Fundamental Changes Research Articles

The Green Production Strategy for the Small and Medium Size Enterprises of The Leather Sandal

Green production is closely related to sustainable development. The SMEs of sandal artisans who use leather raw materials for production processes with a green production perspective must manage leather raw materials and waste not to damage the environment. This paper aims to identify strategies to increase green production in leather sandal artisans' SMEs using the K-Means Cluster and Analytical Hierarchy Process Method. This research found that the best alternative strategy recommended is the evangelist strategy, a fundamental change in SMEs to protect the environment.

Talent Development versus Talent Management: Unblurring the Lines for Workforce and Organizational Performance

The Problem In reference to workforce development for organizational performance, the blurry lines between talent development and talent management have resulted to several HRD scholars interchangeably using talent management in replacement of talent development. However, talent development as an HRD function supersedes talent management. Therefore, to demarcate the existing lines which exists between both, it is important that HRD practitioners develop the required awareness. The Solution Talent development is a necessity for efficient management of people. To bring about a fundamental change on the need to clearly differentiate between talent development and talent management, the expertise of HRD practitioners in collaboration with industry professionals, is required to develop new knowledge and models for workforce and organizational performance. The Stakeholders Scholars and practitioners of human resource development and other fields within the management discipline, in addition to managers and the workforce across all sectors in various industries.

The Power Relations of Photography in the Algorithm Age: From Digitization to AI Generation

This article explores the fundamental changes in the paradigms of image shooting and viewing after entering the algorithm age, and studies the power structures of images. The history of the algorithm age began with the digitization of images. With the popularity of the Internet and social media, the language turn of images has gradually completed after entering the AI era. The new shooting and viewing methods have given people more power and broken the existing aesthetic discourse structure. However, at the same time, through algorithms, commodification and addiction mechanisms, another scene of power concentration has also formed. This article emphasizes the changes in the power structure of images, and proposes that in the algorithm age, we need to deal with the power changes of images cautiously to ensure that AIGC technologies have a positive and sustainable impact on social development.

Making AI’s Impact on Pathology Visible: Using Ethnographic Methods for Ethical and Epistemological Insights

The field of pathology is currently undergoing fundamental changes, including the transition from analog to digital workspaces and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into digital diagnostic workflows. Discussing the ethical implications of these changes is complicated by the fact that both laypersons and medical professionals know relatively little about the ways pathologists conduct their daily work. To reveal the largely ‘invisible’ daily practices of pathology departments and better understand the ongoing processes of innovation within the field, we employed a variety of ethnographic methods: interviews, participant observations, and ethnographic filming. Approaching AI in pathology through three different angles helped us to gain rich knowledge and meaningful insights about the ways AI should impact pathologists’ and lab technicians’ roles and responsibilities. In this article, we describe the benefits and downsides of our ‘slow approach’ to data collection and invite those working on similar topics involving the complex dynamics of digital transitions to reflect on whether such methods might also benefit their research.

The sentimental propagation of lottery winnings: Evidence from the Spanish Christmas lottery

Using the Spanish Christmas lottery as a natural experiment, the impact of geographically clustered lottery winnings on consumer sentiment and intended durable consumption is analyzed. Albeit not receiving lottery prizes, consumers in winning provinces become significantly more optimistic about the Spanish macroeconomic conditions than those living elsewhere. This variation in sentiment is shown to be orthogonal to changes in regional fundamentals and leads to a rise in spending intentions. Young, less educated, low-income, and unemployed individuals react stronger to the lottery shock. At the regional level, lottery wins significantly increase car licenses, reduce unemployment, and intensify job creation and prices.

The Importance of Information in Shaping Sustainable Human Behaviour


 
 
 
 As the climate crisis has become a growing issue in recent decades, sustainable development has become a focus of attention for the international community. In 2015, the United Nations launched the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which call on countries to grow their economies and meet their social needs with the least possible damage to the environment. The aim is to preserve natural resources for future generations. As a result, various policies have been introduced and integrated in different countries to address the problematic aspects of sustainable development. One of the most important catalysts for sustainable development is the promotion of sustainable consumer behaviour. Sustainability requires a fundamental change in individual behaviour. Achieving Sustainable Development Goals will help ensure that future generations can meet their needs. Research to date shows that individuals still do not behave sustainably. Understanding what factors influence sustainable individual behaviour and how to persuade people to behave sustainably is therefore of growing scientific interest. The external and internal factors influencing an individual’s behaviour are based on information sources. The aim is to explain how, in what way, and at what level, initial information data is perceived and used by the individual. As a result, a study was carried out to investigate the impact of information in shaping sustainable individual behaviour in Lithuania
 
 
 

Reformasi Birokrasi Perspektif Gender

Bureaucratic reform is one of the government's efforts to realize good governance and carry out reforms and fundamental changes in the governance system, especially from the institutional (organizational) aspects, management and human resources apparatus. Bureaucratic reform is the basis for changes in the life of the nation and state. Through bureaucratic reform, the provision of an efficient and effective government management system can be carried out. Public service is a reflection of the bureaucratic condition of a region, because public service is directly related to the real needs of the community and the government's role is to provide the needs of the public service itself. The protection of women and children from acts of violence is part of the public services provided by the government for women and children victims of violence. Violence against women and children is one of the issues that is of concern to the government. There is a trend of increasing cases of violence against women and children. The increase in incidents of violence has provided a solid basis for the government and stakeholders to accelerate progress on reducing violence against women and children.Protection of women and children as part of public services carried out by the government in the implementation of bureaucratic reform is carried out according to applicable regulations, to optimize the function of services for protecting women and children, it is necessary to optimize the role of service implementers, implementing human resources who have competence, collaboration of all relevant stakeholders, preparing tools which will serve as a guideline and carry out monitoring and evaluation functions.

Effect of ionizing radiation on the physicochemical and functional properties of silicone rubber and silicone foley catheter

The utilization of ionizing radiation, such as gamma ray and electron beam, in medical product sterilization has seen significant growth in recent years, driven by concerns regarding the safety of ethylene oxide sterilization. This paper examines the effects of these radiation modalities on silicone rubber, and its applicability on a silicone rubber-containing medical device, specifically a silicone foley catheter, by assessing its functional properties before and after irradiation at varying absorbed doses.Analysis of the irradiated samples revealed the presence of carbonyl groups, indicating radiation-induced oxidation. Gamma irradiation did not exhibit fundamental changes in the polymer structure but showed degradation at higher temperatures due to oxidation mechanisms. Moreover, a significant decrease in elongation at break was observed indicating that the already highly crosslinked silicone rubber experienced additional crosslinking affecting its mechanical properties. In contrast, both irradiations led to degradation, as evidenced by a decrease in TG residue. However, the mechanical properties, including tensile strength and elongation at break, were less affected. This suggests limited crosslinking and fragmentation of the polymer backbone. At a lower dose, a decrease in both strength and elongation indicated the formation of branched structures, limiting mobility, introducing irregularities, and weakening the polymer's overall strength. Despite these effects, the functional properties of the silicone foley catheter were practically unaffected at low absorbed doses, except for the discoloration of the syringe ports. Overall, the study provides insights into the effects of ionizing radiation on silicone rubber, highlighting the complex interplay between crosslinking, chain scission, and oxidation mechanisms. The findings contribute to understanding the changes in the polymer's structure and properties under different radiation modalities and doses, facilitating the development of effective sterilization techniques for medical devices containing silicone rubber.

Digital Leadership In Managing Public Organization Indonesia

The development of information and communication technology (ICT) has brought fundamental changes in the world of public organizations. This study aims to analyze the role and impact of digital leadership in managing public organizations in the digital era. The research method used is a qualitative approach using case studies from several public organizations that have implemented digital leadership. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with government officials, managers and staff of organizations involved in digital transformation. The results of the study show that digital leadership functions as a catalyst in facing the challenges of rapid change in the digital era. Digital leadership encourages public organizations to adopt and apply relevant information technologies, and enhance digital skills and literacy at all levels. In addition, digital leadership also creates a culture of innovation and collaboration within public organizations. The digital leader encourages the active participation of staff and members of the organization in creating technology-based solutions to improve the quality of public services and operational efficiency. During the digital transformation process, digital leadership also focuses on managing change and overcoming emerging obstacles. Digital leaders have an important role to play in unifying the vision and building commitment to digital transformation, as well as helping to overcome resistance from those who are less familiar with new technologies. However, this research also identifies several challenges in implementing digital leadership in public organizations. Some of these are the lack of adequate resources and budget, and the need to address concerns regarding data security and privacy. In conclusion, digital leadership has proven itself as a key factor in managing public organizations in the digital era. Digital transformation led by digital leaders brings positive changes in efficiency, transparency and citizen participation in public services. To address these challenges, governments and public organizations need to invest in human resource training and development, and design policies and strategies that support technological innovation and adaptation to achieve success in digital leadership.

A Comparative Study of the Chinese Change of Circumstances and the UK Contract Frustration

This study mainly focuses on the comparative study of the "change of circumstances system" in the contract law of China and the UK. This system is described differently in Chinese and English law. Chinese contract law describes it as "change of circumstances", and English contract law describes it as "contract frustration". Although there are differences in legal descriptions, the connotation and purpose of the two systems are generally similar. Generally speaking, it refers to the occurrence of unforeseen circumstances between the two parties after the conclusion of the contract, which leads to fundamental changes in the basis of performance. If the performance is illegal or fundamentally deviates from the main purpose of the contract, the status of the contract shall be changed or terminated. The purpose of the system is to maintain the fairness of the contract parties, reduce the risk of the contract parties, and promote the stability of the trading market. Some differences have emerged in the judicial practice and legislative expression of the system in the two countries. This study believes that the main reasons are the large differences in the business environment and the theoretical basis of the system between the two countries. Therefore, this study will first compare the theoretical basis of the change of circumstances system in the two countries, and then specifically compare the legislative expression and judicial practice of the system in China and the UK, and analyse the reasons for the difference. It should be stated that this comparative study aims to analyse the differences and find out the reasons for the differences and does not involve the evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of the system.

The microstructural change of the brain and its clinical severity association in pediatric Tourette syndrome patients

BackgroundGilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a prevalent pediatric neurological disorder. Most studies point to abnormalities in the cortico-striato-thalamocortical (CSTC) circuits. Neuroimaging studies have shown GTS’s extensive impact on the entire brain. However, due to participant variability and potential drug and comorbidity impact, the results are inconsistent. To mitigate the potential impact of participant heterogeneity, we excluded individuals with comorbidities or those currently undergoing medication treatments. Based on the hypothesis of abnormality within the CSTC circuit, we investigated microstructural changes in white matter using diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI). This study offers the first examination of microstructural changes in treatment-naïve pediatric patients with pure GTS using diffusion spectrum imaging.MethodsThis single-center prospective study involved 30 patients and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers who underwent sagittal T1-weighted MRI and DSI. We analyzed generalized fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity.ResultsNo significant differences were observed in mean diffusivity and axial diffusivity values between the two groups. However, the patient group exhibited significantly higher generalized fractional anisotropy values in the right frontostriatal tract of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the right frontostriatal tract of the precentral gyrus, and bilateral thalamic radiation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Additionally, the generalized fractional anisotropy value of the right frontostriatal tract of the precentral gyrus is inversely correlated with the total tic severity scores at the most severe condition.ConclusionTreatment-naïve pediatric GTS patients demonstrated increased connectivity within the CSTC circuit as per diffusion spectrum imaging, indicating possible CSTC circuit dysregulation. This finding could also suggest a compensatory change. It thus underscores the necessity of further investigation into the fundamental pathological changes in GTS. Nevertheless, the observed altered connectivity in GTS patients might serve as a potential target for therapeutic intervention.

The great catastrophe: causes of the Permo-Triassic marine mass extinction.

The marine losses during the Permo-Triassic mass extinction were the worst ever experienced. All groups were badly affected, especially amongst the benthos (e.g. brachiopods, corals, bryozoans, foraminifers, ostracods). Planktonic populations underwent a fundamental change with eukaryotic algae being replaced by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, green-sulphur bacteria, sulphate-reducing bacteria and prasinophytes. Detailed studies of boundary sections, especially those in South China, have resolved the crisis to a ∼55 kyr interval straddling the Permo-Triassic boundary. Many of the losses occur at the beginning and end of this interval painting a picture of a two-phase extinction. Improved knowledge of the extinction has been supported by numerous geochemical studies that allow diverse proposed extinction mechanisms to be studied. A transition from oxygenated to anoxic-euxinic conditions is seen in most sections globally, although the intensity and timing shows regional variability. Decreased ocean ventilation coincides with rapidly rising temperatures and many extinction scenarios attribute the losses to both anoxia and high temperatures. Other kill mechanisms include ocean acidification for which there is conflicting support from geochemical proxies and, even less likely, siltation (burial under a massive influx of terrigenous sediment) which lacks substantive sedimentological evidence. The ultimate driver of the catastrophic changes at the end of the Permian was likely Siberian Trap eruptions and their associated carbon dioxide emissions with consequences such as warming, ocean stagnation and acidification. Volcanic winter episodes stemming from Siberian volcanism have also been linked to the crisis, but the short-term nature of these episodes (<decades) and the overwhelming evidence for rapid warming during the crisis makes this an unlikely cause. Finally, whilst the extinction is well studied in equatorial latitudes, a different history is found in northern Boreal latitudes including an earlier crisis which merits further study in order to fully understand the course and cause of the Permo-Triassic extinctions.

Dynamic Information Regimes in Financial Markets

We develop a model of investor information choices and asset prices in which the availability of information about fundamentals is time-varying and responds to investor demand for information. A competitive research sector produces more information when more investors are willing to pay for that research. This feedback, from investor willingness to pay for information to more information production, generates two regimes in equilibrium, one having high prices and low volatility, the other the opposite. The low-price, high-volatility regime is associated with greater information asymmetry between informed and uninformed investors. Information dynamics move the market between regimes, creating large price drops even with no change in fundamentals. In our calibration, the model suggests an important role for information dynamics in financial crises. This paper was accepted by Kay Giesecke, finance. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.01213 .

The Gentile Reform of 1923 and Italian Higher Education

This article focuses on how Italian higher education was organized and managed in the early years of fascism. The main reasons why the fascist government of Italy initiated a national educational reform in 1923 are considered. The objective problems in education that Italian society faced during this period are analyzed. Special attention is given to the ideological goals that Giovanni Gentile, the Minister of Education, pursued with this reform. The reform led to fundamental changes in the traditional educational system of the Kingdom of Italy. Some radical innovations were also spurred in its higher education, such as the division of universities into different types (depending on state funding), the enhancement of the role of the rector in university life, the valorization of humanities education over that in technical and natural sciences, etc. The Gentile reform was received with mixed feelings by Italian society, including part of the leadership of the fascist party. The contradictions inherent in the reform ideology affected its results. The attempt to improve the quality of university education by standardizing academic requirements and introducing a system of uniform state examinations, contrary to the idealistic goals declared by G. Gentile himself, was the first step toward greater interference by the fascist regime in university activities, reflecting the general trend to the establishment of full state control over society.

Future Challenges of the Electric Vehicle Market Perceived by Individual Drivers from Eastern Poland

In the past few years, it can be seen that the automotive market has been developing quite rapidly, especially when it comes to electric cars. This is because the development of sustainable cars seems to be an extremely important issue at the moment. Nowadays, cars with different propulsion systems (among others electric, hybrid, gas, or hydrogen) can be met on the roads. But, political action is mainly aimed at electric cars. Such an approach will certainly lead to fundamental changes in production processes in the near future via the emergence and development of new technologies in the field of electric passenger cars. Therefore, the manuscript discusses the concept of vehicles with different types of power supply, with the main emphasis on electric vehicles. The essence of electric vehicles, their genesis, rationale for development, and growth are indicated. The different markets around the world, through the prism of, on the one hand, programs supporting the purchase and use of this type of vehicle and, on the other hand, factors limiting and inhibiting their uptake, are also discussed. The research was conducted in a group of both current and potential drivers from Eastern Poland, with different categories of grouping variables used in the analyses. On the basis of the research carried out and the results obtained, it can be argued that due to various factors, the respondents’ opinions are varied, and there are no unambiguous conclusions stating that such solutions will soon be available. Indeed, a number of doubts and barriers were noted among respondents. Driver preferences are therefore a key issue, but production capacity and the profitability of investments in the purchase of vehicles with an electric power supply should also be taken into account.

Influences of fatigue stiffness degradation of in-service concrete T-beams on natural vibration frequency

ABSTRACT In order to obtain the fatigue stiffness degradation law of in-service concrete T-beam and carry out fatigue life prediction, a dual-stage stiffness degradation model considering cracks was established for T-beams and formulas for calculating the fundamental frequency of damaged concrete T-beams were deduced based on relevant theories of damage mechanics. The developed model aimed to investigate the influences of the fatigue stiffness degradation of in-service concrete T-beams on the natural vibration frequency of structures. A fatigue test was conducted for full-scale test beams to examine the crack development and fundamental frequency change law of structures during the fatigue process. Based on a full scale model of 10 m reinforced concrete T-beams, static and fatigue failure tests were carried out to obtain the evolution law of fatigue residual stiffness with load times. Fatigue damage coefficient D and stiffness degradation coefficient k were introduced to establish the fatigue life prediction model of T-beams in service. In line with the related test data and fundamental frequency formulas, stiffness updating methods were put forward for the concrete T-beam finite element models. By comparing the calculated value and test value of the natural vibration frequency of structures, the relative error was estimated to be within 6%. This verified the accuracy and reliability of the fundamental frequency calculation formulas and the updated finite element models. The research results can be used as a reference for the precise simulation of the fatigue damage finite element models of concrete T-beams. Finally, a method for life prediction of in-service reinforced concrete beam Bridges is proposed, and relevant research results can provide theoretical support for the study of life prediction of such Bridges.

Developmental changes in functional connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala following fear extinction

The amygdala and prefrontal cortex (PFC) undergo dramatic changes in structure, function, and regional connectivity in early life, ultimately stabilizing in early adulthood. Pathways between these two structures underlie many forms of emotional learning, including the extinction of conditioned fear. Here we sought to characterize changes in extinction-related medial PFC (mPFC) → amygdala functional connectivity across development that might explain adolescent impairments in extinction. The retrograde tracer Fluorogold was infused into the amygdala of postnatal day (P)22–23 (juvenile), P31-32 (adolescent), or ≥ P69 (adult) rats, which were then exposed to fear conditioning and extinction training. Brains were collected following extinction or context exposure and processed for expression of pMAPK (as a marker of learning-dependent plasticity) in prelimbic (PL) and infralimbic (IL) amygdala-projecting neurons. Consistent with previous findings, amygdala-projecting mPFC neurons were located primarily in layers (L)II/III and V of the mPFC. We noted that mPFC LII/III projected predominantly to the ipsilateral basolateral amygdala, whereas LV projected bilaterally and targeted multiple amygdalar nuclei. Extinction was not associated with changes in extinction-related plasticity in the PL-amygdala pathways in any age group. No changes were seen in LII/III of the IL, but extinction-related plasticity in LV amygdala-projecting IL neurons decreased linearly across development. These findings suggest that extinction-related functional connectivity between the IL and the amygdala undergoes fundamental changes across development that may contribute to alterations in fear suppression across development.

Agents, multilateral institutions, and fundamental institutional change in international society: The case of Russia’s peacekeeping policy

AbstractDrawing on recent debates in English School (ES) theory, this article develops an analytical framework for examining how states use multilateral institutions, or what ES theorists call ‘secondary institutions’, to reshape ‘primary institutions’, i.e. fundamental practices in international society. The framework highlights the role of states’ agency in international institutional change by shedding light on strategies that they employ to bring about changes in primary institutions. It posits that, although they can seek to directly remould primary institutions, states in practice often seek to bring about primary institutional changes through existing or newly formed secondary institutions and that this is especially the case at the level of regional international societies (RISs). The article demonstrates the utility of the framework by using it to analyse the case of Russia’s peacekeeping policy in the post-Soviet regional international society (PSRIS), focusing on its efforts to institutionalise the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) as an alternative ‘peacekeeping’ actor.

Using salamanders as model taxa to understand vertebrate feeding constraints during the late Devonian water-to-land transition.

The vertebrate water-to-land transition and the rise of tetrapods brought about fundamental changes for the groups undergoing these evolutionary changes (i.e. stem and early tetrapods). These groups were forced to adapt to new conditions, including the distinct physical properties of water and air, requiring fundamental changes in anatomy. Nutrition (or feeding) was one of the prime physiological processes these vertebrates had to successfully adjust to change from aquatic to terrestrial life. The basal gnathostome feeding mode involves either jaw prehension or using water flows to aid in ingestion, transportation and food orientation. Meanwhile, processing was limited primarily to simple chewing bites. However, given their comparatively massive and relatively inflexible hyobranchial system (compared to the more muscular tongue of many tetrapods), it remains fraught with speculation how stem and early tetrapods managed to feed in both media. Here, we explore ontogenetic water-to-land transitions of salamanders as functional analogues to model potential changes in the feeding behaviour of stem and early tetrapods. Our data suggest two scenarios for terrestrial feeding in stem and early tetrapods as well as the presence of complex chewing behaviours, including excursions of the jaw in more than one dimension during early developmental stages. Our results demonstrate that terrestrial feeding may have been possible before flexible tongues evolved. This article is part of the theme issue 'Food processing and nutritional assimilation in animals'.

How can cities achieve accelerated systemic decarbonization? Analysis of six frontrunner cities

Globally, many cities have pledged to reach net zero emissions by mid-century and formulated climate action plans (CAPs) to pursue this goal. Attainment of net zero requires accelerated systemic decarbonization measures to catalyze fundamental changes across multiple societal systems simultaneously. Yet the extant literature has not conceptually clarified conditions leading to accelerated systemic decarbonization in cities. This research therefore aims to: (1) conceptualize strategies that contribute to accelerated systemic decarbonization at the sub-national level and develop a framework for empirically identifying these; and (2) assess the extent to which CAPs in cities known for progressive climate policies embody these characteristics. This involved examination of evidence from CAPs and related documents in six cities: Copenhagen, Leeds, Oslo, San Francisco, Australian Capital Territory and Kyoto. Findings show that San Francisco's climate actions are the most indicative of accelerated systemic decarbonization. In other cities, although many ingredients for accelerated systemic decarbonization are in place, several missed opportunities to achieve more rapid and transformative decarbonization outcomes were identified. These include lack of consideration of scope 3 emissions and limited participatory governance measures as well as absence of economic planning, climate budgets and financial indicators to estimate the benefits or costs of various climate-mitigation actions.