Global Network Research Articles

Transcriptome-wide expression landscape and starch synthesis pathway co-expression network in sorghum.

The gene expression landscape across different tissues and developmental stages reflects their biological functions and evolutionary patterns. Integrative and comprehensive analyses of all transcriptomic data in an organism are instrumental to obtaining a comprehensive picture of gene expression landscape. Such studies are still very limited in sorghum, which limits the discovery of the genetic basis underlying complex agricultural traits in sorghum. We characterized the genome-wide expression landscape for sorghum using 873 RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) datasets representing 19 tissues. Our integrative analysis of these RNA-seq data provides the most comprehensive transcriptomic atlas for sorghum, which will be valuable for the sorghum research community for functional characterizations of sorghum genes. Based on the transcriptome atlas, we identified 595 housekeeping genes (HKGs) and 2080 tissue-specific expression genes (TEGs) for the 19 tissues. We identified different gene features between HKGs and TEGs, and we found that HKGs have experienced stronger selective constraints than TEGs. Furthermore, we built a transcriptome-wide co-expression network (TW-CEN) comprising 35 modules with each module enriched in specific Gene Ontology terms. High-connectivity genes in TW-CEN tend to express at high levels while undergoing intensive selective pressure. We also built global and seed-preferential co-expression networks of starch synthesis pathways, which indicated that photosynthesis and microtubule-based movement play important roles in starch synthesis. The global transcriptome atlas of sorghum generated by this study provides an important functional genomics resource for trait discovery and insight into starch synthesis regulation in sorghum.

Satellite-based entanglement distribution and quantum teleportation with continuous variables

Advances in satellite quantum communications aim at reshaping the global telecommunication network by increasing the security of the transferred information. Here, we study the effects of atmospheric turbulence in continuous-variable entanglement distribution and quantum teleportation in the optical regime between a ground station and a satellite. More specifically, we study the degradation of entanglement due to various error sources in the distribution, namely, diffraction, atmospheric attenuation, turbulence, and detector inefficiency, in both downlink and uplink scenarios. As the fidelity of a quantum teleportation protocol using these distributed entangled resources is not sufficient, we include an intermediate station for either state generation, or beam refocusing, in order to reduce the effects of atmospheric turbulence and diffraction, respectively. The results show the feasibility of free-space entanglement distribution and quantum teleportation in downlink paths up to the LEO region, but also in uplink paths with the help of the intermediate station. Finally, we complete the study with microwave-optical comparison in bad weather situations, and with the study of horizontal paths in ground-to-ground and inter-satellite quantum communication.

Sanctified suffering and the common good: Translocal health care provisioning in smalltown Senegal

AbstractSenegal has long relied on local communities to expand health services and improve health outcomes for citizens and is internationally lauded for its effectiveness in promoting good health and facilitating local trust. Here we examine how community health care emerges in Keur Toma, a rural Wolof town in the Senegal River Valley that relies on a global network of labor migrants to fuel its remittance‐based economy. Largely through its hometown association and the migrant men abroad who fund it, Keur Toma has built and sustained the local health infrastructure and staffing essential to achieving health care accessibility, providing consistent investment and critical stop‐gap funding when government assistance falters. Following Robbins's call for investigating “an anthropology of the good,” we highlight the deeply rooted sense of care and obligation to kin and community that fosters the translocal ties that make Keur Toma's health care possible in the state's absence. We highlight what Ngom calls “sanctified suffering”—which valorizes personal fortitude and the ability to endure hardships for family and community, shaped by traditions of solidarity, mutual aid, and Islamic morality—and its role in migrants' hometown commitments to building stronger communities.

Exploring gestational age, and birth weight assessment in Thatta district, Sindh, Pakistan: Healthcare providers' knowledge, practices, perceived barriers, and the potential of a mobile app for identifying preterm and low birth weight.

Reliable methods for identifying prematurity and low birth weight (LBW) are crucial to ending preventable deaths in newborns. This study explored healthcare providers' (HCPs) knowledge, practice, perceived barriers in assessing gestational age and birth weight and their referral methods for preterm and LBW infants. The study additionally assessed the potential of using a mobile app for the identification and referral decision of preterm and LBW. This qualitative descriptive study was conducted in Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan. Participants, including doctors, nurses, lady health visitors, and midwives, were purposefully selected from a district headquarter hospital, and private providers in the catchment area of Global Network's Maternal and Newborn Health Registry (MNHR). Interviews were conducted using an interview guide after obtaining written informed consent. Audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed and analyzed using NVIVO® software with an inductive approach. The HCPs had extensive knowledge about antenatal and postnatal methods for assessing gestational age. They expressed a preference for antenatal ultrasound due to the perceived accuracy, though accept practical barriers including workload, machine malfunctions, and cost. Postnatal assessment using the Ballard score was only undertaken sparingly due to insufficient training and subjectivity. All HCPs preferred electronic weighing scales for birth weight Barriers encountered included weighing scale calibration and battery issues. There was variation in the definition of prematurity and LBW, leading to delays in referral. Limited resources, inadequate education, and negative parent past experiences were barriers to referral. Foot length measurements were not currently being used. While mobile apps are felt to have potential, unreliable electricity supply and internet connectivity are barriers. The HCPs in this study were knowledgeable in terms of potential tools, but acknowledged the logistical and parental barriers to implementation.

Impact of the Russia–Ukraine Conflict on Global Marine Network Based on Massive Vessel Trajectories

Maritime transportation plays a vital role in global trade, and studying the resilience of the global maritime network is crucial for ensuring its sustainable development. Currently, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has garnered significant global attention. However, there is a lack of specific research on the impact of the conflict on maritime shipping, particularly the resilience of the global maritime network. This paper proposes a resilience assessment framework under the influence of significant events by combining complex network metrics and network performance indicators from the resilience triangle model. It quantitatively evaluates the resilience changes in the global maritime network before and after the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine conflict. The experiment utilizes real automatic identification system (AIS) maritime trajectory data to quantify and visualize the changes in global maritime traffic during a 20-day period before and after the conflict, constructing the global maritime network for resilience calculations. The research findings indicate the following changes occurred after the Russia–Ukraine conflict. Firstly, the global maritime industry experienced overall growth, with increased ship transportation between ports. Transportation in certain regions was negatively affected, with a significant decrease in ship activities in the Black Sea and Adriatic Sea areas. The positions of Russia and Ukraine in the world maritime industry noticeably declined. Secondly, the network connectivity, network size, and network density of the global maritime network significantly increased, indicating an enhanced network resilience. According to our quantitative results, from a topological perspective, we observed the following changes: network connectivity increased by 27.2%, network scale increased by 36.6%, network density increased by 32.4%, and network resilience increased by 18.6%. Thirdly, the global maritime network is characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity, and the impact of conflicts on the heterogeneity of the shipping network is not significant. Finally, the network exhibited a slower performance decline under random attacks, while deliberate attacks led to a sharp decline. Due to the adaptive nature of the maritime network, the resilience of the network improves in terms of its topology following the outbreak of conflicts. After conflict incidents, the rate of performance decline during simulated attacks is lower compared to the pre-conflict period.

Assessing and managing the risk of Aedes mosquito introductions via the global maritime trade network.

The global shipping network (GSN) has been suggested as a pathway for the establishment and reintroduction of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus primarily via the tire trade. We used historical maritime movement data in combination with an agent-based model to understand invasion risk in the United States Gulf Coast and how the risk of these invasions could be reduced. We found a strong correlation between the total number of cargo ship arrivals at each port and likelihood of arrival by both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Additionally, in 2012, 99.2% of the arrivals into target ports had most recently visited ports likely occupied by both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, increasing risk of Aedes invasion. Our model results indicated that detection and removal of mosquitoes from containers when they are unloaded effectively reduced the probability of mosquito populations establishment even when the connectivity of ports increased. To reduce the risk of invasion and reintroduction of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, surveillance and control efforts should be employed when containers leave high risk locations and when they arrive in ports at high risk of establishment.

Reconceiving China's urban economic transition through symbiotic state-firm dynamics: An integrated perspective from urban governance and global production networks

China's urban economic transition since the 2000s has garnered considerable scholarly interest. Two distinct bodies of scholarship, namely urban governance and global production networks, have investigated this phenomenon, each offering unique insights either from an endogenous state-centric or exogenous firm-centric approach. The former has justifiably accentuated the centrality of the state in shaping Chinas urban-regional economic reconfiguration but lacks exploration of the multifaceted ways in which state apparatus engages with a spectrum of quotidian firm-level activities and the negotiation power these firms wield. The latter embraces an exogenous firm-centric perspective on the economic transition in East Asia latecomer regions, stressing forces of globalisation, foreign investment, and intra/inter/extra-firm networks, but tends to bracket the state into the institutional background and, therefore, downplays its agentic role. By initiating a dialogue between these two theoretical frameworks, this paper formulates a dialectical state-firm relational approach, offering a revitalised, integrative comprehension of China's urban economic transformation. Employing Dongguan - a globally recognised hub for ICT manufacturing - as an empirical focal point, it elucidates how the relational state-firm dynamics evolve temporally, differ spatially across territories and scales, and display distinct contrasts between high-value-added and labour-intensive sectors within the ICT industry.

Metabolic Comparison and Molecular Networking of Antimicrobials in Streptomyces Species.

Streptomyces are well-known for producing bioactive secondary metabolites, with numerous antimicrobials essential to fight against infectious diseases. Globally, multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms significantly challenge human and veterinary diseases. To tackle this issue, there is an urgent need for alternative antimicrobials. In the search for potent agents, we have isolated four Streptomyces species PC1, BT1, BT2, and BT3 from soils collected from various geographical regions of the Himalayan country Nepal, which were then identified based on morphology and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The relationship of soil microbes with different Streptomyces species has been shown in phylogenetic trees. Antimicrobial potency of isolates was carried out against Staphylococcus aureus American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 43300, Shigella sonnei ATCC 25931, Salmonella typhi ATCC 14028, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603, and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Among them, Streptomyces species PC1 showed the highest zone of inhibition against tested pathogens. Furthermore, ethyl acetate extracts of shake flask fermentation of these Streptomyces strains were subjected to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analysis for their metabolic comparison and Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) web-based molecular networking. We found very similar metabolite composition in four strains, despite their geographical variation. In addition, we have identified thirty-seven metabolites using LC-MS/MS analysis, with the majority belonging to the diketopiperazine class. Among these, to the best of our knowledge, four metabolites, namely cyclo-(Ile-Ser), 2-n-hexyl-5-n-propylresorcinol, 3-[(6-methylpyrazin-2-yl) methyl]-1H-indole, and cyclo-(d-Leu-l-Trp), were detected for the first time in Streptomyces species. Besides these, other 23 metabolites including surfactin B, surfactin C, surfactin D, and valinomycin were identified with the help of GNPS-based molecular networking.

Enhancing Sea Level Rise Estimation and Uncertainty Assessment from Satellite Altimetry through Spatiotemporal Noise Modeling

The expected acceleration in sea level rise (SLR) throughout this century poses significant threats to coastal cities and low-lying regions. Since the early 1990s, high-precision multi-mission satellite altimetry (SA) has enabled the routine measurement of sea levels, providing a continuous 30-year record from which the mean sea level rise (global and regional) and its variability can be computed. The latest reprocessed data from CMEMS span the period from 1993 to 2020, and have enabled the acquisition of accurate sea level data within the coastal range of 0–20 km. In order to fully utilize this new dataset, we establish a global virtual network consisting of 184 virtual SA stations. We evaluate the impact of different stochastic noises on the estimation of the velocity of the sea surface height (SSH) time series using BIC_tp information criteria. In the second step, the principal component analysis (PCA) allows the common-mode noise in the SSH time series to be mitigated. Finally, we analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics and accuracy of sea level change derived from SA. Our results suggest that the stochasticity of the SSH time series is not well described by a combination of random, flicker, and white noise, but is best described by an ARFIM/ARMA/GGM process. After removing the common-mode noise with PCA, about 96.7% of the times series’ RMS decreased, and most of the uncertainty associated with the computed SLR decreased. We confirm that the spatiotemporal correlations should be accounted for to yield trustworthy trends and reliable uncertainties. Our estimated SLR is 2.75 ± 0.89 mm/yr, which aligns closely with recent studies, emphasizing the robustness and consistency of our method using virtual SA stations. We additionally introduce open-source software (SA_Tool V1.0) to process the SA data and reduce noise in surface height time series to the community.

Dynamic Bayesian network structure learning based on an improved bacterial foraging optimization algorithm

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence and data science, Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN), as an effective probabilistic graphical model, has been widely used in many engineering fields. And swarm intelligence algorithm is an optimization algorithm based on natural selection with the characteristics of distributed, self-organization and robustness. By applying the high-performance swarm intelligence algorithm to DBN structure learning, we can fully utilize the algorithm's global search capability to effectively process time-based data, improve the efficiency of network generation and the accuracy of network structure. This study proposes an improved bacterial foraging optimization algorithm (IBFO-A) to solve the problems of random step size, limited group communication, and the inability to maintain a balance between global and local searching. The IBFO-A algorithm framework comprises four layers. First, population initialization is achieved using a logistics-sine chaotic mapping strategy as the basis for global optimization. Second, the activity strategy of a colony foraging trend is constructed by combining the exploration phase of the Osprey optimization algorithm. Subsequently, the strategy of bacterial colony propagation is improved using a "genetic" approach and the Multi-point crossover operator. Finally, the elimination-dispersal activity strategy is employed to escape the local optimal solution. To solve the problem of complex DBN learning structures due to the introduction of time information, a DBN structure learning method called IBFO-D, which is based on the IBFO-A algorithm framework, is proposed. IBFO-D determines the edge direction of the structure by combining the dynamic K2 scoring function, the designed V-structure orientation rule, and the trend activity strategy. Then, according to the improved reproductive activity strategy, the concept of "survival of the fittest" is applied to the network candidate solution while maintaining species diversity. Finally, the global optimal network structure with the highest score is obtained based on the elimination-dispersal activity strategy. Multiple tests and comparison experiments were conducted on 10 sets of benchmark test functions, two non-temporal and temporal data types, and six data samples of two benchmark 2T-BN networks to evaluate and analyze the optimization performance and structure learning ability of the proposed algorithm under various data types. The experimental results demonstrated that IBFO-A exhibits good convergence, stability, and accuracy, whereas IBFO-D is an effective approach for learning DBN structures from data and has practical value for engineering applications.

Abundance of Low-Energy Oxygen Vacancy Pairs Dictates the Catalytic Performance of Cerium-Stabilized Zirconia.

Cerium-stabilized zirconia (Ce1-xZrxOy, CZO) is renowned for its superior oxygen storage capacity (OSC), a key property long believed to be beneficial to catalytic oxidation reactions. However, 50% Ce-containing CZO recorded with the highest OSC has disappointingly poor performance in catalytic oxidation reactions compared to those with higher Ce contents but lower OSC ability. Here, we employ global neural network (G-NN)-based potential energy surface exploration methods to establish the first ternary phase diagram for bulk structures of CZO, which identifies three critical compositions of CZO, namely, 50, 60, and 80% Ce-containing CZO that are thermodynamically stable under typical synthetic conditions. 50% Ce-containing CZO, although having the highest OSC, exhibits the lowest O vacancy (Ov) diffusion rate. By contrast, 60% Ce-containing CZO, despite lower OSC (33.3% OSC compared to that of 50% Ce-containing CZO), reaches the highest Ov diffusion ability and thus offers the highest CO oxidation catalytic performance. The physical origin of the high performance of 60% Ce-containing CZO is the abundance of energetically favorable Ov pairs along the ⟨110⟩ direction, which reduces the energy barrier of Ov diffusion in the bulk and promotes O2 activation on the surface. Our results clarify the long-standing puzzles on CZO and point out that 60% Ce-containing CZO is the most desirable composition for typical CZO applications.

British-Chilean Newspapers: from Informal Empire to Hybridity in Print

This article situates the Anglophone newspapers published in nineteenth-century Valparaíso, Chile, within global information networks, highlighting Valparaíso's role as an influential hub in the development of the informal empire. These publications, reflecting the characteristics of the nineteenth-century foreign-language press in their production, content, and readership, underscore the extensive influence of British cultural and economic influence, which extended well beyond the bounds of formal empire. Central to this study is the Anglophone Chile Newspaper Project, which not only preserves these publications through digitization but also facilitates their global dissemination. In its theoretical framing too, this essay contributes to the larger goal of overcoming disciplinary silos, working to forge a complex understanding of the intersectional identities that shape national, transnational, and global perspectives. Our theoretical framework accords with our material efforts to reconnect this siloed and endangered archive with the global ‘big data’ projects that are capitalizing on the accelerating pace of newspaper digitization, thus providing a platform for understanding the transnational narratives and transoceanic exchanges, championing a reinvigorated discourse on identity, transculturation, and the interplay between local and global dynamics. By situating the English-language press within the broader context of foreign-language print media, the project underscores the newspapers' contribution to the dynamic identity transformations within British colonies and, in turn, the enduring impact of print culture on contemporary globalized identities.

Upscaling marine forest restoration: challenges, solutions and recommendations from the Green Gravel Action Group

IntroductionTo counteract the rapid loss of marine forests globally and meet international commitments of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the Convention on Biological Diversity ‘30 by 30’ targets, there is an urgent need to enhance our capacity for macroalgal restoration. The Green Gravel Action Group (GGAG) is a global network of 67 members that are working on the restoration of a diverse range of macroalgal forests and it aims to facilitate knowledge exchange to fast-track innovation and implementation of outplanting approaches worldwide. MethodsHere, we overview 25 projects conducted by members of the group that are focused on testing and developing techniques for macroalgal restoration. Based on these projects, we summarise the major challenges associated with scaling up the area of marine forests restored. ResultsWe identify several critical challenges that currently impede more widespread rollout of effective large-scale macroalgal restoration worldwide: 1) funding and capacity limitations, 2) difficulties arising from conditions at restoration sites, 3) technical barriers, and 4) challenges at the restoration-policy interface. DiscussionDespite these challenges, there has been substantial progress, with an increasing number of efforts, community engagement and momentum towards scaling up activities in recent years. Drawing on the collective expertise of the GGAG, we outline key recommendations for the scaling up of restoration efforts to match the goals of international commitments. These include the establishment of novel pathways to fund macroalgal restoration activities, building skills and capacity, harnessing emerging innovations in mobile hatchery and seeding technologies, and the development of the scientific and governance frameworks necessary to implement and monitor macroalgal restoration projects at scale.

Review of Personalized Medicine and Pharmacogenomics of Anti-Cancer Compounds and Natural Products.

In recent years, the FDA has approved numerous anti-cancer drugs that are mutation-based for clinical use. These drugs have improved the precision of treatment and reduced adverse effects and side effects. Personalized therapy is a prominent and hot topic of current medicine and also represents the future direction of development. With the continuous advancements in gene sequencing and high-throughput screening, research and development strategies for personalized clinical drugs have developed rapidly. This review elaborates the recent personalized treatment strategies, which include artificial intelligence, multi-omics analysis, chemical proteomics, and computation-aided drug design. These technologies rely on the molecular classification of diseases, the global signaling network within organisms, and new models for all targets, which significantly support the development of personalized medicine. Meanwhile, we summarize chemical drugs, such as lorlatinib, osimertinib, and other natural products, that deliver personalized therapeutic effects based on genetic mutations. This review also highlights potential challenges in interpreting genetic mutations and combining drugs, while providing new ideas for the development of personalized medicine and pharmacogenomics in cancer study.

Impact of Air Pollution and Allergic Status on Health-Related Quality of Life among University Students in Northern Thailand.

Global awareness of ambient air pollution has heightened due to its detrimental impact on health, particularly in regions with elevated PM2.5 levels. Chiang Mai has emerged as an area experiencing the highest PM2.5 levels in Thailand. to examine the prevalence of respiratory allergies and assess the impact of air pollution on the health-related quality of life (QoL) among university students in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai University (CMU) and Maejo University (MJU) students were recruited. The Global Asthma Network (GAN) questionnaire screened for respiratory allergies (RAs). The disease-specific QoL questionnaire (Rcq-36) was administered twice during low-PM2.5 and high-PM2.5 seasons to evaluate air pollution's impact on health-related QoL. Those showing potential RAs underwent a skin prick test (SPT) to investigate allergic sensitization. Out of 406 participants, 131 (32%) reported respiratory allergies. Among those undergoing SPT, a high rate (82.54%) had positive results. Across both universities, students reported significantly lower QoL in multiple domains, particularly respiratory, eye, sleep, and emotional well-being, during the high-PM2.5 season. This aligned with their poorer self-reported health on a visual analog scale (VAS; p-value < 0.01). PM2.5 levels significantly impacted social functioning for CMU students (p-value = 0.001) and role limitations for MJU students (p-value < 0.001). Notably, participants without respiratory allergies (non-RAs) were more significantly affected by PM2.5 than RA participants in almost all parameters, despite experiencing fewer baseline symptoms. Respiratory allergies, particularly allergic rhinitis, are prevalent among university students in Chiang Mai. This study underscores the substantial negative impact of ambient air pollution on QoL for both allergic and non-allergic students.

Risk response towards roads is consistent across multiple species in a temperate forest ecosystem

Roads can have diverse impacts on wildlife species, and while some species may adapt effectively, others may not. Studying multiple species' responses to the same infrastructure in a given area can help understand this variation and reveal the effects of disturbance on the ecology of wildlife communities. This study investigates the behavioural responses of four species with distinctive ecological and behavioural traits to roads in the protected Bohemian Forest Ecosystem in central Europe: European roe deer Capreolus capreolus, a solitary herbivore; red deer Cervus elaphus a gregarious herbivore; wild boar Sus scrofa, a gregarious omnivore and Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx, a solitary large carnivore. We used GPS data gathered from each species to study movement behaviour and habitat selection in relation to roads using an integrated step selection analysis. For all species and sexes, we predicted increased movement rates in response to roads, selection of vegetation cover near roads and open areas after road crossings, and increased road avoidance during the day. We found remarkably similar behavioural responses towards roads across species. The behavioural adaptations to road exposure, such as increased movement rates and selection for vegetation cover, were analogous to responses to natural predation risk. Roads were more strongly avoided during daytime, when traffic volume was high. Road crossings were more frequent at twilight and at night within open areas offering food resources. Gregarious animals exposed to roads favoured stronger road avoidance over faster movements. Ungulates crossed roads more at twilight, coinciding with commuter traffic during winter. Despite differences in the ecology and behaviour of the four species, our results showed similar adaptations towards a common threat. The continuous expansion of the global transportation network should be accompanied by efforts to understand and minimise the impact of roads on wildlife to assist wildlife management and ensure conservation.

Global research on centenarians: A historical and comprehensive bibliometric analysis from 1887 to 2023.

Centenarians are considered the most successful human biological aging model. However, the characteristics and patterns of research among centenarians have not been described or analyzed. Thus, this study aimed to disclose the historical landscape of global research on centenarians. This bibliometric study investigated historical evidence on centenarian research published in the Scopus database. The bibliometrix package in R was used to perform visual and quantitative analyses of research metrics, trends, and patterns. Of the 2061 documents included between 1887 and 2023, 84.2% (n = 1736) were published as articles with primary data. We identified international collaboration and annual growth rates of 21.4% and 3.15%, respectively. The United States published the highest number of papers on centenarians (n = 786), whereas the publications from Italy had the highest impact (h-index = 90). Based on the frequency of keywords, mortality, genetics, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and immunosenescence are a few of the most studied topics among centenarians, with emerging research related to mitochondrial DNA and comparison of results between nonagenarians and centenarians. Italy, the United States, and China lead the global research collaboration network, collaborating most frequently with Japan and European countries. Global research on centenarians has grown over the last 20 years, primarily led by Italy, the United States, and China. Latin American and African countries have conducted little or no research on centenarians. The most widely studied topics include mortality, cognition, immunosenescence, and genetics.

Distributed bricolage – The affordances of digital technologies towards a collaborative entrepreneurial agency response to COVID-19

This study explores the human and social dynamics of entrepreneurship in the context of disruptive crises, specifically COVID-19. It reveals how digital technologies enable a form of collaborative agency, which we term distributed bricolage, characterized by the emergent, voluntary collaboration of heterogeneous actors across global networks. These actors, motivated by a shared goal to address urgent needs, engage in designing, hacking, and producing necessary items through agile and responsive collective structures. Analysing the initiatives of six diverse and impactful groups, our research highlights the transition from individual to collective entrepreneurial agency, underscoring the ability of distributed networks to self-organize and implement innovative solutions with available resources. We contribute to the entrepreneurship literature by delving into the ‘make do’ attitude across initiatives, shifting the spotlight from individual agency to a network of distributed actors, who are capable of self-organizing and operating effectively. This study extends the bricolage concept by showcasing the networked, socialized nature of entrepreneurial action, moving beyond the traditional focus on individual agency to a more inclusive understanding of distributed and collaborative efforts afforded by digital technologies.

Evaluating policy coherence and integration for adaptation: the case of EU policies and Arctic cross-border climate change impacts

ABSTRACT The impacts of climate change materialize in different ways and are of varying magnitudes at different locations around the world. Adaptation is a global policy challenge because some of those impacts propagate across borders. The presence of borders influences the policy responses that may aim at preventing, alleviating, or exploiting the impacts. Yet the dynamics of responses to cross-border impacts have not been explored in research on policy coherence. We extend the analysis of climate policy coherence and integration to cover adaptation policies that are enacted at different but interacting geographical locations, proposing a conceptual approach how to do this. We illustrate our approach with examples of European Union (EU) policies related to the cross-border ramifications of climate change impacts originating in the Arctic. Our example highlights interconnections between climate change adaptation policy with foreign, security and trade policies. Since climate change impacts are transmitted through systems that cross borders, policymakers in the EU and elsewhere should recognize the links between policy domains with potential significance in responding to these propagating impacts. The policy responses of a recipient region at risk of such impacts are limited by jurisdictional borders. By explicitly recognizing elements of integration and coherence, more effective policy actions can be developed. Seeking coherence between climate and other policies between different regions, intertwined together via global networks of trade and other relations, should be a fundamental policy goal for the EU.

Abstract LB088: CANCollaborate: Transforming rare cancer research through cooperation and collaboration

Abstract CANCollaborate is a groundbreaking initiative focused on revolutionizing rare cancer research through global cooperation and was founded upon the realization that collective action is crucial for effectively addressing the myriad rare forms of cancer. Rare cancers typically have outdated treatment guidelines, a lack of targeted therapy options due to insufficient research into their biology, and consequently, a failure to keep pace with the advancements in survival outcomes seen in more common cancers over the past few decades. The initiative is rooted in five core premises: the shared goal of all stakeholders to improve rare cancer care, the prevalence of rare cancers constituting a substantial global burden, the scattered nature of rare cancer researchers and resources, existing disincentives hindering collaboration, and the untapped potential of coordinated efforts. CANCollaborate addresses these challenges by fostering open communication, encouraging cooperation, and creating collaborations among researchers, institutions, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, patient advocacy groups, financiers, and regulators. The first focus is on appendiceal cancer (AC). AC is exceedingly rare, affecting 1 to 2 people per million, but incidence has been increasing with one study seeing a 232% increase in the U.S. between 2000 and 2016. For some subtypes of AC, management is extrapolated from colorectal cancer (CRC) guidelines, even though it was established that AC is molecularly distinct from CRC. Coordinated collaboration is essential in advancing the field, given that many physicians involved in treating and researching appendiceal cancer often have it as a secondary focus, rather than being their primary area of concentration. In our brief existence, we've successfully facilitated collaborations for appendiceal organoid generation and testing by connecting a leading organoid scientist with a physician who sees AC patients. Additionally, we have established collaborations with a biotech company with an ex-vivo drug testing platform to surgical oncologists for commencing AC susceptibility testing to potential therapeutics. Key components of CANCollaborate include regular communication, frequent workshops, promoting transparency, and sharing research developments, challenges, and results. By forming collaborations among diverse stakeholders, CANCollaborate seeks to diversify and de-risk rare cancer research by eliminating existing disincentives by rewarding collaborative efforts and fostering new forms of incentives, transforming high-risk, low-return efforts into high-return, low-risk endeavors. CANCollaborate invites all stakeholders in the field of cancer research to join by working together, sharing knowledge, and creating a global network. Together we can accelerate progress, eliminate redundancy, and ultimately contribute to the eradication of cancer. Citation Format: Jamie Barber, Kyra Itskowitz, Jane Wilkinson. CANCollaborate: Transforming rare cancer research through cooperation and collaboration [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr LB088.