Changing Role Research Articles

Local Grammar Approach to Critical Discourse Analysis: A Case Study on the Discursive Representation of Climate Change in the UN News

ABSTRACTThis study explores the applicability of local grammar in critical discourse analysis, which is demonstrated by an investigation into the discursive representation of climate change. Using UN climate change news as the data, the study shows that climate change was typically construed as ‘Problem’, ‘Cause’, ‘Definiendum’ and ‘Effect’, and a close examination of the semantic roles of climate change reveals how the UN conceptualised the changing climate and urged the public to act on climate change. Overall, the study shows that local grammar can facilitate the identification of semantic roles of discourse phenomena, which in turn contributes to exploring the association between discourse practice and social reality. It is thus concluded that local grammar could be a viable approach to critical discourse studies.

Prehistoric Cultural Migration in the Middle–Lower Lishui Catchment of Central China in Response to Environmental Changes

Climate change and geological shifts were pivotal in the survival and development of ancient human societies, especially in densely populated regions like the middle and lower Lishui River Basin. This study explored the dynamic interactions between ancient human cultures and the region’s natural environment, using field research alongside geological, geomorphological, and archaeological data spanning from the late Paleolithic to the Neolithic periods. Our findings showed that prehistoric sites in the middle and lower Lishui River Basin were primarily located in the low hilly areas surrounding the lower basin during the Paleolithic era, a pattern shaped by the region’s geomorphology. Early human settlements were strategically positioned near the Lishui River, offering access to vital resources while minimizing flood risk. These locations provided flat terrain, abundant vegetation, and materials for tool-making, factors that supported a hunting and gathering lifestyle. As the coldest phase of the last glacial period approached, the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic eras marked a period of significant behavioral adaptation. In response to the harsher environment, humans began settling on lower terraces and miniaturizing their stone tools, signaling a shift to more specialized hunting techniques. This adaptability and resilience marked the refinement of hunting economies during this period. With the onset of the Holocene epoch and a warmer climate, conditions for human habitation became more favorable. Societies began migrating from the hills to the fertile lower Lishui River Basin, heralding the Neolithic period. This era saw the emergence of settlements and the onset of early rice cultivation, marking the transition from a hunting–gathering economy to one centered on agriculture. By the Daxi period, these settlements had expanded, extending their influence throughout the region. In conclusion, this study underscores the critical roles of climate change and geological features in shaping human settlement patterns, economic activities, and cultural evolution in the middle and lower Lishui River Basin. Our findings offer valuable insights into the evolutionary processes of ancient human cultures in the region and provide a foundation to understand future challenges in sustainable development.

Lamin A and Emerin Protein Expression Remains Consistently Low and Nuclear Size is Unchanged in Normal Endometrium, Precancerous Lesions, and Endometrioid Carcinoma.

Nuclear laminar or inner nuclear membrane proteins, including lamin A, B1, and B2 and emerin, are involved in maintaining nuclear morphology. However, their expression patterns vary among tumors and remain incompletely understood. Endometrioid carcinoma (EC) exhibits mild nuclear atypia, although the underlying reasons have not been thoroughly explored. In this study, we quantitatively analyzed emerin and lamin A, B1, and B2 expression levels in normal endometrium (NE), precancerous lesions, and EC using computer-assisted image analysis to assess the proteins' roles in nuclear morphologic change during tumorigenesis. From NE to EC, nuclear size remained unchanged, and lamin A and emerin were consistently expressed at low levels, whereas lamin B1 and B2 expression gradually decreased. Given the association between lamin A and emerin as well as their roles in nuclear morphology, these results indicate that their consistent low expression may underlie the preservation of nuclear size and shape in EC relative to NE. Conversely, lamin B1 and B2 are implicated in tumor progression rather than nuclear morphology maintenance. As lamin A and emerin are expressed in many organs and tumors, the consistently low expression of these proteins from NE to EC highlights a notable feature of the endometrium and endometrial carcinogenesis.

Management accounting change in merger and acquisitions: a multiple-case study

PurposeDespite the literature highlighting the relevance of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) as strategic options for organizations’ evolution, such events maintain a high failure rate. All stages of M&As generate considerable stress on management accounting systems (MASs) and related actors. This study aims to investigate management accounting change (MAC) throughout M&As to expand knowledge on the technical side of these changes. A deeper understanding of these changes and their relationship to the implementing agents could illuminate the causes of M&A success and failure.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses an in-depth, qualitative case study analysis of two companies that completed an M&A. The MAC process was investigated based on Sulaiman and Mitchell’s (2005) typology. The authors collected information from internal documents, interviews, external reports and public information.FindingsThe findings indicate that MAC in M&As represents a comprehensive change that goes beyond the modifications outlined in Sulaiman and Mitchell’s (2005) original framework; the post-deal integration period can be broken down into early and full sub-phases; and the success of the MAC process rests on the different roles played by various change agents.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to apply and deepen a MAC framework focused on technical changes to MASs in the context of M&As. To date, the literature on M&A has mainly focused on behavioral or organizational changes while neglecting the technical dimension. In addition, by considering all the stakeholders of MASs, this study’s analyses expose the role of change agents who are not generally considered in the accounting literature.

Proactive policies are the key to reversing desertification in the main stream of the Tarim River in the past 30 years

The main stream of the Tarim River is a crucial part of China's ecological security strategy within the "two screens and three belts" framework, serving the "northern sand control belt" and the ecological civilization corridor. Evaluating and understanding desertification dynamics and driving factors is essential for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and promoting ecological civilization. This study, based on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, quantified the desertification process of the Tarim River's main stream from 1990 to 2020 using Landsat series satellite imagery from Google Earth Engine. Additionally, we employed panel data models to analyze the driving roles of climate change, socio-economic factors, and policies in desertification.Results indicate that between 1990 and 2020, desertification in the main stream of the Tarim River initially intensified, with 15% of the area experiencing desertification between 1990 and 2000. However, this trend was subsequently reversed, with only 0.6% of the area undergoing desertification over the 30-year period. Extensive economic development (−37.2%) and population growth (−48.7%) were the predominant factors exacerbating desertification in the initial period (1990–2000), whereas positive policies (55.3%) were the key to reversing desertification in the main stream of the Tarim River over the past 30 years.We also explored whether policies necessarily play a positive role in combating and preventing desertification. Based on this, we suggest actively engaging in interdisciplinary research and linking research outcomes with practical situations to formulate scientifically sound policies and measures for desertification prevention and control.

Traveling with family! A mediated-moderation model on the intention to use accommodation sharing

Purpose This study aims to examine the direct impact of perceived service quality (PSQ) on satisfaction and the intention to use accommodation sharing (IAS). Additionally, it investigates the mediating role of satisfaction between PSQ and IAS. To extend the findings, the study also analyzes the moderating roles of behavioral change and family status in the relationship between satisfaction and IAS within a collective group. Design/methodology/approach This study includes 413 accommodation sharing (AS) users in the USA using data collected through MTurk. The authors analyzed the data using the ordinary least squared regressions path analytical framework and bootstrapping methods in PROCESS Macro to estimate the hypothesized mediated moderation models. Findings The findings underscore the significant impact of PSQ on satisfaction and IAS. Moreover, they reveal the crucial role of satisfaction as a mediator in this relationship and the moderating influence of family status and behavior change on the observed indirect relationship. These insights are invaluable for understanding and navigating the dynamics of the accommodation-sharing industry. Originality/value This paper is a pioneering work that sheds new light on the roles of change in behavior and family status in the context of AS. It makes significant contributions to the sharing economy and offers valuable managerial insights for companies operating in this market. The study s originality lies in its explanation of the mediator role of satisfaction in the sharing economy and the moderator mechanism of change in behavior and family status on IAS.

Genome-Wide Identification of the Auxin Response Factor Gene Family in Maple (Acer truncatum) and Transcriptional Expression Analysis at Different Coloration Stages of Leaves

Auxin response factors (ARFs) are involved in the mechanism of plant leaf color regulation, inhibiting chlorophyll synthesis while promoting anthocyanin production. However, it is not clear whether the ARF gene family is involved in autumn leaf color changes in maple. The differentially expressed genes for autumn leaf discoloration were obtained by transcriptome sequencing, and the AtARF family was constructed by homologous gene search. The results show that the AtARFs consist of 21 members distributed on 11 chromosomes and can be divided into three subfamilies, which are mainly distributed in the nucleus. The promoter regions of the AtARFs contain light-responsive elements, abiotic stress-responsive elements, and hormone-responsive elements. The analyses presented in this paper provide comprehensive information on ARFs and help to elucidate their functional roles in leaf color change in Acer truncatum.

Biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration dominated vegetation dynamics during the 1980s-2010s in Yunnan, China

Changes in both vegetation type and productivity can affect the structure, functioning, and services of terrestrial ecosystems. Understanding vegetation dynamics and their drivers is critical for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. Although land cover datasets, climate-vegetation models, and remote sensing vegetation indices have been frequently used to reflect vegetation dynamics, they generally lack biological information about vegetation, such as species compositions, community structures, and succession status. Yunnan, recognized as the most biodiverse province in China, has undergone considerable vegetation changes over recent decades. However, the roles of climate change and human activities remain unclear. This study integrated detailed vegetation maps, climate factors, and vegetation indices obtained in the 1980s (1986–1995) and 2010s (2006–2015) to comprehensively evaluate the coverage transformations and productivity changes of vegetation types in Yunnan and unravel the drivers of decadal vegetation changes. The results indicated that: 1) A greening trend was observed across all vegetation types, particularly in coniferous and temperate forests. 2) The decadal vegetation changes were dominated by: the restoration of savanna and shrubland, cropland expansion, and artificial afforestation, accounting for 23.7 %, 22.9 %, and 19.1 % of all observed changes, respectively. 3) Conservation and restoration efforts dominated vegetation greening in Yunnan (55 %), followed by artificial afforestation (23 %), and agricultural expansion (16 %). By comparing vegetation maps of separated stages, the inclusion of vegetation class information provided critical knowledge for a better understanding of the intrinsic mechanisms behind vegetation greening and range shifting. Our study highlighted the significant role of ecological conservation and restoration policies and practices in influencing the spatiotemporal dynamics of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning at a regional scale, within merely a few decades.

Advancing evidence-based practice through the Knowledge Translation Challenge: Nurses' important roles in research, implementation science and practice change.

To describe a knowledge translation capacity-building initiative and illustrate the roles of nurses in practice change using an exemplar case study. The report uses observational methods and reflection. The Knowledge Translation Challenge program involves a multi-component intervention across several sites. The advisory committee invited eligible teams to attend capacity-building workshops. Implementation plans were developed, and successful teams receive funding for a 2 year period. Evaluation involved collecting data on program uptake and impact on practice change. Data has been collected from five cohorts. The exemplar case study employed an action-research framework. Four nurse-led teams have demonstrated successful implementation of their practice change. The case study on implementing a clinical toolkit for clozapine management further illustrates a thoughtful planning process, and implementation journey and learnings by a team of nurses. The Knowledge Translation Challenge program empowers nurses to use implementation science practices to enhance the quality and effectiveness of healthcare services. Success of this initiative serves as a model for addressing the persistent gap between knowledge and practice in clinical settings and the value of activating nurses to help close this gap. As the most trusted and numerous profession, it is vital that nurses contribute to efforts to translate research evidence into clinical practice. The Knowledge Translation Challenge program supports nurses to lead practice change. The Knowledge Translation Challenge program successfully equips nurses and other health care providers with the knowledge, skills and resources to implement practice improvements which enhance the quality and effectiveness of healthcare services and nursing practice. The Knowledge Translation Challenge advisory committee has three patient-public partners that support teams to develop a patient-oriented approach for their projects by providing feedback on the implementation plans. Each team was also supported to include patient-public partners on their project.

We are not an army of orcs: rethinking youth activism through a critical pedagogy of place

ABSTRACT The authors examine youth activism in Poland, focusing on the University of Gdańsk occupation, the Youth Climate Strike, and Stop Bzdurom’s direct actions. Using critical pedagogy of place, they analyse how youth activists drive social change and reclaim public spaces. The study highlights reinhabitation and decolonisation of public spaces as arenas for the common good and marginalised communities’ rights. It also explores the influence of radicalism and activism on society, particularly amid an ageing population and political polarisation. Detailed case analyses contribute to understanding youth roles in social movements and change, emphasising youth activism’s significance in shaping society’s future.

Cyanobacteria in the Anthropocene: Synanthropism forged in an era of global change.

The Anthropocene has driven a transformative era where human activities exert unprecedented influence on Earth's biosphere. Consequently, synanthropic organisms, adept at thriving in human-modified environments, have emerged. While well studied in terrestrial ecosystems, the presence and ecological importance of synanthropic species in aquatic ecosystems, specifically among cyanobacteria, are less understood. Cyanobacteria blooms, notorious for their detrimental effects on ecosystems and human health, are increasing in frequency and intensity globally. In this perspective, we explore the evidence supporting this rise of cyanobacteria blooms, emphasizing the roles of human-induced eutrophication and climate change on select cyanobacteria genera. Cyanobacteria are not a monolith, with certain genera showing an observable increase within anthropogenically modified environments. We propose the establishment of a new sub-branch of phycology that explicitly investigates the ecology and physiology of synanthropic cyanobacteria. Understanding the intricate interactions between synanthropic species and human populations is imperative for managing human-altered ecosystems and conserving freshwater resources, particularly in the face of increasing global water insecurity. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The rise in cyanobacteria blooms is driven by a small subset of human-adapted genera-synanthropic cyanobacteria. Research is needed to characterize synanthropic cyanobacteria, which will aid in developing tailored management approaches. A paradigm shift from domesticating to "rewilding" landscapes and modifying behaviors to facilitate cohabitation are solutions to reducing risks.

Biochar addition promotes soil organic carbon sequestration dominantly contributed by macro-aggregates in agricultural ecosystems of China

Soil aggregates play pivotal roles in soil organic carbon (SOC) preservation and climate change. Biochar has been widely applied in agricultural ecosystems to improve soil physicochemical properties. However, the underlying mechanisms of SOC sequestration by soil aggregation with biochar addition are not well understood at a large scale. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of 2335 pairwise data from 45 studies to explore how soil aggregation sequestrated SOC after biochar addition in agricultural ecosystems of China. Biochar addition markedly enhanced the proportions of macro-aggregates and aggregate stability, and the production of organic binding agents positively facilitated the formation of macro-aggregates and aggregate stability. Soil aggregate-associated organic carbon (OC) indicated a significantly increasement by biochar addition, which was attributed to direct and indirect inputs of OC from biochar and organic residues, respectively. Biochar stimulated SOC sequestration dominantly contributed by macro-aggregates, and it could be interpreted by a greater improvement in proportions and OC protection of macro-aggregates. Furthermore, the SOC sequestration of soil aggregation with biochar addition was regulated by climate conditions (mean annual temperature and precipitation), biochar attributes (biochar C/N ratio and pH), experimental practices (biochar addition level and duration), and agronomic managements (land type, cropping intensity, fertilization condition, and crop type). Collectively, our synthetic analysis emphasized that biochar promoted the SOC sequestration by improving soil aggregation in agricultural ecosystems of China.

Sustainable supply chain management's impact on triple bottom line performance: Does the firm size matter?

AbstractCompanies worldwide are moving towards sustainability by focusing on its three dimensions: environmental, economic, and social sustainability. This study explores how sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) takes the changing role to affect these three dimensions. Since organizations vary in size, we post and test relationships regarding how firm size can impact the implementation of SSCM practices as a moderator. We posit an empirical research model and test this using structural equation modeling with survey data from 392 managers across various Jordanian manufacturing firms. This study assessed the link between five categories of SSCM practices and TBL performance. We found that firm size is critical and moderates the positive SSCM relationship with economic and social performances. Results shed new light on SSCM and its impacts on environmental, economic, and social performance. According to the study findings, environmental management practices and supply chain integration influenced all sustainability dimensions, whereas socially inclusive community practices influenced none. Furthermore, operations had an impact on economic sustainability. Finally, socially inclusive employee practices had a significant impact on both environmental and economic sustainability. Findings show that when implementing SSCM, larger firms perform better on multiple sustainability measures compared to smaller firms. The model's integration of firm size as a moderator provides additional insights regarding the SSCM construct and its change agent role in stimulating sustainable development.

Extreme weather experience and climate change risk perceptions: The roles of partisanship and climate change cause attribution

Climate change risk perceptions are crucial in influencing individuals' behavioral changes and shaping policy preferences for climate change mitigation. Experience of recent extreme weather events may enhance people's awareness of climate change and thus alter their attitudes toward climate change. This study examines the correlations between extreme weather experience and climate change risk perceptions using Australia's most recent representative national survey data (2020 Australian Survey of Social Attitudes). The results demonstrate that the positive effect of extreme weather experience on climate change risk perceptions, both to the World and to Australia, became nonsignificant when all variables were controlled. Notably, extreme weather experiences amplified the perceptions of climate change risk among individuals without party affiliations, but they did not affect those with solid party affiliations, neither with the National-Liberal Coalition nor Labor or the Greens. Furthermore, the impact of extreme weather experiences on climate change risk perceptions is not direct but primarily indirect through individuals' cause attribution of climate change. This paper provides valuable insights into the linkage mechanism between extreme weather experience and climate change risk perceptions.

The Role of Driving Actors in the Social Capital Utilization in the Community

Population density and lower class marginalization due to the development of elite areas have alienated a community over its identity. The driving actors behind every social change exist, and they utilize a change through the villagers’ literacy power. Mainstreaming views on the actors’ active roles in social change essentially impact knowledge in the sociology of ethnic and cultural society. This study aims to describe the hidden actors behind the phenomenon of cultural movements that exist and develop national and international relations. This paper applies qualitative data collected in a participatory manner through interviews with key actors in Kampung Cempluk Festival. Focus group discussions were conducted with actors involved in every festival held by the community. Informants selected by snowball were then interviewed about their perceptions, motivations, and a value embodiment process. Researchers did the literature study through writings, releases, newspapers, mass media opinions, and several previous researches. The results indicate that alienation will foster citizens’ critical awareness of development and cultural values impacts. It is supported by driving actors who can read the potentials and opportunities in society. Thus, this research becomes the basis for policymakers in planning development which should prioritize a cultural approach and consider the threat of hidden power loss in society.

Tectonic and high-latitude climate controls on Quaternary sedimentary processes on the northern coast of Bohai Bay

Separating the relative roles of tectonics and climate change in geological evolution is complicated. The northern coast of Bohai Bay (NCBB), with a thick accumulation of Quaternary lacustrine sediments, is a subsiding area and is well suited to studying tectonic versus climatic controls on sedimentary processes. We used magnetostratigraphy and sedimentological analyses of borehole core JL01 from the NCBB to provide new insights into the effects of tectonic processes and climate changes in this region. The results show the following: (1) A shallow lacustrine delta, a deep-water lacustrine sedimentary system and a subaqueous fan-delta sedimentary system developed during 2.1–1.4 Ma, 1.4–0.78 Ma, and from 0.78 Ma to the present, respectively, corresponding to the rift-initiation, rift-climax, and late-rift tectonic stages of the evolution of an extensional basin, respectively. These stages constitute a low-order tectono-sedimentary cycle. (2) Tectonic and orbital-scale climate changes can be distinguished, particularly the 2.5 Ma climatic transition and a significant shift from 41- to 100-kyr cyclicity across the Mid-Pleistocene climatic transition. These changes indicate that the sedimentary processes of the NCBB were influenced by high-latitude climate forcing since the Late Pliocene. Our results demonstrate that detailed sedimentary facies analyses can provide valuable information about the effects of tectonics and climate changes on basin sedimentary evolution. This approach can be applied to other regional basins worldwide.

Analysis of Social Change in Legal Development in Indonesia

All aspects of community life, whether political, social, cultural, or economic, are regulated by law. Therefore, the existence of this law is universal. Development and reform give rise to social changes that give rise to social problems, which puts pressure on the law because the law must be able to overcome these problems. The aim of this research is to analyze social changes in the development of law in Indonesia. This research uses a statutory approach, also called a statutory approach. The results of this research show that law and social change have a close interaction in the context of social change. Both have an impact on each other. Changes in law are influenced by changes in society, and vice versa. Social transformation in society is influenced by legal changes as well. Based on the analysis that has been carried out, social changes in the development of law in Indonesia are: 1) Law Number 11 of 2008 was born, which regulates electronic information and transactions. Law plays two important roles in social change: law as a tool of social control and a technique of social engineering; 2) institutions have an important role in society; the existence of Rukun Warga (RW) and Rukun Tetangga (RT) officials as well as Village Government institutions is also crucial. The role of the village government and RT-RW can be utilized to empower the community effectively in carrying out prevention. 3) Providing legal understanding refers to awareness of the rules established by written law for behavior, namely what the community can and cannot do.

The multiple roles of crop structural change in productivity, nutrition and environment in China: A decomposition analysis

China’s crop structure has undergone significant changes in the last two decades since 2000, with an increase in the share of cereals, vegetables, and fruit, squeezing out other crops. As a result, land productivity, nutrient supply, and carbon emissions have changed. How to reallocate limited farmland among crops to achieve the multiple goals of agrifood systems becomes an important issue. This study explores the sources of land productivity and nutrition supply growth and carbon emissions reduction, and identifies the multiple roles of crop structural change from 2003 to 2020 based on a decomposition analysis. The results reveal that the growth within crops is still the primary driver in land productivity and nutrition supply and the reduction in carbon emissions. However, structural change also plays various roles at different periods. From 2003 to 2010, crop structural change increased the total calorie supply but lowered land productivity and contributed at least 70% of the total growth of carbon emissions. The crop structure was relatively stable, and their effects were modest from 2010 to 2015. From 2015 to 2020, the crop structural change began to play a greater role and generate synergistic effects in improving land productivity, micronutrient supply, and reducing carbon emissions, contributing to approximately a quarter of the growth of land productivity and 30% of total carbon emissions reduction. These results suggest that strategies for crop structural change should comprehensively consider its multiple impacts, aiming to achieve co-benefits while minimizing trade-offs.

Analisis Faktor-Faktor Sosial Dalam Bullying: Perspektif Pendidikan Anti-Bullying Melalui Lensa Filsafat Ibnu Khaldun

This research aims to analyze social factors in bullying using an anti-bullying education approach through the philosophical lens of Ibn Khaldun. The research method employs literature analysis and a review of existing studies to identify and comprehend the dynamics of social factors related to the phenomenon of bullying. The research objective is to provide a robust conceptual foundation for the development of anti-bullying education strategies. The literature analysis highlights the roles of social solidarity, cultural change, and inequality as key factors in bullying incidents. Ibn Khaldun's contributions to this perspective offer a philosophical insight that enriches prevention and intervention approaches. The implications of these findings support the formulation of policies and educational practices in anti-bullying that are more effective in responding to evolving social dynamics.

Inferring Global Ocean Mass Increase From Tide Gauges Network With Climate Models

AbstractOcean mass increase contributes to global sea level rise, and plays an important role in understanding climate change. Here, we develop a data assimilation approach that enables the inference of ocean mass increase from global tide gauge network. This approach incorporates outputs from climate models and sea level fingerprints caused by water mass changes over land areas. The results suggest a trend of 2.15 ± 0.72 mm/yr for ocean mass increase over the period 1993–2022, which closes the global sea level budget with estimates of thermosteric sea level rise. Furthermore, the inferred ocean mass increase offers an insight into the causes of sea level rise since 1950. These findings emphasize the significance of climate models, in addition to simulating sea level changes, they contribute to understanding causes of sea level rise over the past decades.