Transformation Process Research Articles

Digital-inclusive Transformation and Teacher Preparedness for Foreign Language Education – A Bilateral German-Norwegian Perspective

Digitalisation and inclusion can be understood as transversal topics in pre- and in-service teachers’ professional development. Both topics have attracted considerable research activity. However, questions of digital-inclusive transformation have only rarely been discussed within the field of foreign language teaching. Researchers in the field state a pressing need to increase digital-inclusive transformation uptake in foreign language teacher education programmes to develop a transformation ‘mindset’ in (educational) stakeholders and (future) teachers. Transformation processes in education, however, interact with preparedness for digitalisation and inclusion among pre- and in-service teachers, since the attitude and the willingness of teachers to adapt to digital reality play a decisive role in improving the quality of (digitally enhanced) teaching and learning. Currently, little is known about the interrelationship between the preparedness to use digital technology for foreign language teaching and learning and the preparedness to include foreign language learners with diverse learning needs (DLN) in the digital-inclusive classroom. To this end, this bilateral cross-country study investigates factors that constitute an attitudinal component of foreign language teachers’ perceived preparedness for using digital technology with learners with diverse learning needs in Germany and Norway. The Teacher of English Preparedness to Diverse Learning Needs in the digital inclusive classroom questionnaire was administered to 221 participants. The results show a fresh perspective on preparedness for digitally enhanced inclusive teaching linked to educational system requirements for foreign language teaching. Importantly, confidence when using digital technology in the inclusive classroom is decisive. For teacher education, it is vital that the attitudinal component of teacher preparedness receives more attention throughout teacher training. It should be related to previous experience of teachers with DT in digital-inclusive environments and be part of a heuristic conceptualisation of teacher preparedness for digitalinclusive contexts.

TurboID mapping reveals the exportome of secreted intrinsically disordered proteins in the transforming parasite Theileria annulata.

Theileria annulata is a tick-transmitted apicomplexan parasite that gained the unique ability among parasitic eukaryotes to transform its host cell, inducing a fatal cancer-like disease in cattle. Understanding the mechanistic interplay between the host cell and malignant Theileria species that drives this transformation requires the identification of responsible parasite effector proteins. In this study, we used TurboID-based proximity labeling, which unbiasedly identified secreted parasite proteins within host cell compartments. By fusing TurboID to nuclear export or localization signals, we biotinylated proteins in the vicinity of the ligase enzyme in the nucleus or cytoplasm of infected macrophages, followed by mass spectrometry analysis. Our approach revealed with high confidence nine nuclear and four cytosolic candidate parasite proteins within the host cell compartments, eight of which had no orthologs in non-transforming T. orientalis. Strikingly, all eight of these proteins are predicted to be highly intrinsically disordered proteins. We discovered a novel tandem arrayed protein family, nuclear intrinsically disordered proteins (NIDP) 1-4, featuring diverse functions predicted by conserved protein domains. Particularly, NIDP2 exhibited a biphasic host cell-cycle-dependent localization, interacting with the EB1/CD2AP/CLASP1 parasite membrane complex at the schizont surface and the tumor suppressor stromal antigen 2 (STAG2), a cohesion complex subunit, in the host nucleus. In addition to STAG2, numerous NIDP2-associated host nuclear proteins implicated in various cancers were identified, shedding light on the potential role of the T. annulata exported protein family NIDP in host cell transformation and cancer-related pathways.IMPORTANCETurboID proximity labeling was used to identify secreted proteins of Theileria annulata, an apicomplexan parasite responsible for a fatal, proliferative disorder in cattle that represents a significant socio-economic burden in North Africa, central Asia, and India. Our investigation has provided important insights into the unique host-parasite interaction, revealing secreted parasite proteins characterized by intrinsically disordered protein structures. Remarkably, these proteins are conspicuously absent in non-transforming Theileria species, strongly suggesting their central role in the transformative processes within host cells. Our study identified a novel tandem arrayed protein family, with nuclear intrinsically disordered protein 2 emerging as a central player interacting with established tumor genes. Significantly, this work represents the first unbiased screening for exported proteins in Theileria and contributes essential insights into the molecular intricacies behind the malignant transformation of immune cells.

Hindrance or facilitator? The economic consequences of national demonstration eco-industrial parks in China.

Many countries attach great importance to the green, low-carbon, and circular development of industrial parks. China is one of them and has entered an exploration journey of national demonstration eco-industrial parks (NDEIPs). However, the impact of the transformation of industrial parks into NDEIPs on local economic development still remains a mystery. To address this issue, we develop an empirical study using a combination of the multi-period difference-in-differences method and the propensity score matching method based on the panel data for 266 cities in China from 2001 to 2021. The results show that industrial parks becoming NDEIPs promotes cities' economic development. This conclusion still holds after a series of robustness tests, such as the reverse causality test and the placebo test. Moreover, the park heterogeneity tests show that the economic consequences vary according to differences in levels, industry types, life cycle phases, and the degree of foreign firm agglomeration. The city heterogeneity tests show that the economic consequences differ based on administrative levels, innovation capabilities, technology industrialization, and environmental friendliness. The spatial heterogeneity tests show that the economic consequences differ according to geographical location and whether situated in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The policy upgrading heterogeneity tests show that the economic consequences differ during the process of policy upgrading and transformation. In addition, the mechanism tests reveal that green innovation, human capital level, and firm attractiveness mediate the relationship between industrial parks becoming NDEIPs and cities' economic development. This study provides a new perspective for understanding the economic effects of the transformation of industrial parks into NDEIPs, and provides a reference for the government on how to maximize these economic effects.

Genetic engineering of a thermophilic acetogen, Moorella thermoacetica Y72, to enable acetoin production

Acetogens are among the key microorganisms involved in the bioproduction of commodity chemicals from diverse carbon resources, such as biomass and waste gas. Thermophilic acetogens are particularly attractive because fermentation at higher temperatures offers multiple advantages. However, the main target product is acetic acid. Therefore, it is necessary to reshape metabolism using genetic engineering to produce the desired chemicals with varied carbon lengths. Although such metabolic engineering has been hampered by the difficulty involved in genetic modification, a model thermophilic acetogen, M. thermoacetica ATCC 39073, is the case with a few successful cases of C2 and C3 compound production, other than acetate. This brief report attempts to expand the product spectrum to include C4 compounds by using strain Y72 of Moorella thermoacetica. Strain Y72 is a strain related to the type strain ATCC 39073 and has been reported to have a less stringent restriction-modification system, which could alleviate the cumbersome transformation process. A simplified procedure successfully introduced a key enzyme for acetoin (a C4 chemical) production, and the resulting strains produced acetoin from sugars and gaseous substrates. The culture profile revealed varied acetoin yields depending on the type of substrate and culture conditions, implying the need for further engineering in the future. Thus, the use of a user-friendly chassis could benefit the genetic engineering of M. thermoacetica.

Dynamic Transformation of High-Architectural Nanocrystal Superlattices upon Solvent Molecule Exposure.

The cluster-based body-centered-cubic superlattice (cBCC SL) represents one of the most complicated structures among reported nanocrystal assemblies, comprised of 72 truncated tetrahedral quantum dots per unit cell. Our previous report revealed that truncated tetrahedral quantum dots within cBCC SLs possessed highly controlled translational and orientational order owing to an unusual energetic landscape based on the balancing of entropic and enthalpic contributions during the assembly process. However, the cBCC SL's structural transformability and mechanical properties, uniquely originating from such complicated nanostructures, have yet to be investigated. Herein, we report that cBCC SLs can undergo dynamic transformation to face-centered-cubic SLs in response to post-assembly molecular exposure. We monitored the dynamic transformation process using in situ synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering, revealing a dynamic transformation involving multiple steps underpinned by interactions between incoming molecules and TTQDs' surface ligands. Furthermore, our mechanistic study demonstrated that the precise configuration of TTQDs' ligand molecules in cBCC SLs was key to their high structural transformability and unique jelly-like soft mechanical properties. While ligand molecular configurations in nanocrystal SLs are often considered minor features, our findings emphasize their significance in controlling weak van der Waals interactions between nanocrystals within assembled SLs, leading to previously unremarked superstructural transformability and unique mechanical properties. Our findings promote a facile route toward further creation of soft materials, nanorobotics, and out-of-equilibrium assemblies based on nanocrystal building blocks.

New Rock Magnetism and Magnetic Fabrics Studies on the Late Triassic Volcanic Rocks from Qaidam Block, Northern Tibetan Plateau

The Qaidam Block, located at the northern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, is a pivotal area in unraveling the closure time of the Kunlun Ocean basin which might have recorded the transformation process between the Proto-Tethys and Paleo-Tethys Ocean basins. However, the late Triassic position of the Qaidam Block remains enigmatic, largely due to the scarcity of paleomagnetic data essential for quantitatively determining its paleolatitude. The widespread presence of the Elashan formation, particularly along the southern periphery of the Qaidam block, presents good material for conducting paleomagnetic work. Nevertheless, the primary magnetic carriers preserved within the Elashan formation might be influenced by multiple tectonic thermal events, particularly those associated with collisions between southern blocks and the Qaidam Block. Here we present rock magnetism and magnetic fabrics studies to identify the content and composition of magnetic minerals within the Elashan formation. The rock magnetic and petrologic results show that the magnetic carriers in the samples from the Elashan formation are dominated by magnetite with a small amount of goethite, pyrrhotite, and hematite. The results of Anisotropy in Magnetic Susceptibility indicate that the south of the Longwalangku section might not be obviously influenced by the tectonic events. Our results also provided guidance for future paleomagnetic research, emphasizing the importance of conducting further sampling away from adjacent faults, particularly in the southern Longwalangku area.

Exploring the role of Dynamic Presencing in a group coaching training context for fostering transformative leadership development in disruptive times

With the growing array of challenges humanity has been experiencing since the global pandemic, knowledge workers at all levels of organizations are experiencing a noted increase in the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) conditions of their work and lives. This has brought about significant changes in ways of working and associated ways of being that have become more fragmented and virtual. Disruptive change continues to unfold on many levels of society, from the organizational to the individual level, with multiple and often unintended consequences. This article outlines how the body of work of Dynamic Presencing in a group coaching context facilitates responsive forms of personal development as well as a deeper transformation of one’s leadership identity in the face of such change, which in turn serves as an approach that can be useful in navigating VUCA conditions that are becoming increasingly prevalent. The transformative process of Dynamic Presencing develops core inner leadership capabilities with a noted increase in the quality of internal and interpersonal forms of self-,presence-, and presencing-awareness. Overall, Dynamic Presencing serves as a critical enabler of presencing mastery, which instills deeper confidence and resourcefulness in working with the VUCA conditions of our global world by deepening our presencing process and refining our methods for inner leadership development in turbulent times.

Sequential oxidation-composting-phytoremediation treatment for the management of an oily sludge from petroleum refinery

Oily sludges are generated in large quantities in petroleum refinery wastewater treatment plants. Given their complex composition, they are classified as hazardous waste. Selecting a single treatment technique for their remediation is challenging.This work aims to assess the extent of composting followed by phytoremediation on an oily sludge from an API separator unit, pre-treated by chemical oxidation with alkaline activated persulfate (PS). 18% of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) were determined by IR spectroscopy. The aliphatic hydrocarbon content was 4714 ± 250 ppm by GC-FID, and aromatics were not detectable, suggesting a high amount of non-chromatographable complex hydrocarbons. The density of generalist and hydrocarbon-degrading populations of the oily sludge estimated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) evidenced an autochthonous microbiota with hydrocarbon-degrading capacity. The oxidative treatment with PS removed 31% of the TPH determined by IR after 20 days. The significant reduction of the native bacterial community was counterbalanced by coupling a composting treatment. Co-composting the sludge with goat manure and oat straw produced, after a year, a 96% reduction in TPH content, regardless of the oxidative pretreatment. Organic matter transformation was evidenced by the decrease of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and the variation in E4/E6 ratio. The matrices obtained of composting were used as substrates for phytoremediation for 4 months. Ryegrass seeds were planted in both PS-treated and untreated sludge substrates. The presence of the plant grown in the pre-oxidised and composted substrate resulted in a higher aerial biomass of ryegrass (67%), an increase in enzymatic activities, and higher concentration of DOC, although without evidence of additional dissipation of TPH.The dynamics of the bacterial communities of the different substrates generated during the biological treatment were analyzed by Illumina NovaSeq DNA sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons. The findings mirrored a succession compatible with that described in contaminated matrices, but also in other non-contaminated ones.According to these findings, an organic matter transformation process occurred, which included the complex hydrocarbons of the oily sludge, resulting in an active substrate that promoted the retention of nutrients and water and provided the necessary support for plant development.

Four-bar linkage reconfigurable robotic wheel: Design, kinematic analysis, and experimental validation for adaptive size modification

Abstract This article presents the development of a robot capable of modifying its size through a wheel reconfiguration strategy. The reconfigurable wheel design is based on a four-bar retractable mechanism that achieves variation of the effective radius of the wheel. A reconfiguration index is introduced based on the number of retractable mechanisms that predicts the radius of configuration according to the number of mechanisms implemented in the wheel. The kinematics of the retractable mechanism is studied to determine the theoretical reconfiguration radius during the transformation process, it is also evaluated numerically with the help of the GeoGebra software, and it is validated experimentally by image analysis using the Tracker software. The transformation process of the robot is investigated through an analysis of forces that consider the wheel in contact with the obstacle, the calculation of the wheel torque and the height of the obstacle to be overcome are presented. On the other hand, the experimental validation of the robot reconfiguration process is presented through the percentage of success shown by the robot to overcome obstacles of 50, 75, 100 and 125 mm. In addition, measurements of energy consumption during the transformation process are reported. Reconfigurable wheels, capable of adapting their size, offer innovative solutions to various challenges across different applications such as robotic exploration and search and rescue missions to industrial settings. Some key issues that these wheels can address include terrain adaptability enhancing a robot’s mobility over uneven surfaces, or obstacles; enhanced robotic design; cost-effective design; space efficiency; and versatility in applications.

Echoes of silence.

Communication is an integral part of nursing practice-with patients and their relatives, other nurses and members of the healthcare team, and ancillary staff. Through interaction with the 'other', language and silence creates and recreates social realities. Acceptance, rejection or modification of social realities depends on what is expressed and by whom. Narratives that are offered can tell of some experiences and not others. Some nurses choose to be silent while others are silenced. In nursing situations recognising and allowing silence to speak is a challenging but uniquely personal experience that embraces reflection in and on experiences, practice and self as a person and a professional. If enabled and truly heard, silence can speak more loudly than the hubbub of daily practice, allowing us to collectively question and challenge inherent assumptions and biases as professionals, and as a profession. Through a microcosm of Newly Graduated Nurses' lived experiences of nursing situations and expressions of silence individuals' discomfort and private efforts to ascribe meaning to experiences are reflected on. Returning to silence is to return to a constant process of professional transformation that can enable ways of knowing and being that can reform our profession from within and enable us to cast off shackles that bind us to a shameful cultural underbelly.

Transforming oneself: delving into the processes of habitus transformation in the higher education field

In a context of universalization of Higher Education (HE) and fragmentation of educational trajectories, consolidating a process of educational and social mobility implies, for many students with non-traditional backgrounds, important identity conflicts. Based on 40 qualitative interviews with non-traditional working-class students enrolled in an HE institution in Barcelona (Spain), three major patterns of what we have called ‘habitus transformations’ have been identified: adaptation, substitution and dislocation or rupture. The results of this study suggest that the universalization of access to HE does not mechanically imply greater opportunities for educational success for non-traditional students. The contribution also introduces the subjective experience of being a non-traditional HE student and the emotional impacts and contradictions involved in the processes of social mobility through HE.

Impact of coating and microstructure on wear resistance of tool steels for wood cutting: a novel approach to quantification and analysis of wear-related damages

Squaring, a wood transformation process, is an operation which consists of introducing the logs into a squaring machine which then uses sharp tools to cut the wood into pieces with high surface quality. Tool steels used in this process experience significant wear, damaging the wood surface and hence leading to substantial scrape rate. This study investigates the wear resistance of three tool steels specifically designed for wood cutting applications: modified AISI A8, modified steels with 0% and 1% tungsten, and powder metallurgy prepared W360 steel. Furthermore, the influence of a PVD coating on the wear resistance of the three alloys was investigated. ASTM G65 abrasive wear tests were conducted using the dry sand/rubber wheel abrasion test. A methodology using a non-contact 3D measurement system and specialized software was developed, allowing for a thorough quantitative assessment of the wear of these steels. The results revealed that the coated A8mod + 1%W steel exhibits the best resistance among the coated steels. Despite the excellent intrinsic resistance of W360 steel, the coating did not provide a significant improvement for this steel, showing only a 10% reduction in wear. Microstructural analysis revealed that the predominant wear mechanisms were abrasion and impact. The relative performance of each steel was quantified and is reported. Field trials conducted under actual cutting conditions, indicate the superiority of W360 steel in terms of resilience to wear and impacts compared to other tested alloys, while confirming the effectiveness of surface treatments in mitigating material wear. However, A8 steel modified with 1% tungsten exhibits increased wear under coating.

Transformation and Degradation of PAH Mixture in Contaminated Sites: Clarifying Their Interactions with Native Soil Organisms

Soil contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), especially caused by the mixture of two or more PAHs, raised great environmental concerns. However, research on the migration and transformation processes of PAHs in soils and their interactions with native communities is limited. In this work, soil samples from uncontaminated sites around the industrial parks in Handan, Hengshui, and Shanghai were artificially supplemented with three concentrations of anthracene (Ant), 9-chloroanthracene (9-ClAnt), benzopyrene (BaP), and chrysene (Chr). Ryegrass was planted to investigate the degradation of PAHs and its interaction with native soil organisms in the constructed ryegrass–microbe–soil microcosmic system. The bacterial and fungal communities in soil were affected by PAHs; their species diversity and relative abundance changed after exposure to different concentrations of PAHs, among which Lysobacter, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Massilia bacteria were correlated to the degradation of PAHs. On the 56th day, the contents of BaP, Chr, and Ant decreased with the degradation process, while the degradation of 9-ClAnt was limited. Nineteen intermediates, including hydroxylation and carboxylated compounds, were identified. The present research would help clarify the potential interactions between PAHs and native organisms in contaminated sites, providing fundamental information for evaluating the transformation risks of PAHs in the natural environment.

From genetic mosaicism to tumorigenesis through indirect genetic effects.

Genetic mosaicism has long been linked to aging, and several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the potential connections between mosaicism and susceptibility to cancer. It has been proposed that mosaicism may disrupt tissue homeostasis by affecting intercellular communications and releasing microenvironmental constraints within tissues. The underlying mechanisms driving these tissue-level influences remain unidentified, however. Here, we present an evolutionary perspective on the interplay between mosaicism and cancer, suggesting that the tissue-level impacts of genetic mosaicism can be attributed to Indirect Genetic Effects (IGEs). IGEs can increase the level of cellular stochasticity and phenotypic instability among adjacent cells, thereby elevating the risk of cancer development within the tissue. Moreover, as cells experience phenotypic changes in response to challenging microenvironmental conditions, these changes can initiate a cascade of nongenetic alterations, referred to as Indirect non-Genetic Effects (InGEs), which in turn catalyze IGEs among surrounding cells. We argue that incorporating both InGEs and IGEs into our understanding of the process of oncogenic transformation could trigger a major paradigm shift in cancer research with far-reaching implications for practical applications.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of lignin by-product from sugarcane leaf conversion to levulinic acid and hydrochar

To enhance the sustainability of lignocellulosic biomass utilization process, a significant attention is given to a high-value lignin byproduct of this process. Herein, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and physicochemical properties of lignin in black liquor extracted from sugarcane leaf (SCL) for levulinic acid (LA) and hydrochar production were investigated. The lignin was extracted from SCL through an alkaline pretreatment process using 5–25 wt% of either NaOH or KOH at 120–160 °C. Disk diffusion susceptibility tests, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) revealed that the SCL lignin is effective against Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus) rather than Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and S. typhimurium). Different alkaline reagents marginally affected the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the lignin. Py-GC/MS analysis results determined that the SCL lignin contained mainly p-hydroxyphenyl (H) and guaiacyl (G) with a small amount of syringyl (S) lignin. Furthermore, the structural alterations and linkages of SCL lignin during alkaline pretreatment were examined using 2D-HSQC NMR, providing valuable insights into the transformation processes. The conversion of delignified SCL to LA through a catalytic hydrothermal process using various acid catalysts indicated that the alkaline pretreatment could enhance LA yield with a maximum yield of 33.4 wt%. Additionally, fuel property characterization of the hydrochar co-product from LA production determined that the hydrochar can be used as a coal substitute.

Rethinking Energy Geopolitics: Towards a Geopolitical Economy of Global Energy Transformation

ABSTRACT We are in the midst of a global energy system transformation (GEST) which is rewiring the world economy, opening new axes of political contestation, and revolutionising the energetic basis of human civilisation. Energy geopolitics has not yet reconciled itself to this challenge. The field has traditionally been preoccupied with the dependence of Western states on cross-border flows of fossil fuels. More recently, efforts have been made to prospectively map out what the geopolitics of a fully renewable world might look like. What both literatures miss, however, is the very fact of the GEST: that we are living through a changing and contested process of global transformation, across interacting high- and low-emissions systems, whose contours are open and actively constructed over time. In this paper, we start to develop a provisional framework to make sense of the GEST, that is able to capture the full scale of the transformation, and its dynamic, contingent, constructed nature. We attend to three areas of geopolitical economy: the wide-ranging material dimensions of the transformation, its geographical space-making, and its conflict-ridden political economy. We then apply this framework to two case studies, one looking at the fraught role of fossil gas as a ‘transition fuel’, the other at lithium-ion batteries.

Review of Modeling Approaches for Conjugate Heat Transfer Processes in Oil-Immersed Transformers

This review addresses the modeling approaches for heat transfer processes in oil-immersed transformer. Electromagnetic, thermal, and hydrodynamic thermal fields are identified as the most critical aspects in describing the state of the transformer. The paper compares the implementation complexity, calculation time, and details of the results for different approaches to creating a mathematical model, such as circuit-based models and finite element and finite volume methods. Examples of successful model implementation are provided, along with the features of oil-immersed transformer modeling. In addition, the review considers the strengths and limitations of the considered models in relation to creating a digital twin of a transformer. The review concludes that it is not feasible to create a universal model that accounts for all the features of physical processes in an oil-immersed transformer, operates in real time for a digital twin, and provides the required accuracy at the same time. The conducted research shows that joint modeling of electromagnetic and thermal processes, reducing the dimensionality of models, provides the most comprehensive solution to the problem.

Navigating Ritual Resilience: The Interplay of Change and Continuity in the Shaolin Monastery During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The global upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic introduced considerable perturbations to the religious life and ritual observances within most religious communities around the world. This article delves into the resilience and adaptability of ritual practices within the Shaolin Monastery of China during the five-month COVID-19 quarantine spanning from 23 January to 22 June, 2020. Employing ethnographic methods and grounded in anthropological theory, the study examines the interplay between ritual as a static social fact and as a dynamic, adaptable process, within the context of the Shaolin monastic life. It underlines the intricate interplay between static and dynamic elements in ritual practice, casting light on the Shaolin community’s response to the pandemic. The study discerns dichotomies responsible for the critical forces underlying complex dynamics intrinsic to the Shaolin community’s religious life, namely: religious–secular, isolation–social engagement, discipline–freedom, tradition–innovation, and individual–collective. Tracking the evolutions and consistencies within these dual relationships enabled casting light on the transformative processes that were set in motion and identifying the elements of the religious life that have undergone change and those that have remained constant. This exploration offers a unique glimpse into the mechanisms through which resilience was enacted with the strategies that enabled the community to maintain, adjust and innovate its ritual practices amidst the tribulations presented by the crisis.

Challenges and Solutions in the Digital Transformation of "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and New" Small and Medium Enterprises

Against the backdrop of the Digital China initiative, exploring how "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and New" (SRUN) enterprises can effectively undergo digital transformation to enhance innovation capabilities is a crucial and urgent topic. For these enterprises, accelerating digital transformation is key to addressing contemporary challenges, improving efficiency, reducing costs, showcasing unique advantages, and leading the trend of intelligent manufacturing. Throughout the transformation process, these enterprises face multiple dilemmas and challenges: despite a strong willingness to transform, they lack corresponding capabilities; infrastructure is improving, but the technological environment is not yet ideal; willingness to collaborate is increasing, but effective synergy is lacking; policy support is growing, but needs to be more precise. In order to better promote the digital transformation of SRUN enterprises, appropriate strategies must be adopted to address these challenges. This includes enhancing awareness and strengthening talent development, improving infrastructure, optimizing the transformation environment, fostering a favorable digital ecosystem, enhancing collaborative cooperation, and optimizing institutional design to elevate service standards. These measures collectively provide a pathway for SRUN enterprises to drive digital transformation.

Architectural and Urban Changes in a Residential Environment—Implications for Design Science

Current spatial changes involving broad urban landscapes affect people’s perceptions of their surroundings, sense of place, and attachment to a place, constituting a disruption to these. As a result, on a social scale, they translate into people’s well-being. The following study of the impact of large-scale architectural and urban developments on the place of residence is based on the assumption that physical space determines the quality of life in the living place and the changes in the process condition residents to adapt to their new surroundings—based on the three pillars of place, people, and process (3Ps). The article consists of two parts. The first is theoretical, which conceptualises spatial change based on the theory of human dependence on place. The second part–an empirical study—discusses the transformation of the post-industrial area of Bicocca (Milan), which, 40 years after the intervention, has led to conclusions and recommendations for urban planning. The results demonstrate the different sensitivities of the urban areas to the process of functional–spatial change, the essence of the accessibility of public space, public facilities, and transport infrastructure. The planning process can positively influence social adaptation to spatial change mitigation. Residential areas may be subject to additional protection procedures. The study is relevant to a sustainable planning process in the inevitable transformation of urban areas. The interdisciplinary nature of the issue prompts the integration of research findings and knowledge transfer in the socio-technological subsystem (STS).