Systems Theory Research Articles

Diverse effects of ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition on the activity and selectivity of ferromagnetic catalysts

Tuning the catalyst’s activity and selectivity is usually achieved by modifying the electronic structure through strategies such as alloying, doping, strain, and ligand modification, but inevitably accompanied by geometric structure changes of catalysts. It is challenging to modify a catalyst’s electronic structure without changing its geometric structure. Recent studies found that the second-order ferromagnetic to paramagnetic (FM-PM) phase transition could promote catalytic performance without altering the geometric structures of active sites, which was also known as the magneto-catalytic effect (MCE). However, the understanding of the MCE is still incomplete. Herein, we conducted systematic density functional theory (DFT) calculations to clarify the complex reaction mechanisms for conversions of nitrogen-containing small molecules on both FM and PM Ni (111) surfaces. Our microkinetic modeling (MKM) results demonstrate that FM-PM phase transition promotes the N2O decomposition activity of FM Ni catalyst but decreases its activity for NO decomposition while showing a negligible influence on the activity of ammonia decomposition. These results indicate the promotion, inhibition, and disappearance mechanisms of MCE on the catalytic activity, which further changes the selectivity of different products. We anticipate the MCE will work as an effective strategy for fine-tuning the activity and selectivity of ferromagnetic catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis, providing an extra basis for rational catalyst design.

Classical and nonclassical Lie symmetries, bifurcation analysis, and Jacobi elliptic function solutions to a 3D-modified nonlinear wave equation in liquid involving gas bubbles

The current paper undertakes an in-depth exploration of the dynamics of nonlinear waves governed by a 3D-modified nonlinear wave equation, a significant model in the study of complex wave phenomena. To this end, the study employs both classical and nonclassical Lie symmetries for rigorously deriving invariant solutions of the governing equation. These symmetries enable the formal construction of exact solutions, which are crucial for understanding the complex behavior of the model. Furthermore, the research extends into the realm of bifurcation analysis through the application of planar dynamical system theory. Such an analysis reveals the conditions under which the 3D-modified nonlinear wave equation admits Jacobi elliptic function solutions. The study also delves into the impact of the nonlinear parameter on the physical characteristics of bright and kink solitary waves as well as continuous periodic waves using Maple. Overall, the comprehensive analysis presented not only enhances the understanding of complex nonlinear wave dynamics but also sets the stage for future advancements in vast areas of fluid dynamics and plasma physics.

Making sense of adoption disruption: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the lived experiences of adoptive parents

BackgroundAdoption is typically considered an appropriate means of providing stability for children who have experienced developmental trauma and cannot live with their birth families. Unfortunately, in a small number of cases, adoptive parents are unable to continue to parent their child, and the family therefore experience adoption disruption. The present study explores the lived experiences of adoptive parents who have experienced adoption disruption in order to better understand the meaning they attach to these experiences. MethodSix participants from England and Wales took part in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were conducted either remotely or in person on premises associated with an independent psychology practice. Interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. FindingsParticipants reported similar experiences of the adoption process and the associated challenges of parenting children who have experienced developmental trauma. Participants’ narratives were summarised using three overarching themes: (1) the relational identity of adoptive families; (2) adoptive parenting as a losing battle; and (3) adoption disruption as a journey of acceptance; comprising seven subthemes in total. Similarities and differences between participants’ meaning-making are described. ConclusionsParticipants’ meaning-making of adoption disruption is discussed in relation to previous literature, as well as theoretical concepts about idiocentrism, ecological systems theory and individual appraisals. The present study contributes to the growing body of literature that describes the determination of adoptive parents in light of significant challenges, and calls for better support for such families in order to help break transgenerational cycles of trauma.

Mining corruption, environmental damage, and the increasing unauthorized properties of state officials

Indonesia is blessed with natural resources in the form of minerals and coal. Their use must be directed towards the greatest welfare and prosperity of the people based on the 1945 Constitution. However, what is currently happening is the opposite. the Attorney General revealed case of alleged corruption in the trading system of tin commodities in the Bangka Belitung region. The suspects include businessmen, directors, crazy rich Indonesians, and artists who are now increasingly attracting public attention. The total state losses were equivalent to $16,667 billion USD. This research used a sociological legal research model. The research object was the legal behavior in the reality of society. It was found that to formulate appropriate law enforcement for mining corruption, Friedman’s legal system theory approach was used. This theory includes legal structures, with good synergy from each law enforcement institution. Concerning the legal substance, apart from using the Corruption Crime Law, perpetrators also need to be impoverished by regulating the crime of money laundering. In terms of legal culture, state officials should uphold ethics and integrity to achieve good governance. Meanwhile, restoration of environmental damage resulting from mining activities can begin with future environmental policies that are directed towards ensuring the safety and health of the human life as well as controlling the wise use of natural resources. The integration of environmental law and Islam can be carried out using a prophetic ethical approach. The prophetic paradigm interprets nature as something sacred as humans only borrow it and manage.

Global quaternion generalized minimal residual method for generalized coupled Sylvester quaternion matrix equations with application to colour image encryption and decryption

ABSTRACT Sylvester matrix equations play important roles in control and system theory. We consider a class of the generalized coupled Sylvester quaternion matrix equations, which includes a lot of special matrix equations such as Stein matrix equation, Lyapunov matrix equation and Sylvester matrix equation on the quaternion skew field. First, the quaternion Krylov subspace and its F-orthogonal basis are constructed via a new quaternion matrix product and the global quaternion Arnoldi process. Then a global quaternion generalized minimal residual (Gl-QGMRES) method is proposed for solving the generalized coupled Sylvester quaternion matrix equations. The convergence of the proposed method is theoretically analysed. Finally, the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposal are verified by some numerical experiments. As an application of Gl-QGMRES method, we establish a kind of colour image encryption and decryption by embedding watermark images.

Differences in the Use and Perception of Telehealth Across Four Mental Health Professions: Insights From a Secondary Analysis of Qualitative Data.

There is growing evidence that the uptake and use of telehealth is influenced by the distinct specialty area or type of healthcare service provided, with mental health services presenting particular challenges. However, little is known about how telehealth use differs between different mental health professions, and no qualitative research has explored variations in telehealth use and perspectives at the profession level within Australian mental health services. To address this gap, we analyzed transcripts from 19 semi-structured interviews conducted with mental healthcare professionals in a local health district within New South Wales, Australia. A secondary analysis of the data revealed the distinct ways in which different mental health professions perceive and engage with telehealth depending on their specific role and approach to practice. Application of a systems theory lens highlighted the challenges each profession faces at different levels of telehealth engagement, and the macro-systemic power dynamics and hierarchies that shape profession-specific differences in telehealth use.

Parental non-involvement strategy for handling sibling conflict on social avoidance in migrant children: Chain mediation of sibling conflict and parent-child conflict.

In the process of urbanization, the social adaptation of migrant children has become an important issue in their development. This study adopts family systems theory and ecological systems theory to examine the effects of parental non-involvement strategies in handling sibling conflict on migrant children's social avoidance. It also investigates the mediating role of sibling conflict and parent-child conflict. The results of the study, reported by parents of 253 mobile children with siblings, suggest that parental strategies of not intervening in sibling conflict are an important factor influencing the development of social avoidance in mobile children. The Parental strategy of not intervening in sibling conflict had an effect on migrant children's social avoidance through the separate mediating effect of parent-child conflict, and also through the chained mediating effect of sibling conflict and parent-child conflict. The study also found that the separate mediating effect of sibling conflict was not significant. This study contributes to the research on the relationship between parental non-intervention in sibling conflict and migrant children's social avoidance. It also highlights the impact of sibling conflict and parent-child conflict on migrant children's social avoidance by establishing and validating a comprehensive research model. The results of the study can help parents establish close parent-child relationships for migrant children and provide scientific guidance for children to develop positive sibling relationships. This, in turn, can assist migrant children in better adapting to a new social environment.

Analysis of the Impact of Chinese Parenting Styles on Adolescent Social Competence: From a Perspective of Family Systems Theory

The study explored the impact of Chinese parents' parenting styles on adolescents' social competence from the perspective of family systems theory. Adolescents' social competence is crucial and is related to their academic performance, peer relationships, and psychological well-being. Rapid urbanization, increased pressure on education, and the pervasive influence of technology have dramatically changed the Chinese family, creating a complex environment for adolescent development. Parenting in modern China has shifted from traditional authoritarian approaches to more diverse practices incorporating warmth, emotional support, and democratic participation. This study utilizes qualitative and quantitative research methods to explore how different parenting styles in an interconnected family system affect the development of social competence among Chinese adolescents. By examining authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting styles under the lens of family systems theory, the study delves into the patterns of parent-adolescent coexistence and understands the systemic impact of family dynamics on individual development. The study integrates the Chinese socio-cultural context within a constructivist perspective to explore parenting practices by analyzing existing research data, as well as family boundaries, communication patterns, emotional climate, conflict resolution styles, and parental expectations and encouragement. The aim is to identify key parenting behaviours and attitudes that promote or impede the development of adolescents' social competence and, ultimately, suggest healthier and more effective parenting practices.

Innovative load identification with Res-UNet: Integrating phase space reconstruction and physics-informed deep learning

This study developed a specialized load identification model for a specific ocean platform that integrates advanced deep learning techniques with the unique physical characteristics of marine engineering. Key achievements include high-dimensional mapping of data features using phase space reconstruction (PSR) techniques to enhance the predictive capacity of the model through chaos system theory; optimization of ResNet and UNet deep learning networks with attention mechanisms to boost performance; calculation of stiffness, mass, and damping matrices using finite element software; establishment of corresponding state-space equations; and integration of structural dynamics equations with the deep learning network loss function to significantly improve load identification accuracy. In addition, proprietary structural equations for ocean platform structures were developed, underscoring the uniqueness and applicability of the algorithm. The proposed physics-informed Res-UNet model exhibited excellent performance in identifying both periodic and random loads. These improvements were validated through training with finite element simulated data and subsequent experimental applications, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed innovative methods.

Gradient Descent Provably Escapes Saddle Points in the Training of Shallow ReLU Networks

AbstractDynamical systems theory has recently been applied in optimization to prove that gradient descent algorithms bypass so-called strict saddle points of the loss function. However, in many modern machine learning applications, the required regularity conditions are not satisfied. In this paper, we prove a variant of the relevant dynamical systems result, a center-stable manifold theorem, in which we relax some of the regularity requirements. We explore its relevance for various machine learning tasks, with a particular focus on shallow rectified linear unit (ReLU) and leaky ReLU networks with scalar input. Building on a detailed examination of critical points of the square integral loss function for shallow ReLU and leaky ReLU networks relative to an affine target function, we show that gradient descent circumvents most saddle points. Furthermore, we prove convergence to global minima under favourable initialization conditions, quantified by an explicit threshold on the limiting loss.

Unmasking the complexities of healthcare access in low-resource settings: a health systems approach to obstetric and under-5 healthcare in rural settings of Eastern Uganda

ABSTRACT Background Access to appropriate obstetric and under-5 healthcare services in low-resource settings is a challenge in countries with high mortality rates. However, the interplay of multiple factors within an ecological system affects the effectiveness of the health system in reaching those in need. Objective This study examined how multiple factors concurrently affect access to obstetric and child healthcare services in resource-poor settings Methods The research used social autopsies [in-depth interview] with mothers who experienced newborn death [n = 29], focus group discussions [n = 8] with mothers [n = 32], and fathers [n = 28] of children aged 6–59 months, and the author’s field observations in Eastern Uganda’s rural settings. The research employed narrative and inductive thematic analysis, guided by concepts of social interactions, behaviour, and health institutional systems drawn from system theory. Results The study unmasked multiple concurrent barriers to healthcare access at distinct levels. Within families, the influence of mothers-in-law and gender dynamics constrains women’s healthcare-seeking autonomy and agency. At the community level, poor transport system, characterised by long distances and challenging road conditions, consistently impede healthcare access. At the facility level, attitudes, responsiveness, and service delivery of health workers critically affect healthcare access. Negative experiences at health facilities profoundly discourage the community from seeking future health services. Conclusion The findings emphasise the persistent influence of structural and social factors that, although well documented, are often overlooked and continue to limit women’s agency and autonomy in healthcare access. Enhancing universal access to appropriate healthcare services requires comprehensive health systems interventions that concurrently address the healthcare access barriers.

Theories for Understanding the Effect of Impact Assessment and Project Evaluation on the Practice of Science

We examine the phenomenon of impact assessment in the practice of scientific research, paying attention to the context in which project evaluation is used in federally funded research on plant health in the United States. Our analysis, which is derived from systems theory, carries out a particular view of the research process. For the purposes of this review, our use of the term systems theory references the body of interdisciplinary work that deals with the organization and function of complex structures in nature and human society. Key concepts in this body of theory are that both the components and the interactions among components are important in understanding behavior and that, frequently, systems are seen to be hierarchical in structure. The aim of our analysis is to bring to the attention of the plant health community several concepts from the social sciences that might help in understanding how researchers have responded to the increased expectations from funders to provide project evaluations and impact assessments. We generate a synthesis of these theories, which have not previously been used in a unified way, to explain choices in response to newly imposed goals. Although our analysis is motivated by a specific disciplinary focus on plant health, the issues we discuss are general. Thus, we hope the review is useful to a wide range of scientists, science program managers, and policymakers.

The joy of eating: how eating experiences enhance the well-being of older adults

IntroductionThe active aging strategy has as its policy implications the health, security, and participation of older people. The joy of eating is the main goal of establishing community-based service facilities for older people, as well as a source of health and well-being and a sense of meaning in the lives of older people.MethodsBased on the theory of human-environment relations and cognitive-emotional personality systems (CAPS), the study constructed a structural equation model of the eating experience, nostalgia, place attachment, and the well-being of the older adults in the community canteens as an interactive situation, and explored the relationship between the eating experience and the well-being of older people in the community canteens through the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).ResultsThe results of the study show that the older adults’ eating experience has a significant positive effect on their well-being, and “eating” can make older adults feel happy. Older adults’ eating experience has a significant effect on nostalgia, place attachment, and well-being, but nostalgia does not have a significant effect on older adults’ well-being, and place attachment in the community canteens can enhance older adults’ well-being. Meanwhile, the study further confirmed that place attachment plays a mediating role in the effect of eating experience on older adults’ well-being.DiscussionThe findings of the study promote the development of the fields of healthy eating, quality of life assessment, and dietary memory management for older people to a certain extent and provide an important reference for promoting the balanced layout and effective spatial design of community service facilities for older people.

The unique social-emotional challenges that bright immigrant youth face

This paper explores the social-emotional challenges faced by bright immigrant youth. We incorporate Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to identify complexities across the model’s 5 layers. In the microsystem, cultural heritage conflicts with assimilation, disrupting support networks, suggesting the need for culturally sensitive support in schools, peer networks, and family involvement. The mesosystem highlights language and cultural barriers in family-school cooperation, recommending enhanced communication, curricular adjustments, and language support. The exosystem reveals immigration policies and discrimination exacerbate challenges, advocating for equitable educational access and cultural competence training. The macrosystem addresses societal perceptions and the recognition of giftedness, promoting equality, diversity, and positive cultural climates. Finally, the chronosystem indicates that policy changes impact developmental trajectories. Understanding these 5 socio-cultural layers and implementing targeted interventions can effectively support the social-emotional well-being and academic success of immigrant youth.

Developing Critical Thinking in Grades 3-4

This study aims to analyze the impact of high-stakes testing practices in Asian countries, particularly Singapore, on students' learning outcomes and overall intellectual development. While the education system that focuses on standardized testing has garnered international recognition, it also raises concerns about the dominance of rote memorization over the development of critical thinking skills. This research proposes integrating Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory and Critical Theory in Education as a framework for curriculum design to create a more balanced educational approach. The research method employed was observational and participatory, conducted over one academic year in a 3rd and 4th-grade classroom in Singapore. Data were collected through classroom observations, student writing samples, and parental involvement in the writing program. Parental involvement included weekly writing facilitation sessions and providing insights into the influence of parents on student development. The results of the study indicate that high-stakes testing practices contribute to improved academic performance but tend to limit students' critical thinking abilities. The use of a holistic approach in the curriculum, emphasizing student engagement and environmental support, proved effective in fostering analytical thinking. The implications of this study highlight the need to balance test preparation with the development of critical thinking skills in the education system, ensuring that students not only excel academically but are also equipped to think critically and adapt to global contexts.

Perception of emotional facial expressions in aggression and psychopathy.

Altered affective state recognition is assumed to be a root cause of aggressive behavior, a hallmark of psychopathologies such as psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder. However, the two most influential models make markedly different predictions regarding the underlying mechanism. According to the integrated emotion system theory (IES), aggression reflects impaired processing of social distress cues such as fearful faces. In contrast, the hostile attribution bias (HAB) model explains aggression with a bias to interpret ambiguous expressions as angry. In a set of four experiments, we measured processing of fearful and angry facial expressions (compared to neutral and other expressions) in a sample of 65 male imprisoned violent offenders rated using the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R, Hare, R. D. (1991). The psychopathy checklist-revised. Toronto, ON: Multi-Health Systems) and in 60 age-matched control participants. There was no evidence for a fear deficit in violent offenders or for an association of psychopathy or aggression with impaired processing of fearful faces. Similarly, there was no evidence for a perceptual bias for angry faces linked to psychopathy or aggression. However, using highly ambiguous stimuli and requiring explicit labeling of emotions, violent offenders showed a categorization bias for anger and this anger bias correlated with self-reported trait aggression (but not with psychopathy). These results add to a growing literature casting doubt on the notion that fear processing is impaired in aggressive individuals and in psychopathy and provide support for the idea that aggression is related to a hostile attribution bias that emerges from later cognitive, post-perceptual processing stages.

Tolerating injustice when feeling in control: Personal control enhances the link between collectivism and coercion in the face of disease threats

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities worldwide imposed coercive regulations aimed at curbing the virus’s spread, often at the expense of individuals who were considered potential threats to public health. We argue that individual differences in their support for such actions can be understood from the perspective of an evolved “behavioral immune system”. We conducted two studies within the context of the “zero-COVID” policy in Mainland China. Study 1 recruited 819 Shanghai residents during a strict citywide lockdown and found that individuals’ collectivistic orientation and personal control over their lives predicted their tolerance of injustices involved in disease-control measures. Moreover, the effect of psychological collectivism was enhanced by personal control. Study 2 (N = 403) partly replicated these findings using hypothetical scenarios related to various fictitious viruses. Notably, the effects found in Study 1 only manifested in scenarios involving ambivalent pathogens, which are seldom fatal but highly contagious. Building on the functional flexibility principle of the behavioral immune system theory, we discussed the unique role of ambivalent pathogen signals in generating within-society variability and fine-tuning behavioral immune responses.

Thermodynamic properties of perfluorooctane on the liquid-gas coexistence curve: calculation method and tabulated data

A technique has been developed for constructing a phase equilibrium line in the range from the triple to the critical point for a technically important substance, perfluorooctane (C8F18), which is currently used in various fields of industry and medicine. The proposed phase equilibrium line model includes the following equations: vapour pressure; saturated liquid density; saturated vapour density; “apparent” heat of vaporization. In this case, the vapour pressure equation satisfies the requirements of the scale theory of critical phenomena near the critical point, and the Wegner model in the vicinity of the triple point. The coexistence curve model in the vicinity of the critical point satisfies the Yang-Yang model and renormalization group theory for asymmetric systems, and in the region of rarefied gas it satisfies the linear model of average diameter. In the temperature range 246.15–496.99 K, table for perfluorooctane have been developed, including pressure and density of saturated vapor, density of saturated liquid, heat of vaporization, first and second derivatives of saturated vapor pressure. Using latest experimental data, as well as experimental data on the critical pressures of perfluoroalkanes as a function of their molecular weight, the following values of critical parameters were selected: critical pressure – 1.548 MPa, critical density – 596.4 kg/m3, critical temperature – 496.99 K. A number of statistical characteristics were calculated, including absolute mean deviation and standard deviation, characterizing the accuracy of the proposed phase equilibrium line model when describing experimental data obtained in generally recognized international thermophysical laboratories. The results obtained are useful for high-tech companies engaged in the development of innovative technologies: in the field of radio-electronic and electrical industries, in which perfluorooctane is used as a liquid dielectric and coolant; in medicine, where perfluorooctane is used as a gas transport liquid and is used for ophthalmic purposes; magnetic fluid sealers for the purpose of isolating hazardous substances from the environment and seals for devices operated in vacuum conditions or in contact with aggressive substances; magnetic fluid separators for separating non-ferrous metals by density, etc. The results of this study can also be used in developing the fundamental equation of state for perfluorooctane. The results obtained are useful for high-tech companies engaged in the development of innovative technologies: in the field of radio-electronic and electrical industries, in which perfluorooctane is used as a liquid dielectric and coolant; in medicine, where perfluorooctane is used as a gas transport liquid and is used for ophthalmic purposes; magnetic fluid sealers for the purpose of isolating hazardous substances from the environment and seals for devices operated in vacuum conditions or in contact with aggressive substances; magnetic fluid separators for separating non-ferrous metals by density, etc. The results of this study may also be useful in developing the fundamental equation of state for perfluorooctane.

Sustainability and impact reporting in US higher education anchor institutions

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to assess how higher education anchor institutions (HEIs) voluntarily report their non-economic impacts. Its goals are to quantify the ease of public access to this information; strengthen the conceptual foundation for HEI impact reporting; and provide guidance for making HEI voluntary disclosures more accessible, comparable and systematic.Design/methodology/approachUsing an exploratory mixed methods design and purposeful sampling, this study analyzed voluntary public disclosures of 41 anchor institution universities in the USA to assess how they communicate their public value creation to stakeholders. Data sources included impact reports, donor reports, annual reports and sustainability reports. The study also analyzed the accessibility of this information by timing how long it took to locate.FindingsThe sampled US anchor institutions communicate their non-economic impact to stakeholders in myriad ways using a variety of formats. Time required to find the reports ranged from 37 to 50 min, with an average of 42.30 min. Disparate reporting formats inhibit comparability.Research limitations/implicationsOnly 41 anchor institutions were examined. The small sample may not be representative of the broader landscape of higher education institutions.Practical implicationsFindings offer guidance for improving voluntary nonfinancial disclosures to increase public confidence in higher education institutions while advancing community and global resilience. To strengthen voluntary disclosure practices, the study recommends using a standardized reporting format, framing HEI impact through socio-ecological resilience indicators, integrating reports and obtaining some form of assurance. These changes would enhance the credibility and comparability of the disclosures.Originality/valueThis research provides some of the first empirical insight into how US higher education anchor institutions report their value creation to the public. Its application of socio-ecological systems theory outlines an actionable conceptual foundation for HEI reporting by linking organizational, community and global resilience.

Robust data-driven predictive control for unknown linear time-invariant systems

This paper presents a new robust data-driven predictive control scheme for unknown linear time-invariant systems by using input-state-output or input–output data based on whether the state is measurable. To remove the need for the persistently exciting (PE) condition of a sufficiently high order on pre-collected data, a set containing all systems capable of generating such data is constructed. Then, at each time step, an upper bound on a given objective function is derived for all systems in the set, and a feedback controller is designed to minimize this bound. The optimal control gain at each time step is determined by solving a set of linear matrix inequalities. We prove that if the synthesis problem is feasible at the initial time step, it remains feasible for all future time steps. Unlike current data-driven predictive control schemes based on behavioral system theory, our approach requires less stringent conditions for the pre-collected data, facilitating easier implementation. The effectiveness of our proposed methods is demonstrated through application to an unknown and unstable batch reactor.