Collective Action Research Articles

Actin Filament Barbed-End Depolymerization by Combined Action of Profilin, Cofilin, and Twinfilin

Cellular actin dynamics results from the collective action of hundreds of regulatory proteins, majority of which target actin filaments at their barbed ends. Three key actin binding proteins—profilin, cofilin, and twinfilin—individually depolymerize filament barbed ends. Notwithstanding recent leaps in our understanding of their individual action, how they collectively regulate filament dynamics remains an open question. In the absence of direct and simultaneous visualization of these proteins at barbed ends, gaining mechanistic insights has been challenging. We have here investigated multicomponent dynamics of profilin, cofilin, and twinfilin using a hybrid approach that combines high-throughput single filament experiments with theory. We discovered that while twinfilin competes with profilin, it promotes binding of cofilin to filament sides. Interestingly, contrary to previous expectations, we found that profilin and cofilin can simultaneously bind the same filament barbed end, resulting in its accelerated depolymerization. Our study reveals that pairwise interactions can effectively capture depolymerization dynamics in simultaneous presence of all three proteins. We thus believe that our approach of employing a theory-experiment dialog can potentially help decipher multicomponent regulation of actin dynamics. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Surviving, thriving, and resisting: Reimagining the ordinary gendered lives of TESOLers

AbstractThe guest editors introduce five studies in this special issue on gender equality. The five articles address the gender disparities in English language teaching as they intersect with learner and teacher identities. Despite progress made in the field for the past 20 years, we are reminded that women and queer individuals in our educational spaces, such as students and practitioners, continue to experience gender‐based oppression such as recent bans on abortion, control over their bodies, lack of access to education, basic needs such as food and housing security (Kendall, 2020), gender violence, homophobia and transphobia, and the silencing of teachers' racial and queer justice efforts in schools. Patriarchy, misogyny, and sexism—systems predicated on a gender binary and hierarchies—materialize in our educational contexts through homogenous views of identity and language that erase difference. These systems reward competition and hierarchical thinking while punishing creative border‐crossing practices. Therefore, understanding how social issues make their way into our language classrooms becomes important for all TESOLers and other educators as they directly shape students' learning, pedagogical practices, curriculum design, etc.. However, the authors of these studies also demonstrate that women and people with non‐conforming gender identities are still here and very much present in English language classrooms, surviving, resisting, and reimagining collective action for all to learn in more equitable conditions. This article builds on the studies presented in the special issue to suggest additional professional practices in order to mitigate gender‐based oppressions in the field.

The Role of Human Resource Management in Agricultural Labor-Saving Technologies: An Integrative Review and Science Mapping

The integrative role of human resource management continues to rise as a topic in sustainable and smart agriculture. This dual focus emphasizes new solutions for agricultural businesses and rural areas, incorporating academic concepts with practical implementations to address the pressing challenges coming from the implementation of labor-saving technologies. The study employs the integrative review method, along with science mapping of literature. After a careful selection of studies from the Scopus database, we included 149 papers for our analysis. Our findings suggest that the overall scholarly work has been concentrated on the topics of entrepreneurship and organizational structure. We conclude that the literature is mostly directed toward sustainability development goals such as gender, diversity, and youth. The current trends topics are “collective action” and “artificial intelligence”. Furthermore, our study offered insights into developing and emerging themes, trends, and future directions. The HRM functions that play a pivotal role in the adoption of labor-saving technology adoption are knowledge management, change management, labor allocation, sustainability allocation, and regulatory compliance. Moreover, we provided the practical implementation of the HRM roles and future directions. This study benefits agricultural researchers, agricultural managers, and policymakers because it gives a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective.

From Constrain to Capability: Factors Driving Tribal Women Empowerment through SHGs

In the current scenario, the empowerment of tribal women holds significant importance in confronting enduring inequalities and propelling the attainment of sustainable development objectives. Indigenous communities frequently encounter socio-economic marginalisation, with tribal women disproportionately affected by this disparity. Empowering tribal women is fundamental in fostering gender parity, given their pivotal contributions to their families, communities, and customary livelihoods. Moreover, amidst escalating globalisation and environmental crises, the imperative to empower tribal women intensifies, ensuring their inclusion in decision-making concerning land rights, natural resource management, and adaptation to climate change. Self-help groups are instrumental in empowering tribal women as they provide a platform for collective action, economic self-reliance, and community support. By participating in SHGs, tribal women gain access to financial resources, skill development initiatives, and valuable networks, enabling them to improve their socio-economic standing and advocate for their rights within their communities. Moreover, SHGs nurture leadership abilities and decision-making skills among tribal women, empowering them to confront challenges such as gender inequality and social exclusion. The paper aims to explore the perceptions of SHG members from five scheduled areas in Himachal Pradesh regarding 49 statements related to various aspects of tribal women's empowerment. It seeks to consolidate these numerous statements into groups based on their intercorrelation using the PCA method of factor analysis, to gain meaningful insights into the role of SHGs in the lives of these tribal women. The results of the systematic factor analysis using Principal Component Analysis and Varimax Rotation with Kaiser Normalization identify ten key factors. The most significant factor in empowering tribal women works out to be the improvement in skills, awareness, and knowledge. Other major factors include enhanced family conditions through better access to facilities, financial independence, and greater involvement in financial decisions. Additionally, community engagement, economic advancement, self-awareness, political awareness, knowledge of rights, and education and training are crucial components for analysing the impact of Self-Help Groups on tribal women's empowerment. By further analysing the ten driving factors identified in this study, a more systematic approach can be developed to assess the capability of these social groups to impact the lives of tribal women. This will allow for a precise evaluation of their overall empowerment through participation in SHGs.

Generative AI enhances individual creativity but reduces the collective diversity of novel content.

Creativity is core to being human. Generative artificial intelligence (AI)-including powerful large language models (LLMs)-holds promise for humans to be more creative by offering new ideas, or less creative by anchoring on generative AI ideas. We study the causal impact of generative AI ideas on the production of short stories in an online experiment where some writers obtained story ideas from an LLM. We find that access to generative AI ideas causes stories to be evaluated as more creative, better written, and more enjoyable, especially among less creative writers. However, generative AI-enabled stories are more similar to each other than stories by humans alone. These results point to an increase in individual creativity at the risk of losing collective novelty. This dynamic resembles a social dilemma: With generative AI, writers are individually better off, but collectively a narrower scope of novel content is produced. Our results have implications for researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners interested in bolstering creativity.

Youth Community Organizing Groups Fostering Sociopolitical Wellbeing: Three Healing-Oriented Values to Support Activism

Young organizers are increasingly calling for social movements to center healing alongside activism as they build political power. Campaigns that solely focus on policy wins or base-building can lead to burnout and frustration. Sociopolitical action is more likely to be sustained if accompanied by experiences of care, belonging, and mutual support. Such an approach makes sociopolitical wellbeing central to organizing. Although the research literature has offered conceptualizations of healing, and compelling evidence of health-related outcomes, we still lack empirical examples of what it looks like for youth community organizing (YCO) groups to weave a commitment to healing into sustained collective action. Drawing on qualitative data from the Powerful Youth, Powerful Communities International Study on Youth Organizing, we define and demonstrate three interconnected healing-oriented values that foster what we characterize as sociopolitical wellbeing. The three values, which we illustrate via fieldnotes and interview excerpts, are collectivized care, spiritual activism, and freedom dreaming. YCO holds promising implications for supporting youth engagement in democratic movements for education, racial, gender, economic, and environmental justice.

Eloquence in Adversity: A Hope-Theoretic Exegesis of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s 7th March, 1971 Speech and Its Societal Ramifications

This research paper conducts a meticulous exegesis of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's seminal 7th March 1971 speech through the theoretical framework of Hope Theory as propounded by C.R. Snyder. By dissecting the speech’s rhetorical architecture, this study elucidates how Bangabandhu’s strategic deployment of goal-setting, pathway articulation, and agency instillation galvanized a subjugated populace toward the pursuit of sovereignty. The analysis reveals the intricate mechanisms by which Bangabandhu engendered psychological resilience and fostered a robust communal identity, thus transforming rhetorical constructs into catalysts for socio-political mobilization. Furthermore, this paper expounds on the practical implications of hope-infused rhetoric, underscoring its potency in contemporary political discourse and its capacity to fortify national cohesion. The societal ramifications of such rhetorical prowess are profound, offering contemporary leaders a paradigmatic blueprint for engendering collective action and sustaining national morale amidst adversity. This scholarly inquiry contributes to the corpus of rhetorical studies by providing a nuanced understanding of the interplay between hope, rhetoric, and societal transformation.

Cultural Responsiveness in Academic Physical Therapy: An Administrative Case Report.

This paper describes how the administrative leadership of 1 physical therapy department curated, implemented, and evaluated a culturally responsive administrative support strategy to foster a positive working environment. Authors summarize participants' perceptions of culturally responsive practices using climate survey data. This case occurred in the physical therapy and rehabilitation science department at an American academic medical center. The department administers 5 educational programs, 3 faculty practices, a community clinic, and a robust research enterprise, and employs over 100 employees. After a historic socio-cultural event, administrators implemented a series of actions to understand the needs of department employees and to respond in a culturally responsive manner. Interventions included supportive activities, educational opportunities, and community-building events. The department administered an annual climate survey to assess the employees' perceptions of the working climate, perceived impacts of the culturally responsive interventions, and suggestions for improving department climate. Survey analysis included frequency statistics (STATA Version 17; StataCorp LLC; College Station, Texas, USA) and thematic content analysis with sensitizing concepts from a culturally responsive practice framework previously applied in primary and secondary school settings. A total of 131 employees participated in the annual climate survey from 2020 to 2022. Employees' confidence to identify and address microaggressions in working environments showed trends of overall improvement, and overall self-reported experiences with racial discrimination decreased. Participants reported positive trends in addressing discrimination among colleagues, but difficulty addressing offensive behaviors perpetrated by patients. Findings suggest that culturally responsive interventions are associated with positive trends in employee climate. Interventions tailored to the audience and curated to deepen cultural knowledge, enhance self-awareness, and validate others, fostered a shared commitment to cultural equity. Administrative leaders have a role in fostering an inclusive climate by capitalizing on culturally significant teachable moments with sound culturally responsive strategy, bi-directional culturally sensitive communication, individual development, and collective action.

Distributive justice and value trade-offs in antibiotic use in aged care settings.

Residential aged care facilities (RACF) are sites of high antibiotic use in Australia. Misuse of antimicrobial drugs in RACF contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) burdens that accrue to individuals and the wider public, now and in the future. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) practices in RACF, e.g. requiring conformation of infection, are designed to minimise inappropriate use of antibiotics. We conducted dialogue groups with 46 participants with a parent receiving aged care to better understand families' perspectives on antibiotics and care in RACF. Participants grappled with value trade offs in thinking about their own parents' care, juggling imagined population and future harms with known short term comfort of individuals and prioritising the latter. Distributive justice in AMR relies on collective moral responsibility and action for the benefit of future generations and unknown others. In RACF, AMS requires value trade-offs and compromise on antimicrobial use in an environment that is heavily reliant on antimicrobial drugs to perform caring functions. In the context of aged care, AMS is a technical solution to a deeply relational and socio-structural problem and there is a risk that carers (workers, families) are morally burdened by system failures that are not addressed in AMS solutions.

Emergent cooperation from mutual acknowledgment exchange in multi-agent reinforcement learning

Peer incentivization (PI) is a recent approach where all agents learn to reward or penalize each other in a distributed fashion, which often leads to emergent cooperation. Current PI mechanisms implicitly assume a flawless communication channel in order to exchange rewards. These rewards are directly incorporated into the learning process without any chance to respond with feedback. Furthermore, most PI approaches rely on global information, which limits scalability and applicability to real-world scenarios where only local information is accessible. In this paper, we propose Mutual Acknowledgment Token Exchange (MATE), a PI approach defined by a two-phase communication protocol to exchange acknowledgment tokens as incentives to shape individual rewards mutually. All agents condition their token transmissions on the locally estimated quality of their own situations based on environmental rewards and received tokens. MATE is completely decentralized and only requires local communication and information. We evaluate MATE in three social dilemma domains. Our results show that MATE is able to achieve and maintain significantly higher levels of cooperation than previous PI approaches. In addition, we evaluate the robustness of MATE in more realistic scenarios, where agents can deviate from the protocol and communication failures can occur. We also evaluate the sensitivity of MATE w.r.t. the choice of token values.

A two-pronged approach to understanding reciprocity and mental health relationship in developing countries: evidence from young informal construction workers in Nigeria

BackgroundMental health problems disproportionately affect young people in developing countries. However, there is limited research on help-seeking behaviours and the social support systems that improve mental wellbeing among vulnerable youth populations.ObjectiveThis mixed-methods study aimed to examine the relationship between social support reciprocity and mental health among young informal construction workers in Nigeria, a population at high-risk for occupational and socioeconomic stressors.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was administered to 686 informal workers to measure reciprocity, mental health-related quality of life, and covariates. In-depth interviews with 32 participants provided qualitative context.ResultsQuantitative analyses showed 25% of participants reported poor mental health. Reciprocity positively predicted mental health after controlling for covariates. Qualitative findings revealed reciprocity occurs directly between individuals as well as indirectly through trade unions and religious groups. Indirect exchanges through groups helped address limitations of direct support due to limited resources.ConclusionsThis study fills important gaps in understanding how social relationships impact mental health in developing country contexts. Findings emphasize the role of collective action and community-based support systems in promoting mental wellbeing among vulnerable populations. Insights can inform culturally relevant, systems-level mental health interventions.

The Contribution of Women from the Organized Colombian Diaspora in Catalonia to the Generation of Transnational Human Rights Defense Practices

Objective/context: To learn about the contributions of women of the organized Colombian diaspora in Catalonia to creating transnational practices in favor of peace and denunciation of human rights violations in Colombia. Specifically, we seek to identify the main actors, organizational spaces, and collective action repertoires developed by Colombian women in Catalonia. Therefore, we approach the literature on the political participation of migrant and exiled women from the perspective of political transnationalism. Methodology: This qualitative and participatory research study examines bibliographic and documentary sources, semi-structured interviews with Colombian women participating in the organized diaspora, and participant observation of mobilizations. Conclusions: The analysis and discussion of the results show that for some women, their participation is based on their exile and previous political involvement. For others, it is driven by the recognition of their condition as migrant subjects, as well as the different axes of inequality that cross them, which allows them to connect their individual discomfort with the collective discomfort of their country of origin and develop new interpretative frameworks and new repertoires of action aimed at sensitizing and influencing the Colombian socio-political reality. Originality: This research contribution allows for further debate on the transnational political role of migrations in a globalized world and what role women can play in it.

Revolutionizing trade finance: leveraging the power of blockchain and AI in electronic letters of credit

Abstract This article examines the innovative combination of blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the field of electronic letters of credit and international trade finance. It explores how the combined effect of this convergence may greatly improve the security, effectiveness, and clarity of trade finance procedures. The article presents a suggested framework for combining various technologies, focusing on important design considerations including security, trust, interoperability, and adherence to international trade norms. The technological design blends blockchain’s decentralized ledger with AI’s analytical capabilities, highlighting the need of smart contracts, data management, and application programming interfaces for smooth interoperability. The implementation plan and stages are meticulously detailed, emphasizing the systematic approach necessary for effective integration. The article also discusses the problems and dangers related to this technology integration, such as technical obstacles, regulatory compliance, security threats, stakeholder acceptance, and cost factors. The conclusion outlines the impact of blockchain and AI on trade finance, discusses their larger implications for international commerce, and advocates for the adoption of these advanced technologies by collective action. This article seeks to provide significant insights to financial institutions, policy-makers, technologists, and stakeholders in the trade finance sector, promoting the modernization of trade finance via new technology.

Social Work Ethical Dilemma: Social Workers' Experiences in Handling Children Who Are Involved by Parents in Acts of Terrorism

Social Work Ethical Dilemma: Social Workers' Experiences in Handling Children Who Are Involved by Parents in Acts of Terrorism

Social Work Ethical Dilemma: Social Workers' Experiences in Handling Children Who Are Involved by Parents in Acts of Terrorism

Objectives: This research aims to explain the ethical dilemmas faced by social workers in handling children whose parents involve them in acts of terrorism.The study is grounded in the principles of values and ethics essential for social work professionalism. It examines ethical dilemmas through the lenses of deontological and teleological ethics, professional codes of ethics, and the balance between confidentiality, communication, and self-determination.A qualitative approach with a case study design was employed to explore natural phenomena in depth. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with four social workers directly involved in handling children whose parents involved them in acts of terrorism.The research found that social workers face significant ethical dilemmas, including balancing confidentiality and accessible communication, navigating professional and personal values, and managing self-determination versus paternalism. These dilemmas create confusion and impact the intervention process.The findings highlight the need for structured support for social workers, including guidance on ethical decision-making and opportunities for professional consultation. It suggests revisiting and reinforcing the professional code of ethics and discussing ethical challenges with colleagues and supervisors to navigate these dilemmas effectively.This study provides valuable insights into the specific ethical challenges encountered by social workers dealing with terrorism-related cases in Indonesia. It contributes to the body of knowledge by offering alternative solutions for ethical dilemmas, enhancing the understanding of the practical application of ethics in social work.

Climate Change and Soil Health: Explainable Artificial Intelligence Reveals Microbiome Response to Warming

Climate change presents an unprecedented global challenge, demanding collective action to both mitigate its effects and adapt to its consequences. Soil health and function are profoundly impacted by climate change, particularly evident in the sensitivity of soil microbial respiration to warming, known as Q10. Q10 measures the rate of microbial respiration’s increase with a temperature rise of 10 degrees Celsius, playing a pivotal role in understanding soil carbon dynamics in response to climate change. Leveraging machine learning techniques, particularly explainable artificial intelligence (XAI), offers a promising avenue to analyze complex data and identify biomarkers crucial for developing innovative climate change mitigation strategies. This research aims to evaluate the extent to which chemical, physical, and microbiological soil characteristics are associated with high or low Q10 values, utilizing XAI approaches. The Extra Trees Classifier algorithm was employed, yielding an average accuracy of 0.923±0.009, an average AUCROC of 0.964±0.004, and an average AUCPRC of 0.963±0.006. Additionally, through XAI techniques, we elucidate the significant features contributing to the prediction of Q10 classes. The XAI analysis shows that the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration increases with microbiome variables but decreases with non-microbiome variables beyond a threshold. Our findings underscore the critical role of the soil microbiome in predicting soil Q10 dynamics, providing valuable insights for developing targeted climate change mitigation strategies.

Role of multi-level institutions in facilitating innovation and adaptation technologies for reducing climate risk and impact: Evidence from coastal communities of Bangladesh

While the role of innovation and adaptation technology in reducing climatic risks is widely recognized, few studies have investigated the role of formal, quasi-formal, and informal institutions in facilitating the adoption of such technology at the local level. The novel contribution of this study is in offering explanations of how local institutions facilitate or create barriers against innovation and implementation of climate adaptation technologies. In this study, we employ a mixed-methods research technique to empirically examine the roles of local institutions in two coastal communities in Bangladesh in facilitating reduction of the impacts of climate hazards. Primary data were collected via interviewing 300 household heads, 26 key informant interviews, and 2 Focus Group Discussion sessions. The findings reveal that local institutions (i.e., formal, quasi-formal, and informal) are actively involved in various partnership-building processes and actions to promote innovation and adaptation technologies at the community level. For example, in the study area of Satkhira District, in collaboration with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as national level government organizations, such as Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Union Parishad Disaster Management Committees are deeply engaged in mobilizing local volunteers to effectively disseminate cyclone-related early warnings. However, significant institutional fragmentation in the country remains a major barrier to the sustainable implementation of various programs related to climatic hazards. For institutions to play their roles sustainably, it is recommended that national policies place greater emphasis on nurturing partnerships among regional stakeholders, as well as facilitating collective action for climate-induced disaster risk reduction and participatory community development.

Motivations to engage in collective action: A latent profile analysis of refugee supporters.

What motivates people to participate in collective action? Some actions such as symbolic or online actions are often critiqued as performative allyship, motivated by personal gain rather than genuine concern for the cause. We aim to adjudicate this argument by examining the quality of motivations for acting, drawing on the insights of self-determination theory and the social identity approach. Using latent profile analysis, we examined whether there are different types of supporters of refugees based on their underlying motives. In Study 1, we surveyed supporters of Syrian refugees from six nations (N = 936) and measured autonomous and controlled motivation, pro-refugee identification and collective action. In Study 2 (N = 1994), we surveyed supporters of Ukrainian refugees in Romania, Hungary and the UK. We found 4-5 profiles in each sample and consistently found that supporters with high autonomous motivation take more action than disengaged or ambivalent supporters (low/neutral on all motives). However, contrary to the tenets of self-determination theory, those high in both autonomous and controlled motives were the most engaged. We conclude that the most committed supporters are those with multiple motives, but further research is needed on the role of controlled motivation.

Convergence Communication in Community-Based Ecotourism Management

The development of sustainable tourism can be realized through ecotourism. Ecotourism itself is an environmentally conscious tourism activity that prioritizes aspects of nature conservation, social, cultural, and economic empowerment of local communities, as well as learning and education aspects. This research aims to analyze the dynamics of convergence communication in community-based ecotourism management in Indonesia. The method used in this research is literature review. There are four community-based ecotourism locations selected purposively, namely Blekok Village ecotourism, Mola Wakatobi Village, Berjo Village, and Wae Rebo Village. The results obtained from these four ecotourism sites show the process of convergence communication in ecotourism management consisting of stages of understanding, agreement, and collective action. Through collective action, the aim is to develop ecotourism in accordance with its principles from aspects of environmental conservation, economic benefits, cultural preservation, and community participation.

Role Expectations, Constraints, and Strategies: A Case of Departmental Heads in Vhembe West District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Departmental heads (DHs) in primary schools have multiple roles and responsibilities to fulfil. They are expected to perform diverse roles that are not only limited to being class teachers but also as supervisors, coordinators, and departmental managers. Most of them do not receive formal training to become DHs, how to perform these roles, or how to respond to the challenges accompanying these roles and responsibilities. This study aims to establish strategies to manage constraints that prevent departmental heads from fulfilling their roles effectively within the Vhembe West District of Limpopo Province. The study employed an interpretive paradigm to understand the social realities that DHs experience at school. The study was conducted within the Theory of Constraints (TOC). The research design of this study was a multiple-qualitative case study. The population of the study was all DHs in Elim, Soutpansberg East, and Vhuronga Two (2) Circuits. Purposeful sampling was employed to draw a sample of 9 DHs. Data was collected through a semi-structured interview schedule and document analysis. The data was analysed thematically. Findings from this study revealed, amongst others, the following: the roles of all participants in monitoring, curriculum management, coordination, and planning activities to enhance the implementation of the curriculum. This study recommended, among others that DHs should be excluded from being full-time classroom teachers, and policymakers should reduce the current teaching load of DHs. The study contributes to the empowerment of DHs in their roles despite the huge workload of teaching and supervising teachers in their departments. This is possible through employing distributive leadership wherein they solicit the skills of senior teachers to assist them, thereby enhancing shared leadership, collective action, and collaborative decision-making. Keywords: Constraints, Departmental Heads, Departmental Head roles and responsibilities