Structural Interdependence Research Articles

The Black Queer Experience Within Abrahamic Religion

This paper uses a sociological perspective to examine recent religious activism for reformist narratives about racism, sexism, dualism of gender, and prejudice against transgender in the United States as signs of identity politics. Analytically, it explores how identities like race, age, class, religion, gender, and sexuality work within religious discourses, specifically regarding racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and misogyny. This question leads to a consideration of America’s Original Sin, which presents the interdependency of power structures and dominance with the suppression of vindictive minorities, especially the black queer. This work aims to explore various forms of oppression intertwined in religious structures so that this study will help expose the complexity of systemic prejudice and its effects on minority populations. They emphasize the need for more discussion and representation of these topics in religious spheres and activism, calling for their recognition, acceptance, and equity. In this regard, this study seeks the following objectives: The study aims to contribute to the thematic understanding of identity, power, and oppression within contemporary religious contexts in America.

The emergence of international police cooperation in Europe with the creation of the TREVI group

The article examines the roots of international police cooperation in Europe, dating back to the creation of the TREVI Group in the 1970s. The format of the Group is considered and the reasons for its placement outside the format of the European Communities are explained. The centralization and formalization of international police cooperation in Europe, which was observed with the creation of the TREVI Group, is considered. The powers of the TREVI Group to fight terrorism are being investigated. It is emphasized that the granting of such powers to the Group was the result of a response to the threats faced by European states in the 1970s. The debate on the format of the group, which arose among European states, primarily between the United Kingdom, France and Germany, is considered. Germany’s proposals to create a centralized structure and the United Kingdom’s and France’s proposals to create an informal political association are under consideration. It is emphasized that the format of the Group reflects the asymmetric impact of security threats in different countries, which led to the unevenness of the preferences of the states during its formation. The Group’s chosen format reflected the «common denominator» of these political influences. Along with the existence of a common desire to develop international police cooperation, EU member states differed in their vision of the format of such cooperation. It is emphasized that the final format of the TREVI Group reflected the complex structural interdependencies in security issues between the member states of the European Communities and the politicization of security issues in domestic and international discourses. It is emphasized that the negotiations on the creation of the TREVI Group took place in conditions of strong internal politicization of the issue of combating terrorism, which shaped the preferences of states at the EU level. At the same time, the inability of states to agree on a formal structure led to the formation of the TREVI Group primarily as a platform for discussion and cooperation between participating states and an informal body promoting practical cooperation. It is concluded that the Trevi Group has become a relatively free political association, independent of the bodies of the European Communities.

The use of respiratory patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) in the management of COPD: Perceptions of Australian osteopaths

BackgroundPatient reported outcome measures (PROMs) are widely used to capture patients' perspectives of their health status and treatment outcomes and to enable practitioners to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. The aim of this study was to explore Australian osteopaths’ perceptions of the use of respiratory PROMS in the management of chronic lung conditions. MethodsThis study drew on the social ecological model (SEM), which highlights the interdependence of contextual structures and processes. Osteopaths who were initially part of a larger mixed-methods study were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were thematically analysed using the SEM. ResultsSeven of the original study osteopaths were interviewed. When presented with a patient who had a co-morbid respiratory condition, they focused on the musculoskeletal aspects of that condition (intrapersonal factors). Participants described sporadic use of musculoskeletal and quality of life PROMs in practice, and scarce use of respiratory PROMs (intrapersonal and organizational factors). Participants’ perceptions of their scope of practice strongly influenced their use of respiratory PROMs (environmental factors). ConclusionIntrapersonal and environmental factors were dominant drivers for participants’ scant use of respiratory PROMs. Further education on the scope and contribution of osteopaths to the management of chronic lung conditions and the use of respiratory PROMS is called for to promote multidisciplinary patient care.

Enhanced energy storage and mechanical properties in niobate-based glass-ceramics

The advancement of energy storage glass-ceramics, serving as quintessential elements within pulse power capacitors, is deemed essential for the progression of sophisticated electronic systems, attributable to their ultrafast discharge rate and elevated dielectric breakdown strength (DBS). In this study, the incorporation of 1.2 mol% Nd2O3 into SiO2-Na2O-K2O-BaO-Nb2O5-Nd2O3 (SNKBNN) glass-ceramics has significantly enhanced the material performance. Specifically, a high recoverable energy storage density (Wrec) of 2.06 J/cm3 can be achieved, alongside an ultrahigh efficiency (η) of 92.3 % under an electric field of 630 kV/cm. Additionally, this glass-ceramics also exhibit a high discharge energy density (Wd) of 0.97 J/cm3, an ultrafast discharge rate of 7 ns, and an exceptionally high hardness (Hv) of 10.51 GPa. Additionally, these glass-ceramics exhibit exceptional stability across a range of temperatures (25 to 150 ℃), frequencies (10 to 1000 Hz), and cycling durability (up to 104 cycles). The research has corroborated the structural interdependence between energy storage and mechanical properties, establishing a foundational understanding of their synergistic relationship. The synthesized glass-ceramics demonstrate significant potential for use in high-power dielectric capacitors.

Modeling the resilience of liner shipping network under cascading effects: Considering distance constraints and transportation time

The Liner Shipping Network (LSN) is a crucial component of the maritime supply chain (MSC) but remains susceptible to disruptions caused by natural disasters or emergencies, given its intricate structure and high level of interdependence. In this study, we present a novel cascading failure model that accounts for the heterogeneity of distances and transportation times between nodes, coupled with actual shipping lines. This comprehensive approach aims to thoroughly evaluate the resilience of the LSN. The study’s results reveal noteworthy variations in the cascading effects across diverse load distribution distances and transportation times. Furthermore, it delves into load distribution strategies to improve the resilience of the LSN and investigates the impact of capacity parameters on cascading effects. The results indicate that the distribution strategy proposed in this paper, integrating transportation time and redundancy levels, effectively suppresses the spread of cascading faults and improves network resilience. The outcomes of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of strategies for enhancing resilience and managing risks in shipping networks, providing valuable insights for management and decision-making in maritime operations.

MANAGEMENT OF BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT IN THE FORMATION OF ORGANIZED COMMODITY MARKETS

Modern business tends to cooperate and collaborate as the conditions of its functioning become increasingly complex and require new approaches to strategies, especially in wartime. These relationships align with the concept of business ecosystem management, which has attracted significant attention from researchers in recent years. In such interdependent structures, ways can be found to optimize performance, increase sustainability, and develop innovation, which is critical for the effective management and prosperity of business entities in today's unstable environment. The study focuses on elaborating the authors' opinions on the essence of the concepts of "business ecosystem" and "commodity market". Scholars have drawn attention to the different understandings of the "business ecosystem” concept. The authors also present their vision of the concept of "entrepreneurial business ecosystems", which is that they are diverse and interconnected dynamic groups of entrepreneurs based on the talents and skills of employees, long-term leadership, fair competition, and success in new ventures for greater mobility, growth of commodity markets and the ability to transform new ideas into innovations. The methodology for conducting a SWOT analysis of the impact of the business ecosystem on the formation of organized commodity markets is revealed. The strengths and weaknesses of the business ecosystem are identified and characterized, which positively or negatively affect their performance. For each component of the business ecosystem, the opportunities and threats that can both facilitate and impede their development in wartime are identified. An expert assessment of the interaction of strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities and threats to the functioning of business ecosystems in the formation of organized commodity markets, is carried out. A SWOT analysis matrix of the strategy for organizing a business ecosystem in forming organized commodity markets is derived on this basis. Obtained results can be used to determine the strategic priorities for developing the business ecosystem and formulate directions for developing commodity markets.

Cross-border sovereign risk transmission in BRICIT Nations: Unveiling asymmetries and the role of country risk premiums

This research highlights the asymmetric interdependence structure among the sovereign risks of Brazil, Russia, India, China, Indonesia, and Türkiye (BRICIT) nations, challenging the traditional view that bilateral trade is the main channel for cross-border spillover effects. Despite their dependence on Russian crude oil imports for energy, the BRICIT nations show no significant sovereign risk interdependence with Russia. The study finds that Indonesia's credit default swap (CDS) has the highest level of interdependence with other nations. Further exploration of alternative transmission channels necessitates an examination of the country risk premium, revealing Türkiye as the most vulnerable nation due to its negative association with the CDS of other countries, particularly India. By contrast, India is identified as a preferred investment destination, thanks to its lower uncertainty and strong GDP growth over the past decade. Additionally, the research underscores China's economic influence, demonstrated by its positive association with all other BRICIT nations. This suggests that despite the high sovereign risk associated with China, investors do not view other emerging markets as viable, lower-risk alternatives. The perceived risk related to China appears to extend beyond its borders, impacting the sovereign risk profiles of other emerging economies.

Copula-MIDAS-TRV model for risk spillover analysis − Evidence from the Chinese stock market

In this study, a Copula-MIDAS-TRV model with high-frequency realized volatility as the threshold variable is developed for the first time to fit the joint distribution of returns, which takes into account the impact of the leverage effect of volatility on the time-varying interdependence structure among financial markets. Based on this model, we empirically analyze the risk spillover effects between the CSI 300 index and the SSE Composite Index in the Chinese market and test the validity of the model in risk spillover measurement. The empirical findings demonstrate how well the Copula-MIDAS-TRV model, which is the focus of this work, can assess risk spillover effects and analyze the time-varying interdependence between these two indices.

Prediction of mid-infrared 2.72 μm lasing in heavily Er3+-doped fluorotellurite glass

Fluorotellurite glasses heavily doped with Er3+ are prepared in less demanding conditions as compared with fluoride glasses. Specifically, the effects of PbF2 added in the system of AlF3–MgF2–CaF2–SrF2–BaF2–TeO2 (AMCSBYT) are systematically studied on the correlation between glass structure and mid-infrared (MIR) luminescent properties of Er3+. These PbF2-modified glasses with an improved thermal stability and a noticeably reduced phonon energy as compared with telluride glasses exhibit an intense MIR emission at 2.72 μm and a long radiative decay lifetime. Calculation and analysis based on the Judd-Ofelt theory provide deeper insights into the interdependence of luminescent properties and glass structure. Numerical simulation is conducted for a MIR fiber laser based on the experimental data derived from the proposed glass. The 2.72 μm lasing output of 0.68 W is predicted with a slope efficiency of 3.38 %. It is expected that the performance of the fiber laser can be further optimized such that the output power can be increased over 1.0 W. The results emphasize the potential of the PbF2-modified fluorotellurite glass as a promising gain material for 2.72 μm fiber lasers.

Revisiting the interdependences across global base metal futures markets: Evidence during the main waves of the COVID-19 pandemic

This paper examines the correlation and connectedness across global base metal futures markets in the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that the impacts of the pandemic shock on the dynamic correlations between global commodity exchanges vary across futures markets, with significant structural breaks being detected in the underlying dynamic correlations at different stages of the pandemic. We document that stronger price signals were generated in the aggregate markets due to the pandemic shock, and the roles of copper and zinc futures as the pricing center in the global base metal markets increased during the pandemic period. Moreover, our findings show that the leading position of the London Metal Exchange in the global base metal futures pricing declined, while the pricing authority of the Shanghai Futures Exchange improved significantly during the pandemic time. Leveraging post-pandemic data, we identify interdependence structures amid some crucial geopolitical conflicts.

Unraveling the Dynamic Relationship between Neighborhood Deprivation and Walkability over Time: A Machine Learning Approach

Unraveling the Dynamic Relationship between Neighborhood Deprivation and Walkability over Time: A Machine Learning Approach

Defining Strategic Incentives as the Basis for the Company's Long-term Success

Successful business foresees effective disposal and management of scarce resources, which is related to the proper planning of the company's activities, the development of a coherent plan of decisions and actions that should be the basis for achieving the company's goal. The formation of the company's goal depends on the determination of strategic directions and the incentives that shape certain strategic behavior of the firm. The paper "Determining strategic incentives as the basis of the company's long-term success" is dedicated to this issue. The paper discusses the importance of business strategy development and determining factors. Interdependence of organizational structure and business strategy, as well as consistent ways of developing strategic decisions are analyzed. The paper discusses the importance of business strategy development and determining factors. Interdependence of organizational structure and business strategy, as well are analyzed consistent ways of developing strategic decisions. There is emphasized that a successful business is the effective disposal and placement of scarce resources, which is related to the correct planning of the company's activities, the development of a consistent plan of decisions and actions that should be the basis for achieving the company's goal. It is concluded that the public purpose of the company specifies its status, determines the efforts of all organizational levels to achieve the main strategic goal for which the organization was created. Development of business strategy and correct formation of strategy allows the company to: • to develop a concrete business plan; • to define specific business goals; • on the basis of the developed optimal action plan, to focus on increasing efficiency; • to establish a control mechanism of achievable goals and results. Keywords: Company mission and vision, business strategy, organizational structure; strategy incentives;

Analysis on the Cooperation Mechanism between CDC and Medical Community at County Level in China: From the Perspective of Evolutionary Game Theory

Objective: Using evolutionary game theory to explore the conditions for in-depth cooperation between county-level Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Medical Community, and to raise policy recommendations. Methods: The basic assumptions of the evolutionary game model were set through the information collected from focus group interview and individual interview, then the basic model was established by constructing the payment matrix and the replicator dynamic equation. The condition of in-depth cooperation was deduced by stable equilibrium analysis. Results: To improve cooperation effectiveness, the following conditions should be met: total income of CDC and Medical Community after the cooperation increased, additional benefit to CDC from the cooperation increased, effort level of the cooperation increased, psychological cost of CDC and Medical Community from the cooperation decreased. Thus the Medical Community and CDC were more inclined to cooperate and setup cooperation network. Conclusion: To setup in-depth cooperation, it is suggested: 1) government administrative intervention to push forward the cooperation as the initial and external impetus; 2) unified or dual leadership to drive the prevention-and-treatment network as internal support; 3) in-depth resources sharing to foster organizational and structural interdependence as the basis of cooperation; 4) objective interdependence to push self-improvement of cooperation as continuous self-driven force.

Computational Mutagenesis of Antibody Fragments: Disentangling Side Chains from ΔΔG Predictions.

The development of highly potent antibodies and antibody fragments as binding agents holds significant implications in fields such as biosensing and biotherapeutics. Their binding strength is intricately linked to the arrangement and composition of residues at the binding interface. Computational techniques offer a robust means to predict the three-dimensional structure of these complexes and to assess the affinity changes resulting from mutations. Given the interdependence of structure and affinity prediction, our objective here is to disentangle their roles. We aim to evaluate independently six side-chain reconstruction methods and ten binding affinity estimation techniques. This evaluation was pivotal in predicting affinity alterations due to single mutations, a key step in computational affinity maturation protocols. Our analysis focuses on a data set comprising 27 distinct antibody/hen egg white lysozyme complexes, each with crystal structures and experimentally determined binding affinities. Using six different side-chain reconstruction methods, we transformed each structure into its corresponding mutant via in silico single-point mutations. Subsequently, these structures undergo minimization and molecular dynamics simulation. We therefore estimate ΔΔG values based on the original crystal structure, its energy-minimized form, and the ensuing molecular dynamics trajectories. Our research underscores the critical importance of selecting reliable side-chain reconstruction methods and conducting thorough molecular dynamics simulations to accurately predict the impact of mutations. In summary, our study demonstrates that the integration of conformational sampling and scoring is a potent approach to precisely characterizing mutation processes in single-point mutagenesis protocols and crucial for computational antibody design.

Vine Copula Approach to Understand the Financial Dependence of the Istanbul Stock Exchange Index

AbstractRecently, the complex dependence patterns among various stocks gained more importance. Measuring the dependency structure is critical for investors to manage their portfolio risks. Since the global financial crisis, researchers have been more interested in studying the dynamics of dependency within stock markets by using novel methodologies. This study aims to investigate a Regular-Vine copula approach to estimate the interdependence structure of the Istanbul Stock Exchange index (ISE100). For this purpose, we consider 32 stocks related to 6 sectors belonging to ISE100. To reflect the time-varying impacts of the 2008–2009 global financial crisis, the dependence analysis is conducted over pre-, during-, and post-global financial crisis periods. Portfolio analysis is considered via a rolling window approach to capture the changes in the dependence. We compare the Regular-Vine-based generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) against the conventional GARCH model with different innovations. Value at risk and expected shortfall risk measures are used to validate the models. Additionally, for the constructed portfolios, return performance is summarized using both Sharpe and Sortino ratios. To test the ability of the considered Regular-Vine approach on ISE100, another evaluation has been done during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis with various parameter settings. The main findings across different risky periods illustrate the suitability of using the Regular-vine GARCH approach to model the complex dependence among stocks in emerging market conditions.

The interdependence structure of cryptocurrencies and Chinese financial assets

This study examines the interdependence structure between cryptocurrencies and Chinese financial assets. The results show a substantial multifractal cross-correlation between cryptocurrencies and Chinese financial assets. When cryptocurrency yield rates follow different trends, their cross-correlations with Chinese financial assets differ, and the asymmetry becomes more prominent. Furthermore, although a “shutdown” policy would impact the two factors’ interdependent structure, it would not eliminate the impact of cryptocurrencies on financial assets.

The interdependence and risk transmission between southward, northward capital and China’s stock, foreign exchange market

This paper mainly studies the interdependence structure and risk transmission between China’s north–south capital flow and the stock market and foreign exchange market. The results show that the correlation between southward capital and the mainland stock market is stronger, and the correlation between northward capital and the Hong Kong stock market is stronger. The correlation between northward capital and RMB exchange rate is greater than that between southward capital and RMB exchange rate. After the outbreak of COVID-19, the correlation between capital flows and the stock market has strengthened, while the correlation with the foreign exchange market has weakened. Furthermore, there is a bidirectional risk transmission between the north–south capital flow and China’s stock market and foreign exchange market. In general, the north–south capital flow has a greater impact on the stock market, and the exchange rate of RMB/US dollar has a greater impact on the north–south capital flow. This study has implications for investors and policymakers.

Examining interdependencies among solution dimensions for sustainable development in SMEs based on Industry 4.0 concept

PurposeIn the context of promoting sustainable development in SMEs, the present study aims to investigate the relationship among solution dimensions based on the Industry 4.0 (I4.0) concept.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a comprehensive methodology that includes a systematic literature review, workshop, grounded theory and interpretive structural modeling. Various dimensions concerning I4.0 sustainability are tested and evaluated using a questionnaire design followed by hypothesis formulation. Further, grounded theory is used to extract the key solution dimensions that capture the essence of I4.0 implementation in SMEs. Finally, the solution dimensions for I4.0 sustainability are modeled using the ISM approach to understand the structural interdependencies among them, and Matrice d'Impacts Croisés Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC) analysis is done to understand the driving and dependence power among these dimensions.FindingsThe study identified 14 solution dimensions for the implementation of I4.0 in SMEs for sustainable development. Out of the 14 solution dimensions, human resource training programs (D4) appear at level 11, followed by top management commitment (D1), strategic collaborations (D3) and coordination among key stakeholders (D5) at level 2 in the hierarchical interpretive structural modeling (ISM) model. Also, these dimensions have an effect size of more than 0.50 which indicates a substantial correlation between the sustainability dimensions and Industry 4.0 implementation in SMEs.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the overall goal of fostering sustainability within the SME sector, which can pave the way for various stakeholders for the successful implementation of I4.0 sustainable solution dimensions.

A transition towards clean propulsion in shipping: The role of PESTLE drivers and implications for policy

In the context of the ongoing green transition within the maritime sector, this study seeks to explore the interplay of factors influencing the development of clean propulsion technologies. We identify the drivers underpinning the shift towards cleaner propulsion in maritime operations and outline the implications for the future of such technologies. This research is a result of industry-academia effort to develop a collective vision and strategy for a consortium of companies within propulsion sector. The market drivers are identified as part of a technology roadmapping process following PESTLE framework. Additionally, we employ the MICMAC method to discern dependencies and influences among these drivers. The findings indicate that certain drivers, such as fuel pricing and economic incentives, wield considerable independent influence, whereas others, including green financing, political will, and emission targets, exhibit substantial influence but are interdependent with other variables. Overall, most of the 30 drivers identified in the study both influence and depend on other drivers, creating a complex and uncertain system. This research contributes empirically to a holistic understanding of the intricate interplay among diverse market drivers in the context of clean propulsion in the maritime sector. Theoretically, it unveils the interdependent structure of socio-technical regimes and its implications in terms of “windows of opportunity” for niche development.

Subjects of tradition: cultural construction and Irish comprador capitalism

ABSTRACT On the weekend of the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the Irish Consulate in Chicago memorialised a different occasion: the 86th anniversary of the death of Francis O’Neill (1848–1936), a Cork-born collector of Irish music in the United States. This paper posits that the sociopolitical construction “Irish traditional culture” constitutes an exercise of power over land and bodies, shaping and sustaining the structures of the island’s political economy as part of a racial/colonial/imperial project. My argument centres James Byrne (1868–1931), an itinerant piper “discovered” in Kilkenny in 1903. O’Neill’s account of Byrne’s life demonstrates the development of an ideological narrative of tradition as the foundation of Irish modernity. To deterritorialise land-based practices and construct a White Irish citizen subject to global capital, colonial technologies of governance mobilise resources from “authentic” points of origin, inventing their administrators as the heroic saviours of vanishing culture. James Byrne, in contrast, is situated as a possession containing value to be extracted and as a contaminated body refusing to become a compliant capitalist subject harnessed to empire. By interrogating this narrative, I hope to foster nuanced discussion around the enduring structural interdependence of “Irishness” with transnational political economy.