Transformation Process Research Articles

Reflections on three decades of digital transformation in local governments

ABSTRACT This article draws from scholarly debates over three decades to argue for a shift in the study of digital transformation in local governments founded in the understanding that technology is an unavoidable tool for local government reform and that academic research in this field needs to be driven by real-world situations that local governments face when they undertake digital transformation processes and assess their results. The article advocates for four specific changes: 1) the acknowledgement that the relationship between the organisation and the use of technology is bi-directional, 2) the adoption of a multi and interdisciplinary perspective in the scholarship of digital transformation in local governments, 3) the study of public value creation as the result of digital transformation processes and local government reforms, and 4) the need to significantly advance the field by building on existing research and findings when a new technology comes into play.

The Interconnectedness of Interprofessional Education and Professional Identity Formation

Professional identity formation (PIF) is the transformative process by which an individual, “thinks, feels and acts” in accordance with professional norms. In the pharmacy academy, institutions are required to support students on this transformative journey, however the most efficient and effective way to do so has yet to be determined. Interprofessional Education (IPE) in pharmacy programs typically consist of activities and assessments across most of the professional years. These IPE activities designed in accordance with the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Core Competencies include key elements of PIF such as, individual growth opportunities, socialization and “pivotal” moments that can propel an individual’s professional identity development. In light of curricular overload and attempt for curricular efficiency, pharmacy programs might consider using already existing IPE programming to help augment student PIF.

Research on mercury re-release model in wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) in coal-fired power plants

Mercury (Hg), a toxic heavy metal, has triggered regulations for emission control from coal-fired power plants. It has been found that mercury re-release occurs in WFGD slurry, which is affected by WFGD process parameters. The coal co-combustion with bromide technology proves to be an efficient approach for enhancing mercury removal ratio but the accumulation of introduced bromine in WFGD slurry would impact the re-emission behavior of mercury significantly. Model study is efficient method to reveal the physicochemical processes in WFGD systems. However, previous model studies were carried out under Hg2+ contained simulated slurry systems without consideration of Hg2+ transformation process from gas to liquid phase, and co-combustion with bromide technology was not considered. Here, a model which encompasses droplets motion sub-model, gas–liquid heat transfer sub-model, gas–liquid mass transfer sub-model and the mercury re-release kinetic sub-model is developed and validated against experimental data. The effects of bromine concentration, slurry temperature, pH value and S(IV) concentration were investigated. It was found that introduced bromine has significant inhibitory effects on the re-release of mercury. When the slurry temperature is higher, the absorption rate of Hg2+ is lower and more Hg0 is released. Moreover, the increase in the slurry pH value and S(IV) concentration has certain inhibitory effects on the re-release of Hg0 in WFGD. Above all, the developed model has high prediction accuracy for the absorption of Hg2+ and the re-release of Hg0 in WFGD which is expected to be beneficial for guiding the operation of WFGD systems.

Contemporary education: globalization and transformation process under the influence of artificial intelligence

Contemporary education: globalization and transformation process under the influence of artificial intelligence

HOXDeRNA activates a cancerous transcription program and super enhancers via genome-wide binding

The role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in malignant cell transformation remains elusive. We previously identified an enhancer-associated lncRNA, LINC01116 (named HOXDeRNA), as a transformative factor converting human astrocytes into glioma-like cells. Employing a combination of CRISPR editing, chromatin isolation by RNA purification coupled with sequencing (ChIRP-seq), in situ mapping RNA-genome interactions (iMARGI), chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq), HiC, and RNA/DNA FISH, we found that HOXDeRNA directly binds to CpG islands within the promoters of 35 glioma-specific transcription factors (TFs) distributed throughout the genome, including key stem cell TFs SOX2, OLIG2, POU3F2, and ASCL1, liberating them from PRC2 repression. This process requires a distinct RNA quadruplex structure and other segments of HOXDeRNA, interacting with EZH2 and CpGs, respectively. Subsequent transformation activates multiple oncogenes (e.g., EGFR, miR-21, and WEE1), driven by the SOX2- and OLIG2-dependent glioma-specific super enhancers. These results help reconstruct the sequence of events underlying the process of astrocyte transformation, highlighting HOXDeRNA's central genome-wide activity and suggesting a shared RNA-dependent mechanism in otherwise heterogeneous and multifactorial gliomagenesis.

The tsarist policy of russification of education and the “unfavorable realities” in Bessarabia (second half of the 19th century)

The article reveals the process of radical transformation of the education system in Bessarabia in the second half of the nineteenth century, as a result of the tightening of the national policy of the Russian Empire and the intensification of the national-cultural Russification of the non-Russian peoples, the attempts of the Czarist authorities to modernize and homogenize the multinational Russian Empire, according to the model of European states. The author highlights two stages of the policy of Russification of education in Bessarabia. The first stage – years 1866-1872 – is characterized by the undermining of Romanian and mixed parochial primary schools (Romanian-Russian), the prohibition of teaching Romanian language at the regional gymnasium, theological seminary, county schools, etc, by creating a Russian primary and secondary education system in Bessarabia. The second stage – years 1873-1900 – is characterized by the attempt to radically transform the linguistic and cultural realities of the Bessarabian villages, causing the exponential growth of the number of Russian schools in rural areas, mass learning of the Russian language by the Romanian peasants in Bessarabia, the imposition of the Russian language not only in state institutions, but also in the privacy of families. The discussions in this regard within the Committee of Ministers of the Russian Empire highlighted the following dilemma: either the application of force to boost the policy of Russification, or the continuation of the policy of gradual Russification.Understanding the impasse that the Russian Empire would have entered, the authorities finally decided to achieve the goals of the policy of russification of the Romanians in Bessarabia, not through repressive methods, but „gradually and without violence”.

A theoretical framework for value co-creation analysis in carbon sink projects

With the maturation of the carbon market, carbon sink projects have become a thriving business model, and the value co-creation of carbon sink has become a hot topic in interdisciplinary research. However, the theoretical foundation for value co-creation of carbon sink is limited, and existing theoretical frameworks do not fully cover resource allocation, power dynamics, and interaction mechanisms among different actors in project operations. Therefore, this study, based on the theory of value co-creation and supplemented by residual rights theory and circuit of capital theory, has established a comprehensive theoretical framework to consistently understand the driving factors, co-creation process, and outcomes of resource transformation in projects. Using the Forest Ecological Bank in Fujian Province, China as a case study, we applied our theoretical framework for analysis. The results show that our theoretical framework can depict the complete process of value co-creation of carbon sink, reveal the roles played by diverse actors, and capture the project's dynamic changes. The research findings can provide guidance for the sustainable development of carbon sink projects in areas such as strengthening cooperation and partnerships, creating incentive mechanisms, and enhancing the role of third-party institutions.

Factors Affecting Lecturers’ Digital Competence: A Study at some Universities in the North of Vietnam

In recent years, the decrease in swamp land has been observed in both urban and rural areas. This phenomenon is land hoarding to the deliberate Digital transformation has been deeply penetrating all areas of life, contributing to increasing global labor productivity. The process of digital transformation of education and training in the context of the strong industrial revolution is inevitable. This study aims to show the factors affecting the digital competencies of economics lecturers at universities. The author used SPSS 25.0 software to process and analyze data through a survey of 311 lecturers in economics majors, testing the reliability of the scale using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and exploratory factor analysis. of 5 independent variables with 20 observed variables, and the author also uses regression analysis to test the compatibility between independent factors affecting the dependent factor as well as determine the level of impact of factors and model fit. Research results have shown that it is necessary to build a team of lecturers with digital capabilities that meet standards, which is a key condition to achieve the goal of improving the quality of training and education of Vietnam’s universities.

China's methane emissions derived from the inversion of GOSAT observations with a CMAQ and EnKS-based regional data assimilation system

At present, inversions at higher temporal and spatial resolution tend to be in increasing demand. The resolution and precision of methane (CH4) inversions depend on quality of observations, transport model, and inversion scheme. Currently, most inversion-based estimates of CH4 in China use a global atmospheric transport model to relate emissions to observations, or a Lagrangian model to quantify the receptor-to-source sensitivity. Taking advantage of the ability that regional transport models have in mesoscale simulation, a regional inversion system was developed to infer China's CH4 emissions. The CMAQ (Community Multi-scale Air Quality) model was configured for forward simulation of CH4, including processes of emission, transport, diffusion, and chemical transformation. Furthermore, the Ensemble Kalman Smoother was extended to assimilate satellite observations with joint optimization scheme of concentrations and emissions to reduce the impact of initial uncertainty. We found that the posterior annual estimated emissions (53.30 Tg a−1) in 2020 were closer to the official reported figure (53.57 Tg a−1) than to the prior (63.80 Tg a−1), with a downward correction of 16.45% in prior estimates based on extrapolation of the bottom-up inventory, which likely led to overestimation. Moreover, under current observational coverage, monthly posterior estimates reflected region-dependent responses to local conditions. Generally, the regional assimilation system estimated annual and monthly CH4 emissions well, attributable to reliable CMAQ simulation, joint assimilation scheme, and careful selection of satellite retrievals. In addition, evaluation of the posterior estimates indicates that inversion delivers reasonable improvements, but amelioration of uncertainties in prior information and observations is still needed.

Hydrogen-based mineral phase transformation of bastnaesite: Detailed assessment of physicochemical properties and flotation behavior

Iron-bearing rare earth ores are valuable mineral resources, and the hydrogen-based mineral phase transformation (HMPT) process has significant development potential. In this study, the changes in physicochemical properties and flotation behavior of bastnaesites subjected to HMPT were investigated. The results show that bastnaesite decomposed slowly below 600 °C, but increased roasting temperature and time enhanced the decomposition, resulting in a roasted product with over 85 % rare earth oxide (REO) grade. HMPT also increased the initial pH of the flotation pulp from about 7.5 to 11.0 and increased La and Ce ion concentrations. By increasing the dosage of SHA, flotation recoveries comparable to the raw ore can be achieved. The HMPT process converted bastnaesite to REOF, which formed complex phases such as Ce7O12 and REF3 when exposed to air. This process resulted in significant damage to the particle structure, increased porosity, reduced geometric particle size, and improved wettability. After HMPT, Ce on the particle surface existed predominantly as Ce4+, which formed Ce(OH)4 precipitation during flotation, inhibiting SHA adsorption. The increased particle porosity facilitated deeper SHA penetration and greater adsorption, resulting in higher SHA dosage compared to the raw ore.

Bacterial and fungal keystone taxa play different roles in maintaining community resistance and driving soil organic carbon dynamics in response to Solidago Canadensis invasion

The invasion of alien plants has significant implications for vegetation structure and diversity, which could lead to changes in the carbon (C) input from vegetation and change the transformation and decomposition processes of C, thereby altering the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) within ecosystems. Whether alien plant invasion increases the SOC stock and changes SOC fractions consistently within regional scales, and the underlying mechanisms driving these SOC dynamics remain poorly understood. This study investigated SOC dynamics by comparing the plots that suffered invasion and non-invasion of Solidago Canadensis across five ecological function areas in Anhui Province, China, considering climate, edaphic factors, vegetation, and soil microbes. The results demonstrated that the impact of S. Canadensis invasion on SOC storage was not consistent at each site in the 0–20 cm soil layer, as indicated by the range of SOC content (5.94–12.45 g kg−1) observed at non-invaded plots. Stable SOC exhibited similar response patterns with SOC to plant invasion, whereas labile SOC did not. In addition, bacterial and fungal communities were shifted in structure at each site by plant invasion. Bacterial communities exhibited greater resistance to S. Canadensis invasion than did fungal communities, as evidenced by three aspects of the resistance indices—community resistance, phylogenetic conservation, and network complexity. The mechanisms driving SOC dynamics under S. Canadensis invasion were explored using structural equation models. This revealed that fungal keystone taxa responsible for community resistance controlled stable SOC fractions. In contrast, bacterial keystone taxa had the opposite effect on labile and stable SOC. Climatic and edaphic factors were also involved in the labile and stable SOC dynamics. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the dynamics of SOC under S. Canadensis invasion on a regional scale.

Digital Transformation in Georgian Banking: Trends and Current Level of Adoption

The significance of digital technologies is crucial in contemporary times. This is especially pertinent for the banking industry, enabling it to deliver high-quality customer service and address market challenges promptly. This article examines the current state of the Georgian banking system, focusing on digital services and products, and the advances banks have made in integrating innovative digital technologies. Using specific criteria, the study evaluates the level of digitization within the banking sector, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. The research also explores the digital transformation experiences of developed countries' banking sectors and considers how these could be implemented in Georgia, taking into account the unique context and challenges faced by the country. The study aims to assess the digital readiness and challenges faced by Georgia's banking sector, leading to the formulation of recommendations to speed up the digital transformation process and enhance competitiveness. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods are used in the research. The digital banking products and services offered by commercial banks are analyzed, with statistical conclusions derived from quantitative data, providing a comprehensive overview of the sector's digital maturity. In the end, the study evaluates the challenges and future prospects for the digital transformation of Georgia's banking system, offering strategic insights and practical solutions for policymakers and industry stakeholders. Keywords: Georgian banking, innovation, digital transformation, mobile banking, online banking, digital payments

Exploring the influence of polymers on soil ecosystems: prospective from agricultural contexts

The utilization of advanced polymeric materials has indeed emerged as a significant trend in sustainable agriculture, offering a range of innovative applications aimed at enhancing productivity, minimizing environmental impact, and promoting resource efficiency. Smart polymeric materials enable the controlled release of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, thereby enhancing their efficacy while reducing the quantities needed. Superabsorbent polymeric materials act as soil conditioners, assisting in alleviating the negative impacts of drought by retaining moisture and enhancing soil structure. This fosters improved plant growth and resilience in water-scarce environments. Polycationic polymers play a role in plant bioengineering, facilitating genetic transformation processes aimed at enhancing crop productivity and disease resistance. Advanced polymeric systems contribute to the arsenal of precision agriculture tools by enabling precise delivery and targeted application of agricultural inputs. This approach enhances resource efficiency, reduces waste, and minimizes environmental impact while optimizing crop yields. In reviewing recent developments in the design and application of advanced polymeric systems for precision agriculture, several key considerations emerge.

Solute and phase heterogeneous distribution at different scales and its effect on ageing physical phenomena in a laser powder bed fusion produced maraging steel

The Laser Powder Bed Fusion process involves complex thermodynamic and heat transfer mechanisms which results in a complicated understanding of the material’s microstructure and phase transformation processes. In the case of additive manufacturing maraging steels, these present heterogeneous structures which mainly consist of Body-Centred Tetragonal (BCT) martensite and retained austenite (Face-Centred Cubic (FCC) phase structure), unlike conventionally processed material. Research has already been done on the competitive or collaborative nature of austenite growth/reversion and precipitation in these materials. However, for Laser Powder Bed Fusion maraging steels, studies have focused on either the effect of the heterogeneous structures on austenite reversion kinetics or the formation, evolution and behaviour of precipitation. Still, no comprehensive research exists that covers in detail the relation between solute heterogeneity from the meso- to the nanoscale and its influence on both phase distribution and ageing physical phenomena. To do so, multiscale chemical analyses and microstructural characterisation techniques were used to investigate a maraging steel M300 in different transformed conditions: as-built, aged at 480 and 540 °C. The results showed that competing mechanisms during printing caused segregation at the mesoscale, which remains in aged samples. Vaporisation led to Cr segregation, while melt convections caused Ni and Ti depletion at melt pool boundaries. Retained austenite location was found at melt pool boundaries and away from them on the as-built structure. Its preferential location remains unclear. Dissimilarities from conventional material were identified in nanosized clustering and precipitates on aged samples.

Nitrogen Transport Pathways and Source Contributions in a Typical Agricultural Watershed Using Stable Isotopes and Hydrochemistry

The increasing global nitrogen input poses a significant threat to aquatic environments, particularly in agricultural watersheds, where intensive human activities and insufficient water protection infrastructure exacerbate the risk of nitrogen pollution. Accurate identification of nitrogen pollution sources and the associated transformation processes is essential for protecting watershed ecosystems. In this study, a combination of hydrochemical analysis, correlation and principal component analysis, and stable nitrate isotopes (δ15N-NO3− and δ18O-NO3−) were employed to trace nitrogen transport pathways and source contributions in both surface water and groundwater within a typical agricultural watershed. The results revealed the presence of nitrogen pollution, including total nitrogen (TN), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), and nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N), with significant spatial and seasonal variations in both surface water and groundwater. The spatiotemporal evolution of hydrochemical indicators and nitrate isotope compositions highlighted multiple potential sources of nitrogen, including soil input, agricultural input, and manure and sewage input. The results from stable isotope analysis in an R (SIAR) model indicated that ammonium fertilizers (7.1~78.4%) and manure and sewage (2.6~69.7%) were the primary sources of nitrates in surface water, while manure and sewage were the main sources in groundwater (67.9~73.7%). This research demonstrated that nitrification, seasonal variations, and human activities significantly impact nitrogen migration and transformation in agricultural watersheds. However, the issue of groundwater severely polluted by manure and sewage has received insufficient attention. To effectively control nitrogen pollution in agricultural watersheds, it is necessary to improve septic tanks and sewage networks, as well as implement scientific fertilization practices.

Enhancing strength, ductility, and thermal fatigue resistance in Stellite 21 coatings via Mn alloying and Transformation-Induced Plasticity

This study investigates the effect of Mn on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Stellite 21 cobalt-based coatings prepared by laser cladding on 24CrNiMo steel substrates, focusing on utilizing the Transformation-Induced Plasticity (TRIP) mechanism to enhance toughness and thermal fatigue performance. The results indicate that the microstructure of the Stellite 21 alloy coating is primarily composed of γ-Co (FCC) with a minor presence of ε-Co (HCP), M23C6, and M7C3 carbides, which predominantly precipitate at or near the grain boundaries. Upon the addition of Mn, it dissolves into the γ-Co matrix, causing lattice distortion and increasing dislocation density, thereby contributing to solid solution strengthening. Compared to the Mn-free Stellite 21 alloy coating, the coating with 5% Mn exhibits an approximately 21% increase in tensile strength (∼1135 MPa) and a 74% increase in elongation (∼14.5%). This improvement is mainly attributed to the solid solution strengthening caused by lattice distortion due to Mn addition and the synergistic enhancement from the TRIP mechanism facilitated by the lower stacking fault energy. Moreover, the thermal fatigue crack propagation rate in the coating with 5% Mn is reduced by approximately 42.5% compared to the Mn-free Stellite 21 alloy coating. The enhancement in thermal fatigue performance is primarily due to the Mn addition, which stabilizes the ε-Co phase during thermal fatigue processes, enhancing plastic deformation capacity. The phase transformation process alleviates stress concentration, effectively reducing crack propagation rates and ultimately improving the material's thermal fatigue performance.

RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE IN CHANGING INDONESIA: The Political Struggle and Movement of Hidayatullah

This article seeks to endeavors and strategies of an Islamic organization, Hidayatullah, to survive in changing political regimes in the New Order to Reformation period of Indonesia. It was established as an Islamic educational and dakwah (Islamic proselytizing) institution in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, in 1973. Despite socio-political changes in the country, it has expanded to several provinces in Indonesia which transformed it to become the largest Islamic educational institution with 402 branches of Islamic schools. The organization focuses its activities on Islamic education and dakwah through various ways including printed media such as Suara Hidayatullah magazine, distributed weekly to its branches, mosques, and schools. Based on a literature review of Suara Hidayatullah magazine and interviews with Hidayatullah prominent figures, this article delves into the struggles and movement of Hidayatullah through its dynamics and transformation in socio-political changes in Indonesia. This article argued that in political dynamics and transformation within Hidayatullah organization show the resistance and resilience to survive in the socio-political crisis of Suharto’s New Order era (1966-1998), which discriminated against Islam as a political ideology and in the aftermath of reformation. One of the strategies to comply with the political repressions is to declare Hidayatullah as an Islamic organization like Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah in 2000. This transformation process proves Hidayatullah’s strategic foresight and adaptability in socio-cultural and political changes.

A hot deformation constitutive model applicable for complete austenite and dynamic ferrite transformation interval

Dynamic ferrite transformation is a vital microstructure evolution mechanism for carbon alloy steels and an essential technology for manufacturing high-performance steel materials. In practice, carbon steel hot working processes are usually carried out at various temperatures, involving the evolutionary behavior of the single-phase austenite and the ferrite dynamic transformation process. Few models can simultaneously predict the microstructural state and deformation resistance in the single-phase austenitic interval and the dynamic ferrite transformation interval. The deformation mechanisms involve work-hardening, dynamic recovery, and dynamic recrystallization of austenite and ferrite phases, as well as the dynamic transformation of austenite to ferrite and coordinated deformation between the two phases. Therefore, this paper extends the application range of the model based on the viscoplastic unified constitutive model by considering the above deformation mechanisms. The constitutive model proposed in this paper applies to both the single-phase austenite interval and the dynamic ferrite transformation interval. Moreover, it can accurately predict carbon alloy steel's microstructure state and deformation resistance in different intervals. This paper can help to construct a hot deformation constitutive model in a wide range of deformation temperature intervals of steel materials.

Conceptualizing the Influence of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging on Professional Identity in Nursing.

Professional identity in nursing (PIN) is a multifaceted construct that evolves throughout one's nursing career. As new knowledge about PIN emerges, the influence of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) becomes increasingly vital in shaping a nurse's identity. Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory is used to illustrate the complex, reciprocal, and intersecting influences of DEIB in the transformational process of becoming a nurse. The authors provide an in-depth analysis of the nexus of DEIB and PIN conceptual model, examine reciprocal relationships between DEIB and the individual and collective PIN, offer a detailed case study for the application of DEIB and PIN, and make recommendations for implementing the conceptual model. The model may be used to integrate DEIB and PIN by nurses in all settings. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(10):493-499.].

Digital transformation and enterprise violation risk: A ‘motivation-opportunity-attitude’ framework

In the evolving digital economy, digital transformation has emerged as an important strategic choice for enterprises. Their comprehensive and innovative characteristics have instigated a paradigm shift in enterprise governance ideologies and models. However, this transformation has also introduced heightened demands and challenges to enterprise governance mechanisms during the transitional phase. This study examined the influence of digital transformation on enterprise violation risk using data from Chinese A-share listed companies from 2017 to 2021. The analysis revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship between the degree of digital transformation and enterprise violation risk. This relationship was underpinned by three fundamental dimensions: motivation, opportunity, and management attitude. These dimensions were elucidated through mechanisms involving risk perception, management agency costs, and management responsibilities. These conclusions were reached even after rigorous tests for endogeneity and stability. Furthermore, this study probed specific scenarios in which digital transformation influences enterprise violation risk. This finding revealed that internal control mechanisms and external analysts’ attention moderate this relationship. As the effectiveness of internal controls and the attention of external analysts increase, the inflection point of the inverted U-shaped curve shifts to the left, and the curve progressively smoothens. Thus, greater internal control effectiveness and the governance impact of external analysts can positively affect the correlation between digital transformation and enterprise violation risk, thereby facilitating digital resources to empower enterprise governance. This study contributes to the theoretical discourse on the implications of digital transformation for enterprise governance, particularly in the context of evolving market dynamics. It offers valuable insights and recommendations for effectively driving digital transformation processes.