unmaking and more-than-human design. We begin by aligning unmaking with decentering, a fundamental practice in more-than-human design, through their shared movement and materiality. Using Lindström and Ståhl’s notion of the double movement in un/making, we analyze a series of workshops focused on designing with AI, annotating what was un/made and de/centered during the workshops’ activities. Through this analysis, we introduce two key contributions that highlight some opportunities in the diffractive alignment between unmaking and more-than-human design: firstly, the notion of ‘unmaking-with’ as an emergent concept to describe a posthumanist unmaking practice, and secondly, three decentering tactics–situating, materializing, and enacting–that instantiate this practice through design. Finally, we discuss how unmaking can enrich more-than-human design and, conversely, how more-than-human design can help define the epistemological scope of unmaking.

Acoustic Depth

Summary Acoustic depth is an elusive indicator that touches the world of emergencies, or perceptual focus, in a peculiar way. The realm in which these forms of recognition operate indeed links media theory to perception theory and aesthetic reflection. Expressions such as acoustic scene, sound depth or sharpness, or acoustic image when discussing the receptive forms of various microphone models, are just a few cases where imaginative synthesis translates the sense of phenomena arising from the resistance of sensory properties to the structures of linguistic formalization. The language of media is full of these references, which seem to refer to a common sense that emerges in the differentiation of perceptual channels, but is rarely made explicit in a clear manner. To understand acoustic depht’s nature, we can use the concept of emergence: every time we hear a sound, that acoustic process is always surrounded by a myriad of small sounds that interact with it. The notion of emergence can be applied to anything present in the surrounding environment. It can be applied to any configuration that breaks the homogeneity of a perceptual field. So, we can analyze the complexity of this synthetic formation by tracing it back to increasingly simpler synthetic planes. When talking about composition, synthesis, and association, it has already the results of compositional operations and which provided the ultimate or primary material – either term suffices, depending on the direction we choose to take. These are essential factors in spatial orientation processes, but they are structurally opaque: we’ll work on three examples taken from classical music, ethnomusicology, and hearing aids.

A comprehensive analysis of real options in solar photovoltaic projects: A cluster-based approach

Solar photovoltaic (PV) projects are pivotal in addressing climate change and fostering a sustainable energy future. However, the complex landscape of renewable energy investments, characterized by high upfront costs, market uncertainties, and evolving technologies, demands innovative evaluation methods. The Real Options Approach has emerged as a powerful tool, offering strategic flexibility in decision-making under uncertainty. This paper comprehensively analyzes the application of real options for evaluating solar photovoltaic projects in 2008–2023. Analysis of document descriptors (author keywords, index keywords, and noun phrases extracted from titles and abstracts) reveals that the dominant research topics in the last ten years (2014–2023) include investment optimization, strategic analysis, energy policy, optimization of energy generation and investments in wind energy. These descriptors are used to analyze the evolution of research interests on a two-year basis and reveal the yearly evolution of the research topics. Finally, the concept of emergence is used to unveil emerging research trends, providing valuable insights for researchers and practitioners in the renewable energy sector. Ultimately, this work contributes to a deeper understanding of how real options analysis empowers decision-makers to make informed choices in advancing clean and sustainable energy solutions.

BUILDING A BRIDGE BETWEEN “EQUITY AND INGENUITY”: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF ORGANISATIONAL JUSTICE AND INNOVATION AND FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

Innovation is a pivotal driver of competitive advantage and overall organisational success. Despite an extensive body of literature exploring the link between organisational justice (OJ) and innovation, a comprehensive synthesis regarding whether fair treatment within the workplace fosters innovation is notably lacking. This systematic review elucidates a predominantly positive correlation between OJ and various dimensions of innovation, although in some instances suggesting a neutral relationship between the two constructs. Furthermore, the research highlights knowledge sharing as a prominent intermediary variable among scholars. The study contributes significantly by demystifying the nuances of the relationship between OJ and innovation. Second, it introduces a categorisation of OJ and innovation subconstructs and identifies emergent concepts based on cluster analysis. Third, it presents a comprehensive conceptual model linking OJ, innovation, and several variables. Finally, the study offers seven theoretical research directions aimed at deepening our understanding of this topic.

Evaluation of a new teaching-learning sequence on the particulate nature of matter using crystal structures

Although there has been extensive research on students’ understanding of the particulate nature of matter (PNM), there is still a lack of research on contexts that can be used to teach this challenging topic. In a previous design-based research study, the authors developed a teaching-learning sequence (TLS) on the PNM in the context of crystal structures based on 40 student interviews using the method of probing acceptance. Data suggested that salt and snow crystals form an effective context for learning the concept of emergence and therefore gaining a better understanding of the PNM. To test whether the TLS also promotes students’ use of the PNM in a realistic classroom setting, a proof of principle study was conducted. In six eighth-grade classes in Vienna, students’ use of the PNM was assessed with a pretest before they were taught the TLS during four lessons. After the intervention, students were given a post-test. Open-ended questions were coded using evaluative qualitative content analysis so that quantitative analysis could be applied. T-tests comparing the means of students’ scores on both tests show significant improvements in students’ use of the PNM in the post-test. The context of crystal structures seems to be helpful to students, as most of them use the PNM when asked about crystal formation. In addition, in the post-test, students more often accepted the idea of empty space between particles and associated particle motion with temperature. However, when asked about phase changes, most students remained in a continuous conception of matter. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Exploring how a generative AI interprets music

We aim to investigate how closely neural networks (NNs) mimic human thinking. As a step in this direction, we study the behavior of artificial neuron(s) that fire most when the input data score high on some specific emergent concepts. In this paper, we focus on music, where the emergent concepts are those of rhythm, pitch and melody as commonly used by humans. As a black box to pry open, we focus on Google’s MusicVAE, a pre-trained NN that handles music tracks by encoding them in terms of 512 latent variables. We show that several hundreds of these latent variables are “irrelevant” in the sense that can be set to zero with minimal impact on the reconstruction accuracy. The remaining few dozens of latent variables can be sorted by order of relevance by comparing their variance. We show that the first few most relevant variables, and only those, correlate highly with dozens of human-defined measures that describe rhythm and pitch in music pieces, thereby efficiently encapsulating many of these human-understandable concepts in a few nonlinear variables.