Transition Trajectories Research Articles

Sidelined by design: Egypt’s parliament in transition

ABSTRACTEgypt’s parliament has been broadly excluded from the country’s political developments since the 2011 uprisings. The nadir of its influence was reached when the House of Representatives (lower house) was dissolved in summer 2012, followed by the Shura Council (former upper house) in summer 2013. Subsequently, no parliament existed until new elections, repeatedly postponed, were eventually conducted in fall 2015. This delay seemed to be part of the government’s strategy, as it used these years without a parliament to draft an electoral law that made formation of a legislature critical of the regime highly unlikely. The repeated electoral postponements also imposed specific burdens on the revolutionary parties that struggled to compete with the former elites. This article examines the contributions of Egypt’s parliament to the country’s transition trajectory, discusses the relevant changes made to the constitution and electoral law, and concludes that the parliament’s contribution to Egypt’s development has been limited, and will most probably remain so in the future.

Dynamic Switching of Helical Microgel Ribbons.

We report on a microscopic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel ribbon, coated by a thin gold layer, that shows helical coiling. Confined swelling and shrinkage of the hydrogel below and above its characteristic volume phase transition leads to a temperature actuated reversal of the sense of the helix. The extent and the shape of the winding are controlled by the dimensions and mechanical properties of the bilayer ribbon. We focus on a cylindrical helix geometry and monitor the morphing under equilibrium and nonequilibrium conditions, that is, when the temperature changes faster than the volume (millisecond range). For slow temperature variations, the water release and uptake follow the equilibrium transition trajectory determined by the time needed for the diffusion of water into and out of the microscopic gel. Much faster variations of the temperature are accomplished by internal heating of embedded gold nanorods by IR-light irradiation. This causes elastic stresses that strongly affect the motions. This method enables well-reproducible deviations from the equilibrium transition path and allows us to control rather precisely the spatiotemporal transformation in a cyclic repetitive process. Actuation and response are sensitive to small variations of temperature and composition of the aqueous sol in which the gel is immersed. The principle as described may be used to detect specific analytes that bind either to the surface of the gold layer or within the gel and can modify the interaction between the water and the gel. The reported nonequilibrium morphing implies that the system dissipates energy and may also be able to perform work as required for a microscopic motor.

Analyzing Single Molecule FRET Trajectories Using HMM.

Structural dynamics of biomolecules, such as proteins, plays essential roles in many biological phenomena at molecular level. It is crucial to understand such dynamics in recent biology. The single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) measurement is one of few methods that enable us to observe structural changes of biomolecules in realtime. Time series data of smFRET, however, typically contains significant fluctuation, making analysis difficult. On the other hand, one can often assume a Markov process behind such data so that the hidden Markov model (HMM) can be used to reproduce a state transition trajectory (STT). The common solution of the HMM can be used for smFRET data, too, while one has to define the specific model, i.e., the observable variable and the emission probability. There are several choices of the model for smFRET depending on the measurement method, the detector type, and so on. I introduce some of applicable models for smFRET time series data analysis.

Ways forward for resilience thinking: lessons from the field for those exploring social-ecological systems in agriculture and natural resource management

Resilience thinking appears to offer a holistic approach that can be used by social researchers to interpret past and contemporary conditions and identify possible futures for social-ecological systems (SES). Resilience thinking is shaping contemporary environmental policy and its implementation in Australia, Europe, and North America. At the same time, social researchers have raised concerns about the limitations of resilience thinking, particularly in its handling of human agency, power relationships, social thresholds, and the social construction of SES definitions. We argue for a reflexive turn in resilience thinking as a way to address these concerns. We draw on lessons from three Australian case studies where a reflexive application of resilience thinking generated insights for research and practice. We propose six areas for reflexive inquiry: (1) focal scale and level, (2) SES definition, (3) narratives of change, (4) processes of knowledge production, (5) social transition trajectories, and ( 6) social thresholds. In so doing, the assumptions of resilience thinking are politicized and problematized, which improves its theoretical analytical utility, and in practice generates new insights into social processes. Reflexivity offers opportunity for greater cross-disciplinary dialogue between resilience thinking and the social sciences, while allowing methodologies with differing ontologies and epistemologies to be applied in a complementary manner.

A central pattern generator approach to footstep transition for biped navigation

Existing sampling-based footstep planning method for biped navigation used an intermediate static posture for footstep transition. However, when adopting this approach, the robot is sensitive to modeling error and external environments, and also the transition between different gait patterns is unnatural. This article presents a central pattern generator approach to footstep transition for biped navigation. First, this approach decomposes the biped walking motion into five motion types and designs central pattern generator network for all joints of legs accordingly. Then, the central pattern generator parameters are simplified and the relationship between these parameters and footstep transition is formulated. By modifying the central pattern generator parameters, different walking gaits can be obtained. With sensing feedbacks, self-adaption walking on irregular terrains, such as walking on unknown sloped terrains and flat floor with tiny obstacles, is realized. Experiments were conducted both in simulator and on a physical biped robot. Results have shown that the proposed approach is able to generate gesture transition trajectory for biped robot navigation and realize a self-adaption walking for irregular terrains.

Longitudinal transition trajectory of gouty arthritis and its comorbidities: a population-based study.

The aim of the study was to investigate the longitudinal transition trajectory of gout and its comorbidities in male patients with gout in different age groups. A total of 3973 male patients who received a new diagnosis of gouty arthritis were identified from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database and divided into two age cohorts (<50 and ≥50years). Each patient was individually followed from 2000 to 2009 to identify associated comorbidities, namely hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic kidney disease. Two outcome measurements of stroke and all-cause cancer were further identified until 2010. The transition trajectory was divided into the following five phenotype groups: persistent hypertension combined with a high prevalence of various gout-related comorbidities, persistent hypercholesterolemia combined with a moderate prevalence of various gout-related comorbidities, persistent low prevalence of various gout-related comorbidities, moderate to high prevalence of various gout-related comorbidities, and low to high prevalence of various gout-related comorbidities. Although the younger and older patients had a similar longitudinal transition trajectory of gout-related comorbidities, the older patients had a higher 10-year likelihood of transition from a low or moderate to a high prevalence of various gout-related comorbidities. In addition, the incidences of stroke and all-cause cancer were higher in the groups with high and moderate to high prevalences of various gout-related comorbidities than in the other groups. The occurrence of gouty arthritis in different life stages can cause cluster effects involving varying degrees of comorbidities over time. The findings of the current study can provide additional knowledge and increase clinical awareness regarding the early assessment and management of gout-related comorbidities in clinical practice.

Spatial differentiation and fertility postponement transition in Czechia

Over the last quarter of a century female fertility in Czechia has undergone dynamic and dramatic change. One of the main indications of this is the postponement of births and associated fertility ageing. This article analyses the spatial differences in the character and intensity of fertility in the early 1990s and the current era and attempts to highlight any stability or change in the spatial patterns resulting from the changes in reproductive behaviour. The authors use a number of indicators to analyse the rate, timing and distribution of fertility by woman’s age at the district level (LAU1). Additional indicators are also used to assess the level of birth postponement in young people and recuperation during the second half of the reproductive life span. Since the results suggested that there were some areas which exhibited similarities in the characteristics and trajectory of the fertility postponement transition, cluster analysis was used to produce a spatial classification. Although all Czech districts are undergoing a fertility postponement transition, the tendency is for it to deepen the spatial pluralisation of reproductive behaviour, particularly the timing and internal structure of fertility by woman’s age, which is the main spatial differentiation factor affecting fertility.

From land grab to agrarian transition? Hybrid trajectories of accumulation and environmental change on the Cambodia–Vietnam border

In recent years, thousands of Vietnamese migrant farmers have crossed the border into Cambodia and leased land for export-oriented rice and shrimp production. Based on case studies in two Cambodian border provinces, we argue that these land transfers represent an intersection of broader processes of agrarian change that is re-shaping the Cambodian borderlands into a hybrid socio-ecological zone. Cambodian landlords and intermediaries use unequal access to politico-legal authority and the exclusionary power of the border to leverage control over their migrant tenants, thereby capturing a significant portion of the surplus from the migrants’ high-value commodity production systems and potentially creating new trajectories of agrarian transition.

Reforming and Counter-Hegemonic Attitudes in Regimes and Niches of Food Systems in Transition: The Normative Valuation of Food As Explanatory Variable

The system, the most important driver of planetary transformation, is in a deep crisis. Therefore, seeking a sustainable and socially-fair transition pathway becomes an issue of utmost priority for our own survival within planetary boundaries. The consideration of as a commodity, a social construct that played a central role in driving this crisis, remains the uncontested to lead the different transition pathways what seems rather contradictory. By exploring the normative values in the transition landscape, this paper seeks to understand how relevant is the hegemonic of food as a and its alternative of food as a to determine transition trajectories and policy beliefs. Applying the Multi-level Perspective framework and developing the ill-studied agency in transition, this research has enquired food-related professionals that belong to an online community of practice (N=95) on valuation of dimensions, position in the system and political attitude so as to check whether the valuation of is relevant to explain personal stances in transition. Results suggest the socially-constructed view of as a commodity is positively correlated to the gradual reforming attitude, whereas as a commons is positively correlated to the counter-hegemonic transformers regardless the self-defined position in the transition landscape (regime or niches). At personal level, there are multiple loci of resistance with counter-hegemonic attitudes in varied institutions of the regime and the innovative niches, many of them holding this discourse of as commons. Conversely, alter-hegemonic attitudes are not positively correlated to this alternative discourse and they may inadvertently or purportedly reinforce the narrative since they do not question the neoliberal rules to allocate as a commodity. Food as a commons, with a public good dimension explained in the paper, seems to be a relevant framework that could enrich the multiple transformative narratives that challenge the industrial system and therefore facilitate the convergence of movements that reject the commodification of food.

Significance of the zero sum principle for circadian, homeostatic and allostatic regulation of sleep-wake state in the rat

Sleep-wake behavior exhibits diurnal rhythmicity, rebound responses to acute total sleep deprivation (TSD), and attenuated rebounds following chronic sleep restriction (CSR). We investigated how these long-term patterns of behavior emerge from stochastic short-term dynamics of state transition. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to TSD (1day×24h, N=9), or CSR (10days×18h TSD, N=7) using a rodent walking-wheel apparatus. One baseline day and one recovery day following TSD and CSR were analyzed. The implications of the zero sum principle were evaluated using a Markov model of sleep-wake state transition. Wake bout duration (a combined function of the probability of wake maintenance and proportional representations of brief and long wake) was a key variable mediating the baseline diurnal rhythms and post-TSD responses of all three states, and the attenuation of the post-CSR rebounds. Post-NREM state transition trajectory was an important factor in REM rebounds. The zero sum constraint ensures that a change in any transition probability always affects bout frequency and cumulative time of at least two, and usually all three, of wakefulness, NREM and REM. Neural mechanisms controlling wake maintenance may play a pivotal role in regulation and dysregulation of all three states.

Transition of household cookfuels in China from 2010 to 2012

Emissions from household cookfuels strongly affect both air quality and climate change. China is undergoing a rapid transition of cookfuels due to its rapid development, which has significant consequences for environment and health. Unfortunately, detailed information on this transition is scarce. In this study, the trajectory and geographical variation of the cookfuel transition and the factors affecting it were investigated based on panel data on cookfuel choice from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) in 2010 and 2012 covering areas that include more than 90% of the national population and a large fraction of repeated households, thus reducing uncertainty. Over this short period, the proportion of Chinese households cooking with solid fuel dropped rapidly from 50% in 2010 to 39% in 2012; 9% and 18% of the solid fuel-using households in 2010 switched to clean energy in 2012, particularly electricity, in urban and rural areas, respectively, according to CFPS. The major forces driving the cookfuel transition include income, educational level, location, energy price, and fuel accessibility. Although switching from biomass to gas and electricity led to a slight increase in CO2 emissions, the total residential emissions of CO, BC, OC, PM2.5, and Hg decreased by more than 10% from 2010 to 2012. The warming effect of increased CO2 emissions and reduced OC emissions was outweighed by the cooling effect achieved by the emissions reduction of air pollutants with warming impacts, including CO, BC and CH4. Although this rapid transition is highly beneficial, it requires national action to accelerate and expand to a greater proportion of poor populations.

Quantum‐classical transition equation with complex trajectories

AbstractA quantum‐classical transition equation in complex space is derived in the framework of the complex quantum Hamilton–Jacobi formalism. The transition equation is obtained by subtracting a complex‐valued quantum potential term from the complex‐extended time‐dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE). It is shown that the nonlinear transition equation is equivalent to a linear scaled TDSE with a rescaled Planck's constant. Employing the quantum momentum function defined by the gradient of the complex action, we can analyze the quantum‐classical transition of physical systems using complex transition trajectories. Complex transition trajectories are presented for the free Gaussian wave packet, the harmonic oscillator, and the Morse potential. This study demonstrates that the transition equation provides a continuous description for the quantum‐classical transition of physical systems in complex space.

Performance improvement of direct torque controlled interior mounted permanent magnet drives by employing a linear combination of current and voltage based flux observers

Flux observers in direct torque controlled (DTC) motor drives are of paramount importance as the drives rely on estimated variables for feedback control. It is well-known that current-based (CB) estimations are advantageous at low speeds, whereas voltage-based (VB) estimations are more accurate at high speeds. Hence, a large number of state-of-the-art DTC drives utilise closed-loop flux observers in which the CB and VB estimations become dominant at low and high speeds, respectively. However, it has been discovered that the performance and current waveforms with the closed-loop observers significantly deteriorate at low speeds since the residual error of the VB estimation causes current distortions. In addition, these observers have non-linear flux transition trajectory resulting in reduced accuracy during transitions. To improve the low speed performance and achieve the linear transition, an alternative combination of the two estimations is proposed. Experimental results on a 10 kW interior mounted permanent magnet machine drive designed for electric vehicle traction applications validate significant improvements on the drive performance.

Minimum time corner transition algorithm with confined feedrate and axial acceleration for nc machining along linear tool path

Linear tool paths, or G01 codes, are the most widely used form of tool paths for NC machining. Because of the inborn tangent discontinuity, it is difficult to realize the machining with both high speed and high quality along the G01 codes. To solve this problem, a local corner transition algorithm combined with global motion planning strategy is proposed. Very different from recent corner transition studies in which the transition path and feedrate are planned separately, this work uses a one-step strategy to generate the transition trajectory. Besides, the more reasonable axial acceleration limits are considered in this algorithm, since the acceleration performances of individual axes in conventional machine tools may be significantly different. To enhance the machining efficiency, a modified corner transition strategy with more free transition space is proposed. The feasibility and efficiency of the proposed algorithm are verified by simulations and experiments.

Extra Microchromosomes Play Male Determination Role in Polyploid Gibel Carp.

Sex is generally determined by sex chromosomes in vertebrates, and sex chromosomes exhibit the most rapidly-evolving traits. Sex chromosome evolution has been revealed previously in numerous cases, but the association between sex chromosome origin and the reproduction mode transition from unisexual to sexual reproduction remains unclear. Here, we have isolated a male-specific sequence via analysis of amplified fragment length polymorphism from polyploid gibel carp (Carassius gibelio), a species that not only has the ability to reproduce unisexually but also contains males in wild populations. Subsequently, we have found through FISH analysis that males have several extra microchromosomes with repetitive sequences and transposable elements when compared to females. Moreover, we produced sex-reversed physiological females with a male-specific marker by using estradiol hormone treatment, and two gynogenetic families were established from them. In addition, the male incidence rates of two gynogenetic families were revealed to be closely associated with the extra microchromosome number of the sex-reversed physiological females. These results suggest that the extra microchromosomes in males might resemble a common feature of sex chromosomes and might play a significant role in male determination during the evolutionary trajectory of the reproduction mode transition from unisexual to sexual reproduction in the polyploid fish.

Rationally Designed 2-in-1 Nanoparticles Can Overcome Adaptive Resistance in Cancer.

The development of resistance is the major cause of mortality in cancer. Combination chemotherapy is used clinically to reduce the probability of evolution of resistance. A similar trend toward the use of combinations of drugs is also emerging in the application of cancer nanomedicine. However, should a combination of two drugs be delivered from a single nanoparticle or should they be delivered in two different nanoparticles for maximal efficacy? We explored these questions in the context of adaptive resistance, which emerges as a phenotypic response of cancer cells to chemotherapy. We studied the phenotypic dynamics of breast cancer cells under cytotoxic chemotherapeutic stress and analyzed the data using a phenomenological mathematical model. We demonstrate that cancer cells can develop adaptive resistance by entering into a predetermined transitional trajectory that leads to phenocopies of inherently chemoresistant cancer cells. Disrupting this deterministic program requires a unique combination of inhibitors and cytotoxic agents. Using two such combinations, we demonstrate that a 2-in-1 nanomedicine can induce greater antitumor efficacy by ensuring that the origins of adaptive resistance are terminated by deterministic spatially constrained delivery of both drugs to the target cells. In contrast, a combination of free-form drugs or two nanoparticles, each carrying a single payload, is less effective, arising from a stochastic distribution to cells. These findings suggest that 2-in-1 nanomedicines could emerge as an important strategy for targeting adaptive resistance, resulting in increased antitumor efficacy.

Trajectory description of the quantum–classical transition for wave packet interference

The quantum–classical transition for wave packet interference is investigated using a hydrodynamic description. A nonlinear quantum–classical transition equation is obtained by introducing a degree of quantumness ranging from zero to one into the classical time-dependent Schrödinger equation. This equation provides a continuous description for the transition process of physical systems from purely quantum to purely classical regimes. In this study, the transition trajectory formalism is developed to provide a hydrodynamic description for the quantum–classical transition. The flow momentum of transition trajectories is defined by the gradient of the action function in the transition wave function and these trajectories follow the main features of the evolving probability density. Then, the transition trajectory formalism is employed to analyze the quantum–classical transition of wave packet interference. For the collision-like wave packet interference where the propagation velocity is faster than the spreading speed of the wave packet, the interference process remains collision-like for all the degree of quantumness. However, the interference features demonstrated by transition trajectories gradually disappear when the degree of quantumness approaches zero. For the diffraction-like wave packet interference, the interference process changes continuously from a diffraction-like to collision-like case when the degree of quantumness gradually decreases. This study provides an insightful trajectory interpretation for the quantum–classical transition of wave packet interference.

Using Policy and Regulatory Frameworks to Facilitate Water Transitions

There are persistent calls across policy, industry and academia for urban water transitions in order to deliver increased sustainability, liveability and resilience. However, realisation of such transformational change is difficult, and there are a number of undesirable or unsuccessful transition trajectories that can manifest. Drawing on a contemporary stormwater quality management transition in South-East Queensland, Australia, this qualitative research paper provides an empirical exploration of a transition in struggle. The paper examines why and how this transition trajectory unfolded, focusing specifically on the evolution of culture, structure and practice changes from the 1970s to the present-day. The paper makes two scholarly contributions, firstly confirming the dynamic nature of transformational change and indicating the need to design transition initiatives across the culture, structure and practice domains to co-evolve and thereby build a robust and mutually reinforcing transition foundation. The results also reveal the critical role of regulation in providing a safety net for the transition and enabling continued progress even when commitment to policy goals wavers. These results also provide practical insight for practitioners engaged in the implementation of transition processes, and reveal the need for transition advocates to deliberately and proactively engage with regulatory frameworks to embed a novel practice.

Health transition after lung transplantation - a grounded theory study.

To investigate lung recipients' process of transition from prior the transplantation to one year afterwards, as well as what their main concerns are and how they deal with these concerns. During the last three decades, lung transplantation has been established as an effective treatment for patients with end-stage pulmonary disease. Towards the end of the 20th century, the concept of survival expanded to also include improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Although many studies have been published regarding lung recipients' HRQoL, aspects of health and everyday life remain understudied. Lung transplantation demands some kind of transition. However, very little is known about this transitional process. A qualitative inductive approach using Grounded Theory (GT) was used. A total of ten adult males and five adult females (n=15) with a mean age of 55years were included in the study and interviewed one year after transplantation. The open-ended interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim after each interview. The analysis of the material was performed consistent with Charmaz contructivistic approach of GT. The core category Reconstructing daily occupations summarises a process wherein the generated GT is present through four main categories: Restricting, Regaining, Reorganising and Enriching. The process of reconstructing daily occupations is necessary to regain health. A trajectory of health transition is evident, starting pretransplant with the lung disease and severe illness and proceeding at least up to one year after the transplantation with experienced health. The result enables a unique possibility to enhance the lung recipients' striving for everyday life and thereby promote health. There is a need for change in the existing multidisciplinary transplant team to also include an occupational therapist to support and guide the lung recipients in changing their occupational patterns.

A Mixed-Methods Study of Former Child Soldiers’ Transition Trajectories From Military to Civilian Life

Child soldiering affects the well-being of thousands of young people globally and inflicts significant challenges on entire socio-ecological systems, confronting them with culminating stressful living conditions and immense loss. This study sought to explore how former child soldiers’ transition trajectories are shaped by the dynamic interplay between these encountered challenges and available personal and communal resources. We conducted and analyzed in-depth interviews with 48 northern Ugandan former child soldiers using cluster analysis ( K-means) and interpretative-phenomenological analysis. The results showed divergent post-child soldiering trajectories of stability, improvement, or decline across time. Regarding resources, the cases showed ongoing resource depletion, threat to remaining resources in the face of significant challenge, and loss of resources that could not be replenished. However, there was also evidence that halting the depletion of resources, utilizing existing resources, and valuing remaining resources could offset distress, especially when individual initiatives were environmentally scaffolded. This study calls for a comprehensive approach to the interconnected challenges and resources as well as the intersecting personal and communal responses to these challenges in the aftermath of child soldiering.