Transformational Change Research Articles

Recent developments in systemic light-chain amyloidosis prognosis and treatment.

Systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare clonal plasma cell disorder characterized by the production of abnormal immunoglobulin free light-chains that misfold into amyloid fibrils and deposit in the extracellular matrix of tissues. Despite being a multisystemic disease process, the presence and severity of cardiac involvement remains the main determinant of prognosis. Improved understanding of the underlying pathophysiology has resulted in transformative changes in both diagnostics and treatment. Improvements in multimodality cardiac imaging have enabled accurate diagnosis, facilitated rapid initiation of treatment and allowed the direct visualization changes in the myocardial substrate in response to chemotherapy. Significant progress has also been made through leveraging treatments that directly target the underlying abnormal plasma cell clone responsible the production of the amyloidogenic immunoglobulin free light-chains. Current treatment options successfully target amyloid production, but novel anti-amyloid therapies seek to target amyloid fibrils that have already deposited in the organs and facilitate their removal through an immune-mediated degradation process are at advanced stages of development. These treatments have the potential to induce disease regression by depleting amyloid deposits and if successful will represent a significant step forward in the treatment of systemic AL amyloidosis, especially for patients with advanced cardiac disease.

Introduction to the Forum: Changemakers Igniting Innovation.

The purpose of this foreword is to introduce readers to the Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools (LSHSS) Forum: Changemakers Igniting Innovation. This forum includes six articles presenting on a variety of topics, all of which were recognized at the 2023 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention for their exceptional potential to produce substantive, transformative change within the discipline of communication sciences and disorders. As showcased in this forum, there are numerous ways in which researchers and clinicians ignite and expand transformative change in our discipline through impactful and meaningful ways (e.g., leveraging the use of new technologies, reimagining current practices, reframing contemporary perspectives), all of which have the potential to positively influence patient/student outcomes and contribute to innovative best practices for future clinical and research-related endeavors.

Whole-of-food system governance for transformative change.

Whole-of-food system governance for transformative change.

The Magical Side of the Monstrous: Maskh as Critical Term for Modern Arabic Creativity

Abstract This article proposes that the concept of maskh is employed in Arabic literary texts as a polysemic figure of transformative change, dynamism, and an affirmative rethinking of the modern. While outwardly signaling disaffection, maskh inwardly propels creative action, giving way to experiments with narrative form, genre, and poetic language. From the mid-20th century to contemporary writing, maskh in Arabic literary writings serves as a site where the ugly and deformed in modern realities are encountered, processed, and transmuted into artistic form. Maskh may also indicate translational dynamics, adaptive practices and intercultural contact. I trace its formative role in the inception of qaṣīdat al-nathr and in feminist ibdāʿ. Its impact for post-1967 fiction is also analyzed, specifically for this fiction’s depiction of regime aggression against citizens. The argument running through the readings is that attention to this trope can assist in defining the singularity of literary texts as opposed to other modes of cultural discourse. Taking a cue from recent efforts to produce an “Arabic theoretical lexicon” accessible to Anglophone scholars, this article follows an Arabic concept with a long cultural history to argue for its ongoing resonance in diverse intellectual contexts.

Frontiers in the physiology of male pattern androgenetic alopecia: Beyond the androgen horizon.

Male pattern androgenetic alopecia (mpAGA), the most common form of hair loss in men, represents a heritable, androgen-dependent complex trait distinct from female pattern hair loss. Despite the psychosocial burden of mpAGA in some affected individuals and associations with other morbidities, we portray mpAGA as an essentially physiological phenomenon in which defined hair follicle (HF) populations in developmentally preprogrammed scalp skin regions undergo a dramatic, but reversible (mini-)organ transformation in genetically predisposed individuals. Histologically, mpAGA exhibits progressive HF miniaturization (terminal-to-vellus conversion) and anagen shortening. Clinically, this results in a characteristic balding pattern of frontotemporal and vertex scalp skin, associated with telogen effluvium. It remains unclear how exactly androgens induce this phenotype, since neither androgen receptor polymorphisms nor changes in androgen serum or local androgen skin levels persuasively explain it. It also is as yet unresolved if mpAGA-associated HF transformation and hair cycle changes are primarily driven by the HF mesenchyme, e.g. by excessive emigration and/or reduced inductive potential of dermal papilla fibroblasts, or by intraepithelial events such as prostaglandin D2-dependent reduced HF epithelial stem cell progenitor generation. While critically revisiting our limited current understanding of mpAGA physiology and the role of mpAGA-associated genes we discuss potential targets for future therapeutic intervention beyond androgens and highlight selected dysregulated signaling pathways in mpAGA. We underscore mpAGA as an instructive, accessible model for interrogating under-investigated physiological roles of immune cells, oxidative stress, aging/senescence, and the microbiome in human organ remodeling and hair cycle regulation, and define major open research questions beyond androgen receptor- mediated signaling.

Entanglements of knowledge and action in sustainability science: reclaiming reflexivity to embrace the uncomfortable

Abstract The trajectory of the current socio-ecological crises is not improving, motivating several researchers to suggest that sustainability scientists should engage more actively in the transformations our work demands of broader society. Possibilities for action range from placing pressure on powerful economic and political structures through individual advocacy or activism to adopting more reflexive, action-oriented and transdisciplinary approaches in our research. Yet, dominant perspectives at the science-policy-society interface often expect researchers to remain separate from and neutral to the complexities and politics of the ‘real-world’, particularly in times of geopolitical and economic change, pitting personal motivations and values against those of our work and institutions. As a result, sustainability scientists exist in a ‘double reality’ , in which they produce evidence supporting the need for transformative change but feel a lack of individual agency to act. In this paper, we aim to explore the uncomfortable space created by this double reality. We first propose that from a (critical) complexity worldview, the complex nature of sustainability challenges deems all research practice as a situated intervention, offering an opportunity for a more nuanced discussion about how sustainability scientists can take responsibility for their position in broader society. From this view, we unpack three sources of discomfort in the entanglements of knowledge and action: the resistance to confronting our own subjectivity in relation to others and our institutions; disorientation from getting lost in pluralism; and the fear of intentional engagement with power and politics. We then suggest that reclaiming the political and provocative roots of reflexivity can better equip researchers and their institutions to deal with the normative, plural, and political complexities that surface at the science-policy-society interfaces, thereby enabling a more critical and action-oriented approach to sustainability science.

Are Nature Index journals a valid basis for academic assessment: a study of academic impact and disruptive innovation assessment based on open bibliographic metadata and citation data

Journal listings play an important role in current journal evaluation, publication reference, research assessment and position promotion. Considering the current orientation of science and technology development and the need of transformative changes in academic evaluation, this study aims to examine Nature Index journals list. The focus will be on exploring the coverage of research topics, assessing the innovation levels of the published papers, and identifying underrepresented research areas. The outcome will facilitate the identification of high-level science and technology journals that can serve as valuable references for the Nature Index team and relevant management and research institutions in their scientific research evaluation processes. The results of the study show that of the 3029 research topics in the science fields defined by OpenAlex, 2217 (73.19%) are covered by Nature Index journals. Across all 18 research disciplines outside of Dentistry and Veterinary, Nature Index journals show a clear advantage in academic quality (the average share of dominant research topics in each disciplinary category is around 90%). However, Nature Index journals have an advantage in terms of academic impact over the level of disruptive innovation. In this study, two journals have been also selected to supplement the latest Nature Index list by taking the disruptive innovation level as the core index and the academic influence and long-term development of the journals in the related research fields as the reference. Generally speaking, the list of Nature Index journals is relatively complete, but there is still room for adjustment. Nature Index journals have a high academic impact and disruptive innovation level in most of the research topics that they cover, but they are more focused on academic impact. Appropriately adding representative journals in uncharted research areas will enhance the application value of the Nature Index in academic evaluation.

Leverage points to pathways for transformation of agri-food systems

Abstract Achieving large-scale, transformative climate change adaptations in agriculture while mitigating further climate impacts and supporting sustainable and equitable rural livelihoods is a grand challenge for society. Transformation of the agri-food system is necessary and inevitable, but the extent to which transformation can be intentionally guided toward desirable states remains unclear. We argue that instead of targeting leverage points in isolation, coordinated interventions multiple leverage points and their interactions are necessary to create broader system transformation towards more adaptive futures. Using the Southeastern U.S. as a case study, we conceptualize a way of doing transformation research in agri-food systems that integrates multiple theoretical and practical perspectives of how transformative pathways can be constructed from ‘chains’ of interacting leverage points. We outline several principles for transformative research; the core of which are participatory, transdisciplinary, and convergence research methods needed for articulating a shared vision. These principles embrace an action-oriented approach to research in which the act of assembling diverse networks of researchers, stakeholders, and community partners itself can activate community- and regional-level leverage points to scale-up changes. Finally, we present tangible examples of specific leverage points and their interactions targeted by agri-food systems interventions currently underway or planned. This work offers an ‘anticipatory’ vision for agri-food systems transformation research that recognizes the need to normatively create an enabling environment to build momentum toward shared visions of secure, equitable, and sustainable regional agri-food systems.

Sleep disruption and its psychological treatment in young people at risk of psychosis: A peer methods qualitative evaluation.

A recent randomized controlled feasibility trial showed that sleep problems in young people at risk of psychosis can be successfully treated with psychological therapy and that this may bring additional benefits such as reducing depression, anxiety and paranoia. Here we report participants' qualitative experience of sleep problems and therapy. A peer-methods qualitative study employing reflexive thematic analysis. Semi-structured interviews, co-facilitated by peer researchers, were conducted with 16 young patients at risk of psychosis and having sleep problems who participated in the SleepWell Trial (ISRCTN85601537). Ten interviewees had received the 12-week sleep therapy. Four themes were generated: (1) the challenge to access mental health treatment ('bouncing between services'), (2) sleep problems and mental health difficulties are intertwined ('an obvious link'), (3) flexibility in therapy provision matters ('tailored to me as a person') and (4) improving sleep leads to wider benefits ('fixing the sleep helped everything else'). Participants described a frustrating journey to access mental health treatment, marked by rejection and invalidation, which resulted in hopelessness and often resignation. The interaction between sleep disruption and other mental health difficulties was seen as obvious. Treatment for sleep problems was highly valued. The clear focus, therapeutic style and flexible delivery of the treatment was seen to create patient ownership, active engagement and hope. Participants described transformative changes: better sleep, fewer voices and fears and improved mood and confidence. Improving sleep made a difference to everyday life. Treating sleep problems in people at risk of psychosis is highly valued and often brings rapid and widespread improvements across a range of domains.

Transformative Trajectories: An In-depth Analysis of ICT Integration in the Somali Higher Education System

Purpose: This study aims to explore the transformative potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) integration within Somalia’s higher education sector. The research investigates how ICT can enhance academic achievement, increase accessibility, and improve the overall quality and relevance of higher education in the Somali context. Methodology: A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques. Questionnaires were distributed to students and faculty, interviews were conducted with key stakeholders, and documentary analysis was performed to assess current policies, infrastructure, and ICT-related initiatives in higher education institutions. Findings: The research reveals a nuanced landscape of ICT integration in Somali higher education. While some institutions have begun adopting ICT tools, many face challenges including inadequate infrastructure, limited faculty training, and inconsistent policy support. Despite these barriers, significant potential exists for ICT to improve educational quality, promote student empowerment, and foster socioeconomic development. The study identifies positive correlations between ICT use and student performance, as well as institutional adaptability and innovation. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study offers a comprehensive analysis that bridges theoretical understanding and practical application of ICT in a fragile, post-conflict educational context. For theory, it contributes to the discourse on ICT in developing nations by contextualizing its adoption within Somalia’s unique socio-political landscape. For policy, it provides actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening infrastructure, faculty development, and regulatory frameworks. For practice, it guides institutions in designing sustainable ICT strategies that align with educational goals and national development priorities. The findings serve as a roadmap for educators, policymakers, and stakeholders aiming to harness ICT for transformative change in Somali higher education.

Barriers to Inclusive Education in Nigeria: Policy, Practice and Counselling Perspectives

Inclusive education embodies a vision where every learner is afforded the chance to thrive, fostering not only personal growth but also contributing to the development of inclusive societies. The concept of Inclusive education has been characterized by its commitment to providing equitable learning opportunities for all students regardless of their backgrounds, abilities, or disabilities. With these ambitious objectives, Inclusive education has emerged as a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of quality education worldwide. This paper examined various issues, challenges in administration, management and counselling implications in providing Inclusive education. As a fundamental human right, Inclusive education has gained recognition as a cornerstone of equitable and quality education globally. However, the journey towards its effective implementation in Nigeria has been marked by numerous challenges, thus suggesting administrative management and counselling strategies as other options. Drawing on extensive research and empirical evidence, this paper highlights the various obstacles hindering the full realization of inclusive education in Nigeria. It explores the complex interplay between policy frameworks, institutional practices, societal attitudes, and resource allocation. Moreover, it highlights the impact of these barriers on marginalized learners, emphasizing the urgent need for transformative change. The concept of inclusive education includes all learners, but it may be interpreted differently according to the context. For example, while it covers children excluded on the basis of language, gender, ethnicity, disability and other factors, it can focus on children with disabilities only. In presenting a holistic analysis, this paper also sheds light on promising initiatives and best practices that have emerged within the Nigerian context. These exemplars demonstrate that inclusive education is not only an ethical imperative but also an attainable goal when stakeholders collaborate with determination and purpose. Recommendations suggested includes: re-evaluation of policies and a reinvigoration of practices to dismantle the barriers that limit the potential of inclusive education, and employing counselling strategies in order to address the problems in Nigeria. It underscores the pivotal role of policymakers, educators, parents, and communities in fostering an inclusive society where every learner, regardless of their background or abilities, can thrive and contribute meaningfully to the nation's development.

Important features, applications and future perspective of zinc oxide based reduce graphene oxide nanocomposite

Abstract The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) play key role in propelling transformative changes, and highlighting burning issues to be addressed to achieve successful global developmental initiative. Zinc oxide (ZnO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) are helpful in achieving various SDGs. However, both materials have some limitations. To overcome the drawbacks of individual ZnO and rGO nanomaterials, ZnO/rGO nanocomposites are designed. This review aims to highlight issues being faced by ZnO and graphene oxide and their resolution through the development of ZnO/rGO nanocomposite. Various characterization techniques are discussed to explore physio-chemical properties. As the composite materials exhibit enhanced charge carrier separation, and extended lifetime of photoinduced charge carriers, making them a promising agent for improved photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, biosensors, and energy conversion and storage devices such as solar cells, and lithium batteries etc. Morphological relationship with various activities and potential applications in numerous fields, including controlling environmental pollution, biomedical, bio-sensing, energy etc., have also been discussed to explore their importance. Additionally, for further advancement to design next generation material several recommendations have been given. The knowledge gained from this review is the way for the development of next-generation nanomaterials, capable of addressing global challenges in energy and environmental sustainability etc.

Law and Economics

This article examines two questions that may hinder the development of law and economics scholarship in civil law jurisdictions. The first concerns whether law and economics provides insights to civil law scholarship that are as compelling as those observed in common law countries. I will argue in the affirmative. The second question explores whether legal scholarship can contribute to economics. This inquiry is grounded in recent research addressing the puzzle of the critical factors behind the unprecedented economic growth first observed in north-western Europe and subsequently exported to other regions of the world. If the pivotal factor is a shift in ideas and values that underpin individual liberty and dignity, thereby fostering radical innovation, then legal institutions play a crucial role in framing and supporting such transformative changes.

How Digital Development Leverages Sustainable Development

This academic article seeks to clarify the state of the literature on a very pertinent topic that is based on how digital innovation, considering emerging technologies and how they could be used in business management and marketing, could increase sustainable development. The sustainable economy, which should maintain long-term development through efficient resource management, has as allies emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things that can help reduce waste, reduce the carbon footprint, and automate tasks. Additionally, they could present themselves as a solution to improve aspects of digital communication between companies and their consumers in remote training, distribution chain, e-commerce, and process optimization in different sectors of activity. These advances will, on the one hand, allow the possibility of conducting a greater amount of professional training, increasing the number of qualified professionals and, on the other hand, facilitate trade exchanges, promoting the economy. Based on a systematic bibliometric review of the literature using the PRISMA framework, this study investigates how digital tools catalyze transformative changes in different sectors of activity. The results indicate that, overall, the academic articles analyzed in this literature review present studies focused on digitalization and sustainability (approximately 50%). In second place are topics related to digitalization and other topics such as: smart cities; Sustainable Development Goals; academia; the digital economy; government policies; academic education; and sustainable communication (29%). Finally, in third place, there are academic articles closely linked to digitalization and the environment, more specifically to sustainable practices and the management of natural resources (21%). The article concludes that digital development, when used wisely, serves as a crucial lever to address the world’s most pressing sustainability imperatives. Future research should emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration and adaptive governance to ensure that these digital changes produce lasting impacts for people and the planet.

A Theory of change framework for Caribbean resilience and sustainability through social entrepreneurship

Traditional sectoral efforts for social development (SD) in Latin America and the Caribbean have largely failed to produce significant results, prompting the introduction of the Transformational Theory of Change (TToC) as a new approach to address socioeconomic decline and environmental degradation while achieving SD and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This conceptual paper is grounded in a literature review of social entrepreneurship and effective SD practices, which informs the development of the TToC. The findings emphasize the importance of a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach and the role of social enterprises in enhancing resilience and promoting national SD, although such collaborative efforts are scarce in the Caribbean, highlighting the need for the Transformational Change Pathway (TCP) and Collaboration Relationship Enabler (CRE). This TToC is the first of its kind at the national level, advocating for entrepreneurial change at the organizational level to foster resilience, with the TCP and CRE enhancing its applicability and providing a model for SD in developing contexts. However, a key limitation is the lack of genuine collaboration between businesses, governments, and social sector organizations (SSOs), necessitating further research to validate the TToC and its supporting frameworks. By transforming SSOs into social enterprises, the Caribbean can enhance social sector resilience, contributing to national SD and the SDGs, with potential applicability beyond the region.

Unveiling the double-edged sword of magic concepts in public sector reforms: Why capacity to cope with paradoxes makes all the difference

Abstract This study examines how the use of magic concepts in public sector reform can simultaneously promote and undermine the achievement of reform. By integrating insights from magic concepts and paradox theory, the study suggests deploying magic concepts in reform can activate clusters of organizational paradoxes that in turn create unique opportunities for transformative change. Case studies from two Scandinavian municipalities illustrate the double-edged nature of magic concepts in reform: Only when an organization has the capacity to deal with heightened paradoxical tensions in an integrative way can the magic concept effectively contribute to achieving the desired reform outcomes.

Identifying transformative seeds of success in invasive species management: South Africa as a case study

Invasive species (IS) pose a global threat to biodiversity and human wellbeing. Managing this complex problem at the large scales required—across biomes, jurisdictions and land tenures—is challenging, particularly in developing countries. Innovative approaches that extend management beyond the remit of government are urgently needed. Initiatives which are not currently dominant, which exist at the margins of current mainstream practice, and which offer new ways of thinking and doing, may represent a promising source of inspiration and impact for IS management. Here we identify and analyse these so-called seeds in the context of IS management in South Africa, with the goal of understanding their contribution to IS management and to deeper transformative change. We examine what kinds of bottom-up innovations are currently present, what activities they involve and whom they benefit, what enablers and barriers they face, and in what ways they demonstrate transformative potential. We identified 37 seed initiatives, including technological solutions, alternative uses for IS, stewardship approaches and ways of engaging the public. Seeds are primarily enabled by their social connections, including broad collaborations, investing in networks, and in working with trusted mediators. Key barriers include misaligned or unstable government funding, inappropriate regulatory frameworks, and shortages of skilled personnel. These seed initiatives include many indicators of transformative change, including the ability to restructure systems, be innovative and be highly co-productive. We identify clusters of seeds representing different transformative strengths. This work provides a first insight into how marginal, experimental or bottom-up initiatives could contribute significantly to the impact of IS management in South Africa, and beyond. Supporting the scaling of these initiatives can contribute to transformative change towards more sustainable and just social-ecological futures.

Sustainable Agricultural Development under the Influence of Technology: A Case Study of Bihar

Achieving “Zero Hunger,” one of the core Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015, necessitates transformative changes in agricultural systems through sustainable practices and resilient technologies. This study examines the influence of farm technologies and supporting infrastructure on agricultural value-added(GVA) in Bihar, a predominantly agrarian and economically underdeveloped state in India, utilizing time series data from 2000 to 2024. Employing advanced econometric models, dynamic simulations, and impulse response analyses, the research identifies key structural drivers and constraints of agricultural growth in the region. Technological advancement is shown to be a primary driver, with mechanization, improved seed varieties, multi-cropping, and agroforestry practices significantly enhancing land productivity. Capital stock investment exhibits a direct and positive elasticity (0.59%), with its impact persisting up to eight years before diminishing, underscoring the need for periodic reinvestment. Mechanization alone accounts for a 32% contribution to GVA, signalling a transition toward labour-saving technologies. Arable land expansion and sustainable practices also play a pivotal role, contributing 21% to agricultural GVA. Conversely, irrigation infrastructure and chemical fertilizers reveal mixed or negative short-term effects, likely due to inefficient application or ecological constraints. Variables such as labour, credit, forest area, and energy consumption are found to be statistically insignificant. The findings advocate for capital lifecycle management, precision farming, sustainable land use, targeted input application, and credit system reform. The study concludes that an integrated, evidence-based policy framework is essential to ensure sustained agricultural productivity, environmental stewardship, and the long-term realization of SDG-2 in Bihar.

The Limits of Participation Without Economic Justice in Peacebuilding: A Study of Colombia

Despite the growing emphasis on local participation in peacebuilding, there is a lack of knowledge of how decisions are made regarding socio-economic interventions within participatory spaces, especially when local people's interests conflict with those of major economic actors. This study addresses the need to understand these complex dynamics by synthesizing Lukes’ three-dimensional power theory with Fraser's justice theory into an analytical framework. Using Colombia's Territorially Focused Development Programs (PDETs) as a case study, this research argues that when participation is disconnected from the politics of economic redistribution, increased local participation does not lead to transformative outcomes. Empirical evidence from interviews and observations of PDET planning meetings demonstrates that the decision-making power of participants is often undermined in the face of territorial economic interests. This article contributes both theoretically and empirically to the peacebuilding literature by proposing and testing an analytical framework that enhances our understanding of local participation in programs promising transformative changes within contexts of economic inequality.

Challenges and innovations in harvesting and handling of vegetables in Nigeria

Vegetable production plays a crucial role in Nigerian agriculture, serving as a primary income source for numerous small-scale farmers across the country. Despite this, the sector grapples with substantial post-harvest losses attributed to inadequate harvesting and handling practices. These losses not only diminish the quantity and quality of vegetables available for consumption but also undermine the economic viability of farming operations. In Nigeria, harvesting techniques vary widely and often lack standardization. Many farmers harvest vegetables manually, using rudimentary tools, which can lead to physical damage and bruising. Moreover, the timing of harvests may not be optimal, resulting in produce that is either under ripe or overripe by the time it reaches markets or processing facilities. Post-harvest handling practices, such as sorting, cleaning, and packaging, also suffer from inefficiencies. Poor hygiene during handling contributes to contamination and spoilage, further escalating losses. The consequences of these challenges are profound. Farmers experience reduced income due to lower market prices for damaged or spoiled produce. Consumers face limited access to high-quality vegetables, impacting their nutritional intake and the environment suffers as valuable resources invested in cultivation are wasted. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach. Introducing improved harvesting tools and techniques can minimize physical damage to vegetables during harvest. Training programs aimed at educating farmers on optimal harvest timing and post-harvest handling practices could enhance overall crop quality. Infrastructure development, such as storage facilities and transportation networks, is essential to prolong shelf life and maintain freshness from farm to market. Moreover, policy interventions and investment in research and development are critical to supporting sustainable improvements in vegetable production. By addressing these challenges and seizing opportunities for innovation, Nigeria can bolster its agricultural sector, improve food security, and enhance livelihoods for millions of smallholder farmers. This review aims to underscore these issues and advocate for transformative changes in harvesting and handling practices to mitigate post-harvest losses and optimize vegetable production in Nigeria.