Transformation Process Research Articles

Abstract IA027: Age-related stromal changes drive breast cancer tumor progression

Abstract Age is the single largest risk factor for the development of cancer, but how age impacts the molecular mechanisms that drive cancer remain poorly understood. While it is clear that age-related accumulation of cell autonomous mutations contributes to tumorigenesis, the central role age-related changes in the tumor microenvironment play in the transformation process is becoming more fully appreciated. Underscoring the importance of an aged microenvironment in cancer development are findings that senescent fibroblasts, which accumulate with age, directly stimulate preneoplastic and neoplastic cell growth and tumor progression. Investigations into how senescent fibroblasts promote tumorigenesis revealed that they express a plethora of growth factors, extracellular matrix remodeling enzymes, chemokines, and cytokines collectively referred to as the senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Chemotherapy induces similar changes that can negatively impact a patient’s quality of life. We will discuss how these changes impact tumor progression and therapy-induced bone loss. Citation Format: Sheila A. Stewart. Age-related stromal changes drive breast cancer tumor progression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Tumor-body Interactions: The Roles of Micro- and Macroenvironment in Cancer; 2024 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(22_Suppl):Abstract nr IA027.

Sources and Transformation of Nitrate in Shallow Groundwater in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area: Hydrogeochemistry and Isotopes

Nitrate is among the most widely occurring contaminants in groundwater on a global scale, posing a serious threat to drinking water supplies. With the advancement of urbanization and mountainous agriculture, the nitrate in the groundwater of Wanzhou District in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area has formed a complex combination of pollution sources. To more accurately identify the sources of nitrate in groundwater, this study integrates hydrochemical methods and environmental isotope techniques to analyze the sources and transformation processes in shallow groundwater nitrate under different land-use types. Furthermore, the Bayesian isotope mixing model (MixSAIR) is employed to calculate the contribution rates in various nitrate sources. The results indicate that nitrate is the primary form of inorganic nitrogen in shallow groundwater within the study area, with nitrate concentrations in cultivated groundwater generally higher than those in construction land and forest land. The transformation process of nitrate is predominantly nitrification, with little to no denitrification observed. In cultivated shallow groundwater, nitrate mainly originates from chemical fertilizers (36.3%), sewage and manure (35.4%), and soil organic nitrogen (24.7%); in forested areas, nitrate primarily comes from atmospheric precipitation (35.3%), chemical fertilizers (31.3%), and soil organic nitrogen (22.1%); while in constructed areas, nitrate mainly derives from chemical fertilizers (46.0%) and sewage and manure (32.2%). These results establish a scientific foundation for formulating groundwater pollution control and management strategies in the region and serve as a reference for identifying nitrate sources in groundwater in regions with comparable hydrogeological features and pollution profiles.

The Constitutional Foundations of the Russian State Policy in the Field of Family Protection and Traditional Family Values

The paper presents an analysis of constitutional provisions aimed at protecting the family in various periods of Russian statehood, shows the multi-vector nature of state policy in the field of family relations in the Soviet period, characterizes the family and demographic policy of the post-Soviet period, analyzes the constitutional novelties of 2020 aimed at strengthening the family and the spiritual and moral values of Russian society. An analysis of the constitutional category of «traditional family values» is carried out from the perspective of the needs of the individual, family as a social group and the importance of family for society and the state. The institution of family is considered as an intrinsic value and a basic determinant of the formation of the spiritual and moral heritage of Russian society, the preservation of the cultural identity of the Russian nation. The author provides the data from an official survey involving Russians that testifies to the attitude towards the family. The article also outlines the results of a research conducted by domestic scientists stating the unfavorable transformational processes taking place with the institution of family in the past 30 years. These include voluntary childlessness and celibacy; postponing the birth of children to later age periods; reducing the value of a family with several children; preference among young people for actual marital relations (common-law marriage) to a registered marriage. The author considers the protection of the family and family values as a task for ensuring the national security of Russia, the solution of which is aimed at preserving the all-Russian identity, sustainable development of the state, preservation of socially significant spiritual and moral values. The author substantiates the proposal on the need to form in society the idea of the importance of the family as a value in itself, which implies a responsible attitude to marriage, birth and upbringing of children, encouragement and support of a multigenerational and large family, respect for the elderly, disapproval of the rejection of the birth and upbringing of children.

Fashioning of the Homo Economicus (Economic Citizen): Reflections on Migration and Integration

ABSTRACT This article critically explores what is meant by integration and the expectations that come with it, and how the ‘right’ kind of economic citizen (homo economicus) gets produced through social work practice with immigrants. This article engages in critical reflection on a participant’s narrative that derives from a larger study that investigated structural and individualistic factors that describe how Ethiopian immigrants living in Toronto, Canada negotiate the decision-making process to returning to their homeland. At the macro-level, the study explored the role that broader processes of social, political and economic transformation (globalization) play whilst at the micro-level exploring the aspirations, capabilities and individual agency to migrate out and how their experiences of settlement shape the return-thinking process. The participant accounting analyzed in this article probes the expansion of immigrant selection in Canada (Author), the policy of multiculturalism as Canada’s most recognized policy as it pertains to integration, and how they coalesce and shape settlement work with immigrants. This article, through the participant accounting, engages the question of what is meant by integration – and whether integration is the new assimilation – and concludes with a discussion on how to begin to address concerns that surround social work practice with immigrants.

Exploring the Experience of Existential Anxiety During the COVID-19 Isolation Period in a Small Sample of Young Kosovar Adults

International literature has documented the mental health impact of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic on global communities. However, for this period, a significant lack of research exists on the human and psychological experiences of Albanian Kosovars. This study aimed to retrospectively explore a specific experience associated with the isolation period, that is, the Kosovar young adults’ experience of existential anxiety. The notion of isolation is significant for the Kosovars as their country is recently independent with some referencing its political isolation in the European context. The current study was conducted from March to June 2022; Stage 1 included a quantitative sampling of existential anxiety among 115 Albanian Kosovars through the Existential Anxiety Questionnaire (Weems et al., 2004). In Stage 2, five participants with high levels of existential anxiety partook in in-depth interviews. For the qualitative analysis, the Existential Phenomenological Research approach was adopted. Using Paul Tillich’s existential anxiety framework, results revealed that this study’s participants experienced great losses with the start of the lockdown as they were students who had to return to their families. It appears that a process of transformation occurred in light of the hardships that individuals experienced. Implications for mental health practitioners and researchers are offered.

Streamlining Patient Data Processing for Payer Compliance with Scalable Big Data Automation

In the fast-changing environment of value-based healthcare, providers must prepare and submit diagnosis files for patients to payers with ever-changing requirements from CMS for contracts. Changing specifications from payers repeatedly requires a flexible system to automatically process items with little reliance on human intervention. It provides a scalable data engineering framework that makes use of PySpark and Apache Airflow to automate and streamline the generation of patient diagnosis files. Its design allows it to be dynamically adapted to changes in specifications, which enhances both operational efficiency and compliance with the automation of complex data transformation processes and large-scale data processing. This framework not only optimizes the reimbursement process but also strengthens the foundations of value-based care by supporting improved patient outcomes and ensuring financial alignment with payer requirements through improving accuracy, timeliness, and reducing manual coding efforts. The proposed framework significantly enhances data processing speed, achieving a 50% reduction in processing time compared to the traditional ETL approach. It offers scalability improvements, allowing data handling from 1 TB to 5 TB—an increase of four times the previous limit—while minimizing manual effort through automation with Airflow, resulting in a 70% reduction in manual intervention.

Digital trust in China’s digital transformation process: methodology and results of an empirical research

The article is devoted to the topical issues of China's digital transformation and the role of digital trust in it. Digital transformation is a long — term comprehensive and rapid process, accompanied by rapid development of digital technologies, institutional changes and appropriate adaptation of people to new conditions. At the same time, it is emphasized that the drastic changes caused by digital transformation bring a lot of uncertainty and risks to society, which, without proper government response, can lead to social unrest and social unrest, and reduce confidence in this process. In the process of digital transformation, high trust between people can reduce suspicions, doubts and reduce social tension in society. In this regard, digital trust comes to the fore of sociological analysis — a new complex social phenomenon that combines sufficient confidence in the reliability of individuals, processes and technologies related to the security and benefits of the digital world. The author shows that the structure of digital trust is multifaceted and sets various objects for research: they can be technologies, processes, individuals, etc., therefore, those factors that affect these three components of the trust structure can be considered as factors affecting digital trust as a whole. However, the topic of digital trust has not been studied much, both from a theoretical and practical point of view, and its valid empirical studies are clearly insufficient. Indeed, some scientists have used factor analysis in their research to study the elements that affect digital trust. However, due to the lack of a well-developed theoretical framework, the mechanism of interaction between influencing factors and characteristics of digital trust cannot be reliably described. The article presents an original methodology for the sociological analysis of digital trust, based on the methodology of factor analysis. As a result of its testing, factors affecting the level of digital trust have been identified, which are of theoretical and practical importance.

Tensão entre monoteísmo e politeísmo na Bíblia Hebraica e no Antigo Israel

The article analyzes the tension between monotheism and polytheism in the Hebrew Bible (HB) and the religion of ancient Israel, proposing that the development of monotheism was a gradual and multifaceted process. The study examines biblical passages and archaeological evidence suggesting the coexistence of polytheistic beliefs alongside the predominant worship of Yahweh. The author discusses the use of terms such as henotheism and monolatry to describe the religious phenomenon in ancient Israel, arguing that monotheism only fully consolidated during the exilic period. The applied methodology includes the distinction between “emic” and “etic” approaches, allowing for a contextualized analysis of religious practices without imposing modern concepts. Additionally, the article explores the influence of other deities, such as El, Asherah, and Baal, on Israelite religiosity, suggesting that the transition to monotheism involved a process of assimilation, exclusion, and transformation of religious practices. The conclusion is that Israelite monotheism did not emerge abruptly, but as the result of a long theological and political reflection, with both external and internal influences shaping religious thought over time.

Incarcerated Power: Tracing Foucault’s Footsteps in Nawal El Saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero

Abstract Many researchers have approached Nawal El Saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero from different perspectives; however, little has been done to show the complexity of the main character, Firdaus, and her transformation through the story. The present study focuses on the process of character transformation from what may seem to be a state of misery to that of disobedience and heroic resistance. Foucault’s theory of power, as followed by the third-wave feminists, can shed further light on the dynamic change in the personality of the central character. The study reveals that the laws in a patriarchal society, the protagonist’s lack of awareness, and her irresistible fears are the main reasons for her predicaments. The study also shows that the main character, Firdaus, as a free subject, is not always a passive recipient of power but from time to time, she also makes her presence felt. By telling her story, she tries to share her idiosyncratic form of power with other women and inspire them in their struggles against social inequality and male chauvinism.

Climate Agenda in Russia: Shifting Guidelines and New Challenges

The changing of a geopolitical situation and a reorientation of Russian exports to the East were starting an adjustment the climate agenda took place in Russia, which determined the relevance of the research topic. The shift in the primary drivers of the agenda, coupled with the potential for adverse effects on the Russian real economy due to the implementation of cross-border carbon regulations within the European Union, has extended the duration of the transformational process. However, the commitment to transitioning towards a more environmentally friendly approach remains unchanged. In light of the observed change in business focus, the advancement of the climate agenda requires significant efforts from the government. Carbon neutrality and high environmental standards is economically feasible in the medium and long term. At the same time, Russia’s new key partners in the East are actively interacting with the West, which encourages them to act in line with Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Therefore, these standards will eventually extend to Russian companies. The “green” transformation in domestic industries will mitigate the potential dangers of stricter carbon regulations in the East, while also providing additional competitive advantages for the Russian economy.

Oestrogen Detoxification Ability of White Rot Fungus Trametes hirsuta LE-BIN 072: Exoproteome and Transformation Product Profiling

White rot fungi, especially representatives of the genus Trametes spp. (Polyporaceae), are effective destructors of various xenobiotics, including oestrogens (phenol-like steroids), which are now widespread in the environment and pose a serious threat to the health of humans, animals and aquatic organisms. In this work, the ability of the white rot fungus Trametes hirsuta LE-BIN 072 to transform oestrone (E1) and 17β-oestradiol (E2), the main endocrine disruptors, was shown. More than 90% of the initial E1 and E2 were removed by the fungus during the first 24 h of transformation. The transformation process proceeded predominantly in the direction of the initial substrates’ detoxification, with the radical oxidative coupling of E1 and E2 as well as their metabolites and the formation of less toxic dimers in various combinations. A number of minor metabolites, in particular, less toxic estriol (E3), were identified by HPLC-MS. The formation of E1 from E2 and vice versa were shown. The exoproteome of the white rot fungus during the transformation of oestrogens was studied in detail for the first time. The contribution of ligninolytic peroxidases (MnP5, MnP7 and VP2) to the process of the extracellular detoxification of oestrogens and their possible metabolites is highlighted. Thus, the studied strain appears to be a promising mycodetoxicant of phenol-like steroids in aquatic environments.

From hard coal mining to a learning space for digitally supported participatory management of biodiversity

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the conversion of the former coal mining site in Kamp-Lintfort into a public park and learning space for biodiversity. In 2020, an urban green space was established, featuring various aquatic and terrestrial habitats and a high level of biological diversity in the city centre with broad community support. Design/methodology/approach This study presents secondary data of a literature review on participatory management of biodiversity in urban green spaces, with a focus on the sustainability context, participation approaches, theoretical frameworks and the role of education. The example of Zechenpark Kamp-Lintfort (Germany) shows how urban green space development can meet the challenging demands of inner city development while fostering knowledge generation via citizen science and participatory biodiversity management. The study collected primary data on plant biodiversity using a citizen science approach to raise awareness and create opportunities for human–nature interaction. Findings Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 is the most important development goal in the context of participatory biodiversity management of urban green spaces. Most of the studies have a place-based focus and integration of local knowledge is the main reason for a participatory approach. The findings show how a green learning space can offer opportunities for digital learning as well as participatory biodiversity management in urban areas. The project lead to an increase in local citizens’ awareness of biodiversity. Based on a literature review, this report identifies challenges and opportunities for establishing a green learning space for biodiversity education. The example illustrates that an urban green space can provide numerous possibilities for citizens and students to get involved and that it can foster the sustainable development of a new urban neighbourhood. Research limitations/implications A place-based approach limits generalisability. To overcome this limitation, a literature review was conducted, and the location was compared to two parks with similar site conversion history. Practical implications The example of developing an urban green space can inspire universities to take an active role in biodiversity management in urban green spaces, integrating biodiversity into university activities and creating a positive impact in the urban environment. Social implications Analysis of studies in the field shows that education deserves a more prominent role in theoretical frameworks. Originality/value The study represents an example of transition and citizen-led participatory management of biodiversity from a medium-sized city, transformation processes covering these aspects are underrepresented in literature.

Decay without mourning: future-thinking heritage practices

ABSTRACT This paper seeks to further heritage theory and practice by considering decay as a transformative process contributing to heritage formation and value. Informed by our expertise in a variety of fields bordering heritage studies, we highlight the interplay of generative and degenerative aspects in different modes of decay and suggest that partnering with decay epistemologically, artistically, academically, practically, and democratically would allow heritage to be understood not as a rearguard action against loss but rather as a creative and generative process. To explore these ideas, we draw on several cases in geographical locations with unique socio-political and socio-environmental conditions, namely South Africa, Japan, Brazil, and Antarctica. We investigate different domains including archives and museums, heritage practices, landscapes, indigenous knowledge, environmental history, and nature conservation. We argue that decay is tightly linked to the concept of authenticity and acts as a code that holds a key to both past, present and future values of heritage, depending on the positionality and institutionalisation of the interpreter.

Enhancing green polyethylene composites with filler heat treatment: Pecan nutshells and Pinus sawdust impact

The aim of the present study was to produce sustainable composites using green low-density polyethylene (LDPE) reinforced with heat-treated lignocellulosic residues. The transformation processes were employed to enhance the chemical compatibility of lignocellulosic wastes with the polymer matrices of the composite materials. Sawdust from pine wood (PW) and milled pecan nutshells (NS) were subjected to a thermal treatment at 180°C for 2 h. These heat-treated residues were then homogenized with the polymer matrix and molded through hot compression. The resulting wood polymer composites (WPCs) were subjected to various characterization tests, including density, mechanical properties, infrared spectroscopy, thermal stability, hygroscopic behavior, and morphology. Comparing the composites, the inclusion of heat-treated fillers led to reductions in water absorption and thickness swelling, especially for the NS. Furthermore, the composites didn’t exhibit increased flexural strength and/or tensile strength after the bio-components treatment. The insertion of thermally treated lignocelluloses also resulted in slight decreases in equilibrium moisture content and apparent contact angles.

Performing intimate publics in academia: speak-writing as affective politics for sustainability transformation

ABSTRACT Ecological and social systems are in poly-crisis, whose present is mediated not only materially but also affectively. This article introduces the concept of speak-write – a form of writing to be performed for an audience – to address affective states that belong to processes of transformation but are silenced in organisational structures and professional practices, including academia. To contribute meaningfully to a sustainability transformation, this article argues, scholars have to include their conditions of work and what kind of responses they enable or disable. Reflecting on an experience with performing speak-write, this article shows how speak-write can perform an intimate public that might enable finding out what is collective and conventional in the affective atmospheres that circulate and organise our crisis present. Queering academic conventions, speak-write is part of an affective politics in the margins of conventional academic practices that gesture towards how to be home in a world yet-to-come.

Study the Dynamics of the Transformation Processes for Nitrogen and Phosphorus Compounds in the Ecosystem of the Vistula Lagoon of the Baltic Sea using the Methods of Mathematical Modeling

By using mathematical modeling methods, a systematic study of the interaction of hydrobiological, hydrochemical, hydrological and hydrophysical processes that occur in the ecosystem of the Vistula Lagoon (VL) of the Baltic Sea was carried out, taking into account the processes in the active layer of bottom sediments (BS). The features of the dynamics of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, the turnover time and the components of the balance of compounds of biogenic elements in the VL ecosystem, as well as the degree of their temporal variability have been analyzed. It is shown that the variability of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds in the aquatic environment increases in spring and autumn periods. This is due to an increase in river flow into the lagoon and an increase in the level of external biogenic load on the water area of the VL. Model calculations of matter fluxes allow us to state that the inputs of dissolved organic and suspended matter into the lagoon from external sources and the removal to the Baltic Sea are important processes that significantly affect their content in the VL ecosystem. It has been established that under strong winds the process of sedimentation of suspensions can be largely blocked, and the intensity of BS resuspension can increase significantly. An analysis of the main qualitative and quantitative features of the nature of the temporal dynamics of the DON and DOP turnover times, as well as the mineral compounds of nitrogen and phosphorus, indicates a close conjugation of the processes of transformation of dissolved organic and inorganic substances in the water of the VL. A quantitative assessment of the processes of consumption and excretion of compounds of biogenic elements by different groups of aquatic organisms has been performed, and the important role of heterotrophic bacterioplankton and protozoa in the processes of transformation of compounds of nutrients in the VL ecosystem has been shown. The model can be used to perform scenario modeling and analysis of possible changes in the VL ecosystem under changing climatic and anthropogenic conditions.

Is Your Syllabus Trauma Informed?

Recognizing the limitations of existing trauma-informed education approaches, this research emphasized the need to address systemic issues and societal inequalities. The study documents a transformative process undertaken by the author in the Spring semester of 2023, involving a meticulous reevaluation and rewriting of course policies using Shevrin Venet's (2021) four proactive priority questions. The article explores student perceptions of the equity-centered trauma-informed education through surveys conducted at the beginning and end of the semester, revealing positive shifts in student attitudes towards the implementation of the four priorities. The findings suggest that a thoughtfully crafted and trauma-informed syllabus can contribute to a positive learning environment, emphasizing predictability, flexibility, empowerment, and connection. Through this inquiry, the article contributes to the ongoing discourse on bridging the gap between theoretical frameworks and practical application in trauma-informed pedagogy within teacher education.

Biotransformation of Tetrabromobisphenol A and Its Analogs by Selected Gut Bacteria Strains: Implications for Human Health.

Knowledge of the biotransformation of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its related contaminants by human gut microbiota (GM) remains unexplored. Here, TBBPA and its four analogs were incubated with mixed GM strains, and nine rhamnosylated or debrominated transformation products (TPs) were discovered. Remarkably, rhamnosylation was identified as a common and unique microbial transformation pathway for these contaminants, and six of the seven rhamnosylated TPs were reported for the first time. Additionally, a kinetic transformation study also showed a rapid and strong bioaccumulation of TBBPA and TPs by Clostridium manihotivorum. Genomic analysis and phylogenetic studies identified C1.1_02053 as the gene encoding the C. manihotivorum working rhamnosyltransferase (CmRT), showing elevated gene expression with higher TBBPA exposure. Molecular docking identified five critical amino acid residues in CmRT that catalyze TBBPA rhamnosylation, and molecular dynamics simulations further confirmed the stability of the CmRT-TBBPA complex. Dynamic metabolomics analysis showed microbial growth-dependent disturbing effects in C. manihotivorum upon TBBPA exposure, and key metabolic pathways related to rhamnosyltransferase showed changes closely related to the transformation process. These findings provide insights into the unique transformation of environmental contaminants by the GM and highlight the disturbing effects of exogenous chemicals on the GM, as well as the potential impacts on overall human health.

Inclusive AI Technologies and Discourses for Better DEIB and Organizational Outcomes

Abstract Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed the way we work, and as technology continues to outpace workplace management, this is a call-for-action to global organizations to re-evaluate their discourses, strategies and operations on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) frameworks that can potentially help solve organizational challenges and increase their productivity. Global workforces are not yet meaningfully trained in understanding the extent to which AI can impact their careers as well as ethical issues such as fairness, equity, accountability, and governance (Hauer 2022; Polyportis and Pahos 2024). What makes this scenario even more murky is the lack of opportunities available for non-specialist training in AI for workplace management. This lack of transparency and knowledge around the discourses and workings of AI, if left unexamined, could lead to the deterioration of workplace DEIB initiatives. The inherent clarity and commitment of DEIB to improve the lives of all people and organizations can be used as guidance towards building inclusive AI technologies and positive discourses around an inclusive AI. As a technologically dependent society, we have to do better to create more humane and ethical technologies that serve those who have access to less education, privileges, opportunities than us. We need to create continuous and consistent governance systems to oversee the development of inclusive AI and monitor its use. Guiding the development of inclusive AI technologies and discourses using DEIB frames holds the potential of creating powerful, transformative processes where humans and technology can interface and collaborate to bring forth positive outcomes for people, organizations and societies.

Shrimp aquaculture, absorption capacity and competitiveness: an analysis based on the case of Ahome, Mexico

R Objective: to present empirical evidence of the effect that the Knowledge Absorption Capacity (AC) and its dimensions have on the competitiveness of shrimp farming companies. Design/ Methodology/ Approach: a multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the degree of influence of the independent variables (AC dimensions) on the dependent variable (competitiveness). Results: There was a positive effect between AC dimensions and competitive performance. The capacity for transformation of knowledge was the strongest effect. Study limitations/ Implications: due to time and resource constraints, this study was based on a survey limited to a small number of businesses in the municipality of Ahome (Sinaloa), Mexico. Therefore, these results could be specific to the activity evaluated and to that region. Findings/ Conclusions: studies such as this represent a turning point in exposing the importance of conceiving AC as a complex and multidimensional construct that contemplates the processes of acquisition, assimilation, transformation and exploitation of knowledge.