Foundation For Work Research Articles

Meinen, Deuten, Verstehen

Abstract Meaning, Interpreting, Understanding In his Kritik der verstehenden Vernunft (2018), Vittorio Hösle attempts to develop a comprehensive foundation for the so-called Geisteswissenschaften (humanities). The basis for this foundational work is a conception of understanding that ties all understanding to the interpretative grasp of what we and others mean by the use of certain symbols or linguistic expressions. The present essay argues that this makes Hösle’s approach vulnerable to a particular form of skepticism, as it is expounded by Saul Kripke in his Wittgenstein on Rules and Private Language (1982). The first part of the essay outlines this skeptical challenge and its implications for Hösle’s conception of understanding. The second part advances the argument that this conception's vulnerability to skepticism undermines its viability as a foundation for the humanities. Instead, it invites the kind of skepticism described in Kripke’s challenge, where understanding itself seems to be impossible. The essay concludes with some tentative suggestions for an alternative conception of understanding that not only avoids this skepticism altogether but also makes room for a way of thinking about the mental that is of independent interest.

Assessing Power and Hierarchy in Cyberspace: An Approach of Power Transition Theory

This study explores the application of Power Transition Theory (PTT) to cyberspace, aiming to establish a comprehensive framework for understanding and measuring cyber power. Utilizing PTT’s national power model, the research treats states as rational and unitary actors, integrating the rational actor model to assess state behavior in cyberspace. The objectives include defining cyber power, developing a novel metric for its evaluation, and categorizing states within a hierarchical structure of cyber power. By analyzing key components such as data resources, digital economic strength, and cyber political capacity, the study provides a nuanced understanding of cyber power dynamics. The results demonstrate that the traditional IR theories retain relevance in the cyber domain, offering a valuable lens for comprehending global cyber governance and geopolitical competition. This foundational work sets the stage for future analyses of power transitions within cyberspace, highlighting the critical interplay between traditional power metrics and emerging digital landscapes.

Implementation Of Value Engineering Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (Ahp) (Case Study: Flyover Construction Project Of Jpl 64 Km 38+897 Across Surabaya – Solo)

The development of infrastructure development in Indonesia is being intensively carried out by the government to meet the needs of the community. Infrastructure development is often faced with various obstacles that can disrupt the project. To ensure the sustainability of the project, it is necessary to apply Value Engineering to identify opportunities for cost savings and solve problems so as to get maximum value without reducing project quality. The purpose of the research is to analyze the structure, determine the alternative, types and construction methods chosen to make the project cost efficient. Value Engineering is applied to the foundation and deck slab work of the Fly Over Replacement Construction Project JPL 64 Km 38-897 Lintas Surabaya-Solo using the AHP method with the help of expert choice. Based on the results of the Value Engineering analysis, an alternative bore pile d-120 foundation was obtained in the foundation work and a change in the cantilever elbow support method in the deck slab work. The cost efficiency results obtained after Value Engineering amounted to Rp15,108,214,225 or 10%.

Real-Time Measurement of a Weak Interaction of a Transcription Factor Motif with a Protein Hub at Single-Molecule Precision.

Transcription factors often interact with other protein cofactors, regulating gene expression. Direct detection of these brief events using existing technologies remains challenging due to their transient nature. In addition, intrinsically disordered domains, intranuclear location, and lack of cofactor-dependent active sites of transcription factors further complicate the quantitative analysis of these critical processes. Here, we create a genetically encoded label-free sensor to identify the interaction between a motif of the MYC transcription factor, a primary cancer driver, and WDR5, a chromatin-associated protein hub. Using an engineered nanopore equipped with this motif, WDR5 is probed through reversible captures and releases in a one-by-one and time-resolved fashion. Our single-molecule kinetic measurements indicate a weak-affinity interaction arising from a relatively slow complex association and a fast dissociation of WDR5 from the tethered motif. Further, we validate this subtle interaction by determinations in an ensemble using single nanodisc-wrapped nanopores immobilized on a biolayer interferometry sensor. This study also provides the proof-of-concept for a sensor that reveals unique recognition signatures of different protein binding sites. Our foundational work may be further developed to produce sensing elements for analytical proteomics and cancer nanomedicine.

Towards dynamic decision-making in government as service organization: insights from systems thinking

Purpose Service organizations operate in an increasingly complex and uncertain context that makes decision-making challenging. Despite well-recognized changes in the operational context of government as service organization, service literature has given surprisingly limited attention to what these changes imply for organizational decision-making. This study aims to face with the lack of fit of decision-making theorizing with the reality, within which most service practitioners operate, in order to foster the relevance of decision-making in service research and properly approach the false assumptions and misguided instructions for action. Design/methodology/approach To rectify the situation, the purpose of this paper is to advance a more holistic understanding of decision-making in government as service organization. The authors do so by reviewing the sparse, though insightful, prior literature on decision-making in service research and identifying four foundational assumptions of decision-making in the service context, that radically differ from the traditional assumptions of decision-making within the wider management literature. Findings The authors contribute to service research by further advancing the emerging dynamic understanding of decision-making by developing eight systems thinking-informed research propositions and a connected research agenda. In doing so, the paper offers the essential ground work that can revitalize the field of service management and equip it for facing the challenges that government as service organization is encountering in the 21st century. Originality/value The formulated eight research propositions demonstrate that decision-making in a government as service organization occurs within complex adaptive systems composed of multiple subsystems and is characterized by a high degree of unpredictability. It is a process influenced by multiple actors part of the system and subsystems, through multiple feedback loops, where the implications of prior decisions inform the future decisions.

Waves of Colonization and Gene Flow in a Great Speciator.

Secondary contact between previously allopatric lineages offers a test of reproductive isolating mechanisms that may have accrued in isolation. Such instances of contact can produce stable hybrid zones-where reproductive isolation can further develop via reinforcement or phenotypic displacement-or result in the lineages merging. Ongoing secondary contact is most visible in continental systems, where steady input from parental taxa can occur readily. In oceanic island systems, however, secondary contact between closely related species of birds is relatively rare. When observed on sufficiently small islands, relative to population size, secondary contact likely represents a recent phenomenon. Here, we examine the dynamics of a group of birds whose apparent widespread hybridization influenced Ernst Mayr's foundational work on allopatric speciation: the whistlers of Fiji (Aves: Pachycephala). We demonstrate two clear instances of secondary contact within the Fijian archipelago, one resulting in a hybrid zone on a larger island, and the other resulting in a wholly admixed population on a smaller, adjacent island. We leveraged low genome-wide divergence in the hybrid zone to pinpoint a single genomic region associated with observed phenotypic differences. We use genomic data to present a new hypothesis that emphasizes rapid plumage evolution and post-divergence gene flow.

On knowledge and economic transformation: Joseph Schumpeter and Alfred Marshall on the theory of restless capitalism

ABSTRACT Joseph Schumpeter and Alfred Marshall pioneered the study of innovation and entrepreneurship as key forces of economic development. This article offers an overview of key ideas developed by these influential economists in works published between 1890 and 1944. We argue that while our own time presents a partly different set of challenges, opportunities and institutional conditions than those of that age, many insights championed in their work remain highly relevant for our time and day. Noting how analysis of markets is relatively absent from some of the strands of contemporary innovation research, we suggest that re-visiting the foundational work of Schumpeter and Marshall can help stimulate deep insights relevant to societal transformation and the potential role of technical innovations.

Transatlantic Reprinting and the Authorizing Efforts of British Publishers

ABSTRACT DeSpain reviews The Transatlantic Materials of American Literature: Publishing US Writing in Britain, 1830–1860 by Katie McGettigan, published by University of Massachusetts Press. McGettigan’s book builds upon the foundational work of Meredith McGill’s American Literature and the Culture of Reprinting (2003) to argue that British publishers helped expand the scope and audience for American literature by creating editions of American authors’ works that lent them greater credibility. McGettigan’s study offers in-depth case studies of British editions of hallmark American authors, including Longfellow, Poe, Melville, and Lydia Huntley Sigourney. Drawing on a comprehensive body of research into publishers’ circulars, advertisements, and archives, McGettigan covers multiple media forms, including deluxe editions, the cheap series, the gift book, and the magazine. DeSpain argues McGettigan’s book is an important contribution that reimagines the scholarly narrative about transatlantic reprinting as one of collaboration rather than contest. McGettigan’s most important contribution is her extensive analysis of how the cheap series created a greater global context for literature, which will prove fruitful for new scholarship about the distribution and reception of the cheap series.

Empirical Investigation of Multilayered Framework for Predicting Academic Performance in Open and Distance Learning

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in open and distance learning (ODL) necessitates comprehensive frameworks to evaluate its educational implications. Existing models lack a robust multilayered analysis of AI’s impact on educational outcomes in ODL. This study introduces a Multilayered Process Framework designed to predict academic performance in ODL and enhance inclusivity, aligning with UNESCO’s 2030 educational goals. The current research employed structural equation modelling (SEM) to analyse the impact of AI adoption, focusing on the initial layers of the process framework. Preliminary validation of the SEM framework showed a good model fit, with a Chi-square/df ratio of 2.34, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) of 0.045, and Comparative Fit Index (CFI) of 0.97, indicating the model’s effectiveness in capturing the complexities of AI impacts on student outcomes. This framework provides a structured, multilayered approach to understanding AI’s role in education, facilitating the development of equitable and accessible AI-driven educational technologies. It lays the foundational work for expanding research into predictive analytics with a support vector machine (SVM), aiming to universalise quality education and ensure global educational equity. This study highlights the practical implications for integrating AI in educational settings and suggests future research directions to enhance the adaptability and effectiveness of AI-driven educational interventions.

Management of Open Fractures of the Extremities and Pediatrics.

The modern management of open fractures was established after the foundational work of Gustilo and Anderson, but we continue to strive to determine the optimal treatment of open fractures to diminish the risk of infection. The ideal timing of antibiotics, presentation to the operating room, and timing of procedures such as flap coverage continue to be investigated with incremental changes recommended over the years. This article aims to provide the most recent review of the literature regarding the timing and management of both upper and lower extremity open fractures, pediatric open fractures, current topics of controversy, and the data supporting current treatment recommendations.

Influence of the scour phenomenon on the degradation of structures: the case of bridges in Algeria

The scouring of river piles has been the main historical cause of damage and destruction of bridges over the past centuries. Today, the situation is better throughout the world due to modern techniques for carrying out work in the river (foundation work) and the ability to carry out long-distance work, reducing the number of piers in the river. But the scouring of bridge piers remains one of the most frequently recorded degradations in our country. Scouring of bridge piers is a serious issue that can threaten the stability of a bridge. It refers to the erosion of sediment (think sand, gravel, rock) around the base of a bridge pier caused by flowing water. Scour holes can undermine the foundation of the pier and expose the foundation of the pier, reducing its ability to support the weight of the bridge. This can lead to cracks in the pier itself, or even complete collapse in severe cases. On the other hand, scour is the erosion of soil around a bridge pier by flowing water. It's a major concern for bridge safety in Algeria, especially as many bridges were built before stricter seismic codes were introduced in 2010. Scour can weaken the foundation of a bridge pier, making it more susceptible to collapse during earthquakes or floods. The aim of this work is to try to study the phenomenon from different angles in order to clearly define the problem in the Algerian context, based on the analysis of several cases of work subject to scouring.

Using community-based participatory research methods to build the foundation for an equitable integrated health data system within a Canadian urban context

Health inequalities amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic have disproportionately affected racialized and equity-deserving communities across Canada. In the Municipality of Peel, existing data, while limited, illustrates that individuals from racialized and equity-deserving communities continue to suffer, receive delayed care, and die prematurely. In response to these troubling statistics, grassroots community advocacy has called on health systems leaders in Peel to work with community and non-profit organizations to address the critical data and infrastructure gaps that hinder addressing the social determinants of health in the region. To support these advocacy efforts, we used a community-based participatory research approach to understand how we might build a data collection ecosystem across sectors, alongside community residents and service providers, to accurately capture the data about the social determinants of health. This approach involved developing a community engagement council, defining the problem with the community, mapping what data is actively collected and what is excluded, and understanding experiences of sociodemographic data collection from community members and service providers. Guided by community voices, our study focused on sociodemographic data collection in the primary care context and identified which service providers use and collect these data, how data are used in their work, the facilitators and barriers to data use and collection. Additionally, we gained insight into how sociodemographic data collection could be respectful, safe, and properly governed from the perspectives of community members. From this study, we identify a set of eight recommendations for sociodemographic data collection and highlight limitations. This foundational community-based work will inform future research in establishing data governance in partnership with diverse and equity-deserving communities.

Fluid-driven aseismic fault slip with permeability enhancement and dilatancy

Injection-induced seismicity and aseismic slip often involve the reactivation of long-dormant faults, which may have extremely low permeability prior to slip. In contrast, most previous models of fluid-driven aseismic slip have assumed linear pressure diffusion in a fault zone of constant permeability and porosity. Slip occurs within a frictional shear crack whose edge can either lag or lead pressure diffusion, depending on the dimensionless stress-injection parameter that quantifies the prestress and injection conditions. Here, we extend this foundational work by accounting for permeability enhancement and dilatancy, assumed to occur instantaneously upon the onset of slip. The fault zone ahead of the crack is assumed to be impermeable, so fluid flow and pressure diffusion are confined to the interior, slipped part of the crack. The confinement of flow increases the pressurization rate and reduction of fault strength, facilitating crack growth even for severely understressed faults. Suctions from dilatancy slow crack growth, preventing propagation beyond the hydraulic diffusion length. Our new two-dimensional and three-dimensional solutions can facilitate the interpretation of induced seismicity data sets. They are especially relevant for faults in initially low permeability formations, such as shale layers serving as caprock seals for geologic carbon storage, or for hydraulic stimulation of geothermal reservoirs. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Induced seismicity in coupled subsurface systems’.

Isometries to Analyze the Stability of Norm-Based Functional Equations in p-Uniformly Convex Spaces

Over the past two decades, significant advancements have been made in understanding the stability according to Hyers–Ulam involving different functional equations (FEs). This study investigates the generalized stability of norm-based (norm-additive) FEs within the framework of arbitrary (noncommutative) groups and p-uniformly convex spaces. Specifically, we analyze two key functional equations, ∥η(gh)∥=∥η(g)+η(h)∥ and ∥η(gh−1)∥=∥η(g)−η(h)∥foreveryg,h∈G, where (G,·) denotes an arbitrary group and B is considered to be a p-uniformly convex space. The surjectivity of the function η:G→B is a critical assumption in our analysis. Drawing upon the foundational works of L. Cheng and M. Sarfraz, this paper applies the large perturbation method tailored for p-uniformly convex spaces, where p≥1. This study extends previous research by offering a deeper exploration of the conditions under which these functional equations demonstrate Hyers–Ulam stability. In this study, the additive functional equation demonstrates a fundamental form of symmetry, where the order of operands does not affect the results. This symmetry under permutation of arguments is crucial for the analysis of stability. In the context of norm-additive FEs, this stability criterion investigates how small changes in the inputs of a functional equation affect the outputs, especially when the function is expected to follow an additive form.

Advancing Genetic Testing in Kidney Diseases: Report From a National Kidney Foundation Working Group

About 37 million people in the United States have chronic kidney disease, a disease that encompasses diseases of multiple causes. About 10% or more of kidney diseases in adults and about 70% of selected chronic kidney diseases in children are expected to be explained by genetic causes. Despite the advances in genetic testing and an increasing understanding of the genetic bases of certain kidney diseases, genetic testing in nephrology lags behind other medical fields. More understanding of the benefits and logistics of genetic testing is needed to advance the implementation of genetic testing in chronic kidney diseases. Accordingly, the National Kidney Foundation convened a Working Group of experts with diverse expertise in genetics, nephrology, and allied fields to develop recommendations for genetic testing for monogenic disorders and to identify genetic risk factors for oligogenic and polygenic causes of kidney diseases. Algorithms for clinical decision making on genetic testing and a road map for advancing genetic testing in kidney diseases were generated. An important aspect of this initiative was the use of a modified Delphi process to reach group consensus on the recommendations. The recommendations and resources described herein provide support to nephrologists and allied health professionals to advance the use of genetic testing for diagnosis and screening of kidney diseases.

Assessment of Electronic Health Literacy Among Filipino Americans.

Health literacy requires skills of reading, understanding, and analyzing text, numbers, graphs, and diagrams to make well-informed decisions. The increase advancement in technologies has made health information accessible in electronic format. Individuals must apply health literacy in navigating through health information resources on the Internet. Filipino Americans originating from a diverse background are often underreported and underrepresented in health research. The study aim was to examine electronic health literacy among Filipino Americans using the Electronic Health Literacy Scale survey. The descriptive study recruited 103 participants. Overall Filipino Americans are electronic health literate, with a mean of 32.4 ( SD = 4.6). Females ( P = .017), those with graduate or professional degrees ( P = .004) and working in healthcare ( P = .040) tend to have higher electronic health literacy. The study provided valuable insight on electronic health literacy on a population that is underrepresented in research. The descriptive data gained from the study lays foundational work to help decrease health inequities experienced by Filipino Americans.

Self-supervised denoising at low signal-to-noise ratios: A seismic-while-drilling application

Self-supervised blind-mask denoising networks overcome the challenge of requiring clean training targets by employing a mask on raw noisy data to form the input for training while using the unmasked version as the network's target. The application of such networks has shown considerable strength in suppressing both random and coherent noise in seismic data. However, because such networks need to figure out the target (clean signal) on their own, they struggle at low signal-to-noise ratios. Seismic-while-drilling acquisitions result in seismic data of very low quality because the drilling operation introduces significant noise propagating from the rig site. Due to its consistent and low-frequency nature, it is hard to design a noise mask to hide the rig noise from the network without also hiding useful information required for predicting the signal. However, by reframing the task from a noise suppression to a noise prediction task and utilizing a mask to hide the signal from the network, the rig noise can be predicted accurately. Therefore, the difference between the network's prediction and the raw data results in common bit (equivalent to shot, but continuous) gathers with a significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio due to the removal of rig noise. Illustrated on six common bit gathers, this reversed methodology is shown to separate the rig noise and signal, even in their shared bandwidth. The additional use of explainable artificial intelligence is investigated as a means of avoiding the manual step of creating the signal mask, providing promising results. This study lays the ground work for suppression of high-amplitude, consistent noises, such as those arising from well site operations like fluid injection procedures for carbon sequestration or geothermal energy production purposes.

PHYSICAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL DYNAMICS: A SOCIOPHYSICS PERSPECTIVE

Sociophysics is an interdisciplinary field that uses methods from the physical sciences to study human behavior and interactions. It includes mathematical and computational techniques such as big data analysis, statistical modeling, network theory, and simulations. It analyzes complex systems to understand the dynamics of society. Historically, sociophysics emerged from applying statistical mechanics and thermodynamics to social phenomena. Foundational work has modeled opinion dynamics, crowd behavior, and information diffusion in social networks, and provided insights into consensus, polarization, and social stability. The basic concepts are based on treating individuals as agents, using network theory, and applying statistical mechanics and dynamical systems. Methods include big data analysis, statistical modeling, simulations, and network analysis. Future research will aim to integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, utilize real-time data, and apply findings to public policy. Sociophysics aims to improve our understanding of social systems and solve today's society's complex problems. In this study, the field of sociophysics, its historical development, studies in the literature, and methods were generally discussed.

Beyond the Organic: Rupturing Maternal Constructs and Female Cyborg Identity in S.B. Divya’s <i>Machinehood</i>

This research paper delves into the nuanced portrayal of female cyborg identity and its intersection with motherhood in S.B. Divya’s novel Machinehood. Drawing inspiration from Donna Haraway’s foundational work “A Cyborg Manifesto,” we examine how Divya’s narrative navigates the complex interplay between technology and gender within the context of a futuristic society. Haraway’s concept of cyborgism serves as a theoretical framework to analyse the multifaceted nature of female cyborg characters in Machinehood. The paper explores how these characters negotiate the boundaries between the organic and the artificial, challenging traditional notions of femininity and motherhood. Haraway envisions the cyborg as a hybrid entity with the potential to subvert normative categories that becomes a lens through which we scrutinise the female cyborgs’ agency in shaping their identities and relationships. Central to our analysis is the examination of motherhood in the context of technological augmentation. In conclusion, the present paper aims to contribute to the evolving area of scholarship on science fiction literature, feminist theory, and cyborg studies. By leveraging Haraway’s ground breaking ideas, we illuminate the significance of female cyborg identity and its portrayal in Machinehood, shedding light on the transformative potential of technology in reshaping traditional gender norms and familial structures.

Unraveling the enigma of root-knot nematodes: from origins to advanced management strategies in agriculture.

Integrated management strategies, including novel nematicides and resilient cultivars, offer sustainable solutions to combat root-knot nematodes, crucial for safeguarding global agriculture against persistent threats. Root-knot nematodes (RKN) pose a significant threat to a diverse range of host plants, with their obligatory endoparasitic nature leading to substantial agricultural losses. RKN spend much of their lives inside or in contact by secreting plant cell wall-modifying enzymes resulting in the giant cell development for establishing host-parasite relationships. Additionally, inflicting physical harm to host plants, RKN also contributes to disease complexes creation with fungi and bacteria. This review comprehensively explores the origin, history, distribution, and physiological races of RKN, emphasizing their economic impact on plants through gall formation. Management strategies, ranging from cultural and physical to biological and chemical controls, along with resistance mechanisms and marker-assisted selection, are explored. While recognizing the limitations of traditional nematicides, recent breakthroughs in non-fumigant alternatives like fluensulfone, spirotetramat, and fluopyram offer promising avenues for sustainable RKN management. Despite the success of resistance mechanisms like the Mi gene, challenges persist, prompting the need for integrative approaches to tackle Mi-virulent isolates. In conclusion, the review stresses the importance of innovative and resilient control measures for sustainable agriculture, emphasizing ongoing research to address evolving challenges posed by RKN. The integration of botanicals, resistant cultivars, and biological controls, alongside advancements in non-fumigant nematicides, contributes novel insights to the field, laying the ground work for future research directions to ensure the long-term sustainability of agriculture in the face of persistent RKN threats.