Unifying Concept Research Articles

:Evolvability: A Unifying Concept in Evolutionary Biology? Vienna Series in Theoretical Biology

:<i>Evolvability: A Unifying Concept in Evolutionary Biology? Vienna Series in Theoretical Biology</i>

Managing Solvent Complexes to Amplify Ripening Process by Covalent Interaction Driving Force Under External Field for Perovskite Photovoltaic

AbstractUp to now, post‐annealing is most commonly used to post treat the perovskite film to accelerate the ripening process. Nonetheless, the top‐down crystallization mechanism impedes the efficient desolvation of solvent complexes. Thus, residual solvent complexes tend to accumulate at the bottom of the film during the ripening process and deteriorate the device. Here, a new strategy with unique concept is promoted to amplify ripening process of perovskite film, in which a nematic thermotropic liquid crystal (LC) molecular is introduced to facilitate the conversion of solvent complexes by utilizing the liquid crystalline behavior under external field. Upon the concurrent application of thermal and force fields, the covalent interaction between LC and solvent complexes generates a driving force, which promotes upward migration of solvent complexes, thereby facilitating their engagement in the ripening process. In addition, the driving force under external fields assists the flattening of grain boundary grooves. Therefore, film quality is improved efficiently with amplified ripening process and adequately handled buried interface. Based on the positive effects, the devices achieve a champion efficiency of 25.24%, and sustained ≈75% of its initial efficiency level even after undergoing a damp heat test (85 °C/85% RH) for 1400 h.

Applying the volunteer process model to understand the lived experience of habitual volunteers: during COVID-19

This article identifies the volunteer process model (VPM) as a useful umbrella term to situate and understand the lived experience of volunteering of a small sample of habitual volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We use a methodological approach based on interpretive phenomenological analysis to offer granular analysis of lived experiences of committed volunteers. Our analysis suggests, first, that the sample of committed volunteers lived experiences allow critical insights into how a particular user group can establish value and meaning and how these can be interpreted. Second, that the use of the VPM as a unifying concept allows a critical reflection on volunteering as an experiential activity that is wholly humanistic, and that contributes towards an understanding of volunteer engagement beyond the ‘black box’. This article provides an empirical basis for these arguments, offering a framework that can take forward this limited research as useful to provide explanatory rationales and expanded ways of organising and managing volunteer engagement.

Adipokines: masterminds of metabolic inflammation.

Adipose tissue is an immunologically active organ that controls host physiology, partly through the release of mediators termed adipokines. In obesity, adipocytes and infiltrating leukocytes produce adipokines, which include the hormones adiponectin and leptin and cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor and IL-1β. These adipokines orchestrate immune responses that are collectively referred to as metabolic inflammation. Consequently, metabolic inflammation characterizes metabolic disorders and promotes distinct disease aspects, such as insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease and cardiovascular complications. In this unifying concept, adipokines participate in the immunological cross-talk that occurs between metabolically active organs in metabolic diseases, highlighting the fundamental role of adipokines in obesity and their potential for therapeutic intervention. Here, we summarize how adipokines shape metabolic inflammation in mice and humans, focusing on their contribution to metabolic disorders in the setting of obesity and discussing their value as therapeutic targets.

Age-friendly cities enhancing ageing: accelerating digital inclusion for India’s elderly

Purpose This exploration begins with understanding the concept of age-friendly cities and communities as guided by the World Health Organisation. The purpose of this study is to assesses the potential of the concept of age-friendly cities and how these initiatives are driven by commitments to create an environment that promotes active ageing, leveraging digital tools and technologies to enhance connectivity, accessibility and overall well-being of the older. Design/methodology/approach The viewpoint discussed the diverse ways in which the unique concept of age-friendly cities or living areas can be explored in India. Such concepts will create a more inclusive society for the older people around us. Findings The viewpoint highlighted a few global cases of age-friendly cities. It emphasised their innovative approaches, lessons learned, best practices and challenges. These real-time examples inspire, showing us the potential and success of such initiatives. They also help us understand the areas we must work on to create such environments for our older people. The chapter also evaluates the initiatives and projects undertaken in India so far to enhance the living experience of the older, integrating digital technologies. By analysing India’s journey towards age-friendly initiatives, the discussion provides detailed insights for policymakers and other societal stakeholders to broaden the development framework that holistically incorporates the ageing population’s needs. Originality/value The concept of age-friendly cities in India is not just a new approach but a crucial one in the near future. Owing to the existing diversity in our country, this discussion presented in this viewpoint will help to emphasise the need to create separate policies and implement the same at various levels. Ageing is inevitable, and this study’s reflections will also allow families and society to prioritise the needs of older adults in their families and around them. This work will also create an opportunity for all society’s stakeholders to look at older adults’ needs differently and more practically, underlining the urgency and importance of this issue.

Inhibition Control by Continuous Extractive Fermentation Enhances De Novo 2-Phenylethanol Production by Yeast.

Current microbial cell factory methods for producing chemicals from renewable resources primarily rely on (fed-)batch production systems, leading to the accumulation of the desired product. Industrially relevant chemicals like 2-phenylethanol (2PE), a flavor and fragrance compound, can exhibit toxicity at low concentrations, inhibit the host activity, and negatively impact titer, rate, and yield. Batch liquid-liquid (L-L) In Situ Product Removal (ISPR) was employed to mitigate inhibition effects, but was not found sufficient for industrial-scale application. Here, we demonstrated that continuous selective L-L ISPR provides the solution for maintaining the productivity of de novo produced 2PE at an industrial pilot scale. A unique bioreactor concept called "Fermentation Accelerated by Separation Technology" (FAST) utilizes hydrostatic pressure differences to separate aqueous- and extractant streams within one unit operation, where both production and product extraction take place - allowing for the control of the concentration of the inhibiting compound. Controlled aqueous 2PE levels (0.43 ± 0.02 g kg-1) and extended production times (>100 h) were obtained and co-inhibiting by-product formation was reduced, resulting in a twofold increase of the final product output of batch L-L ISPR approaches. This study establishes that continuous selective L-L ISPR, enabled by FAST, can be applied for more economically viable production of inhibiting products.

Developing and Expanding Deceased Organ Donation to its Maximum Therapeutic Potential: An Actionable Global Challenge From the 2023 Santander Summit.

On November 9 and 10, 2023, the Organización Nacional de Trasplantes (ONT), under the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, convened in Santander a Global Summit entitled "Towards Global Convergence in Transplantation: Sufficiency, Transparency and Oversight." This article summarizes two distinct but related challenges elaborated at the Santander Summit by Working Group 2 that must be overcome if we are to develop and expand deceased donation worldwide and achieve the goal of self-sufficiency in organ donation and transplantation. Challenge 1: the need for a unified concept of death based on the permanent cessation of brain function. Working group 2 proposed that challenge 1 requires the global community to work toward a uniform, worldwide definition of human death, conceptually unifying circulatory and neurological criteria of death around the cessation of brain function and accepting that permanent cessation of brain function is a valid criterion to determine death. Challenge 2: reducing disparities in deceased donation and increasing organ utilization through donation after the circulatory determination of death (DCDD). Working group 2 proposed that challenge 2 requires the global community to work toward increasing organ utilization through DCDD, expanding DCDD through in situ normothermic regional perfusion, and expanding DCDD through ex situ machine organ perfusion technology. Recommendations for implementation are described.

Comrades' Courts in the Soviet Period of Russian Statehood as a Form of Non-Professional Justice

The formation and development of comrades’ justice in the Soviet period of Russian statehood is associated with the implementation of the unified national concept of the court, conditioned not so much by professional justice as by the mass participation of non-professional judges from the people in court. The jurisdiction of cases heard in public courts was regulated by the relevant provisions and criminal codes, providing that these courts considered minor crimes, both by virtue of a direct indication in the law, and by way of delegation of the function of justice by the courts or the prosecutor’s office in each specific case. The activities of the comrades’ courts are divided into three periods. The first period — from 1919 to 1922 — is characterized by the disciplinary orientation of the comrades’ courts authorized to consider all violations of labor legislation. The second period — from 1928 to the beginning of the Great Patriotic War — is characterized by a variety of comrades’ and public courts that covered various spheres of economic, social and political activities, from Soviet enterprises and institutions to collective farms. Its main purpose was to free public courts from a mass of minor offenses and property disputes, as well as ensuring productivity growth and combating disruptors of production in enterprises and institutions. The third period — from the late 1950s to 1991 — set the goal of strengthening socialist democracy by involving a wide range of workers in the management of public affairs, including through comradely justice, which defined comrades’ courts as quasi-judicial bodies of public and state power, intrinsically inscribed in the concept of a socialist national state.

CRISPRi-mediated metabolic switch enables concurrent aerobic and synthetic anaerobic fermentations in engineered consortium

Replacing petrochemicals with compounds from bio-based manufacturing processes remains an important part of the global effort to move towards a sustainable future. However, achieving economic viability requires both optimized cell factories and innovative processes. Here, we address this challenge by developing a fermentation platform, which enables two concurrent fermentations in one bioreactor. We first construct a xylitol producing Escherichia coli strain in which CRISPRi-mediated gene silencing is used to switch the metabolism from aerobic to anaerobic, even when the bacteria are under oxic conditions. The switch also decouples growth from production, which further increases the yield. The strain produces acetate as a byproduct, which is subsequently metabolized under oxic conditions by a secondary E. coli strain. Through constraint-based metabolic modelling this strain is designed to co-valorize glucose and the excreted acetate to a secondary product. This unique syntrophic consortium concept facilitates the implementation of “two fermentations in one go”, where the concurrent fermentation displays similar titers and productivities as compared to two separate single strain fermentations.

Priority Variables for Handling Slum Settlements Based on the Tourism Village Concept in Sedau, Singkawang City

The issue of slum settlements in Singkawang City has garnered government attention, with Sedau identified as the third priority area for intervention. However, many revitalization efforts fail due to mismatched methods that do not consider environmental, social, and economic characteristics. This study aims to identify priority variables for addressing slum settlements based on the concept of developing a tourism village to improve residents' quality of life and support local economic development. The research method employed is expert judgment through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), which helps evaluate relevant variables. The findings reveal four main priority variables: good accessibility, a unique tourism village concept, provision of clean water, and waste management. These findings provide important insights for decision-making in planning interventions. Recommendations are directed at the government, development sectors, and the Sedau community, emphasizing the need for better planning, particularly regarding accessibility and infrastructure such as roads, water supply, and waste management. The study also notes its limitations to provide context for the generalization of results and to guide future research. Keywords: planning, slum settlement, tourism village, tourism

A passive-tuned damper based on magnetorheological porous fabric composite

Abstract This paper proposes a novel passive-tuned magnetorheological (PTMR) damper based on developed magnetorheological (MR) porous fabric composite, in which the damping force is tuned by a permanent magnet (PM). Firstly, the influences of the porous fiber structure of composite on the suspended phase are considered, and a continuous constitutive model based on the dipole model is proposed for the first time, which can accurately predict its rheological properties. Subsequently, a stable passive damper for special conditions is designed, and the unique design concept is to achieve completely different damping characteristics for different application scenarios by adjusting the position of the PM relative to the magnetic circuit. The experimental results show that the damping force is relatively stable under specific condition, and can be adjusted within the range of 16.8–77.4 N, with a dynamic range of about 4.6. Moreover, the PTMR damper can exhibit unidirectional negative stiffness characteristic by adjusting the PM to a specific position. The PTMR damper has stable vibration reduction performance, wide dynamic range, and compact structure, which can be comparable to some conventional MR dampers.

Magali Bessone, about Loic Wacquant, « Race as Denegated Ethnicity », Why look for a unified concept of race?

Magali Bessone, about Loic Wacquant, « Race as Denegated Ethnicity », Why look for a unified concept of race?

Turkish Validity and Reliability of the Quality Nursing Care Scale (QNCS-T)

Objective Nursing care is a unique and indispensable concept for nursing that includes helping to meet the needs of an individual or a group of individuals offered by nurses. This study is aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Quality Nursing Care Scale (QNCS-T). Materials and Methods The methodological approach employed in this study spanned from April 25, 2021, to May 5, 2021, and enlisted the participation of 347 nurses. Data collection was executed utilizing a “Personal Information Form” and the “Quality Nursing Care Scale (QNCS).” The research comprised two phases: Phase 1 involved the adaptation of the scale, while Phase 2 focused on determining construct validity through confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was assessed through measures of internal consistency and item-total correlation coefficients. Results and Discussion The adaptation phase yielded affirmative outcomes, affirming the linguistic and content validation of the Turkish version of the scale. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a highly favorable fit for a sixfactor model. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the entire scale was determined to be 0.93, attesting to its strong internal consistency. Conclusion The Turkish version of the Quality Nursing Scale showed consistently good psychometric properties of reliability and validity. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 23 No. 04 October’24 Page : 1075-1082

Spatially Confined Engineering Toward Deep Eutectic Electrolyte in Metal-Organic Framework Enabling Solid-State Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Uncontrollable interfacial side reactions generated from common aqueous electrolytes, just like the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and dendrite growth, have severely prevented the practical application of zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). Solid-state ZIBs are considered to be an efficient strategy by adopting high-quality solid-state electrolytes (SSEs). Here, by confining deep eutectic electrolyte (DEE) into the nanochannels of metal-organic framework (MOF)-PCN-222, a stable DEE@PCN-222 SSE with internal Zn2+ transport channels was obtained. A distinctive ion-transport network composed of DEE and PCN-222 in the interior of DEE@PCN-222 realizes the efficient Zn2+ conduction, contributing to high ionic conductivity of 3.13×10-4 S cm-1 at room temperature, low activation energy of 0.12 eV, and a high Zn2+ transference number of 0.74. Furthermore, experimental and theoretical investigations demonstrate that DEE@PCN-222 with its unique channel structure could homogeneously regulate the Zn2+ distribution and effectively alleviate the side reactions. Highly reversible Zn plating/stripping performance of 2476 h can be realized by the SSE. The solid-state ZIBs show a specific capacity of 306 mAh g-1 and display cycling stability of 517 cycles. This unique design concept provides a new perspective in realizing the high-safety and high-performance ZIBs.

Evaluating The Implementation of The Newa Concept To Sustain Hotel Occupancy at Sanctoo Suites &amp; Villas

Purpose: This research examines implementing the NEWA concept to maintain occupancy at Sanctoo Suites &amp; Villas. The hotel industry faces significant challenges sustaining occupancy levels due to fluctuating demand and intense competition, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The research originates from the need to enhance occupancy rates, which are critical for the hotel's success. It addresses the problem of fluctuating occupancy rates and aims to develop effective improvement strategies. Research methods: This mixed-method research employs a qualitative approach supplemented by quantitative methods and the Servqual model, conducted over six months. Data collection methods include interviews, surveys, observations, document studies, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) involving executive management and hotel staff. Results and discussion: The research highlights a unique marketing concept aimed at delivering new extraordinary experiences while maintaining guest satisfaction. It underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach integrating high-quality service and innovative offerings to meet diverse guest needs. This strategy enhances the hotel’s market competitiveness and ensures long-term success. Key components of the implementation include personalized guest experiences, an efficient booking system, and a proactive marketing strategy emphasizing the NEWA (Nature et al. &amp; Adventure) concept. Implication: The findings demonstrate that implementing NEWA can significantly benefit hotel occupancy, providing valuable insights for industry practitioners.

ENSURING SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA ON THE INTERNET: ISSUES OF SELECTION OF OPTIMAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This article explores the methodologies and legal challenges associated with personal data protection within the global information space. We examine the limitations of relying solely on specialized research methods and techniques. We argue that personal data protection issues require a more comprehensive, multidisciplinary methodological approach. The primary goal is to analyze the selected methodological strategies and evaluate their effectiveness. The subject of the study is to analyze the issues of methodological approaches in legal research on personal data protection. We analyze a philosophical framework that seeks to deepen the understanding of personal data protection issues, addressing legal and ethical dimensions. We aim to contribute to the broader discourse on data security and privacy through various lenses, including legal, technological, and philosophical perspectives. The study focuses on four analytical methods for developing legal technologies to protect personal data internationally. A systematic analysis of personal data as a legal phenomenon, functional analysis within the framework of legal regulation, sociological and psychological approach, and axiological analysis to understand the meaning and evolution of personal data protection rights. These approaches aim to create a unified concept of legal technology for personal data protection, which makes it possible to identify new types of data, study the components of legal technology in detail, and increase the efficiency of legal regulation.

The emergence of large flake-based Acheulian technology: perspective from the highland site-complex of Melka Wakena, Ethiopia

Isaac GL (1969) proposed that Large Cutting Tools (LCTs) made on large flake blanks detached from giant/boulder cores are the key technological variable that distinguishes the Acheulian from the Oldowan. The production of large flake blanks was initially observed in the earliest records of the Acheulian technology in Africa ca. 1.75 Ma, subsequently becoming a technological feature of many sites across eastern Africa. Still, the mode and tempo of evolution of the large flake-based Acheulian technology remains poorly understood. Here we report on the large flake-based Acheulian assemblage at locality MW5 in the Melka Wakena site-complex, chronologically constrained between 1.37 and 1.34 Ma. At the site-complex level we note that aspects related to small flake production remain relatively unchanged since ~ 1.6 Ma. Secondary modification of small flakes by retouch remained marginal and there is only a slight increase in the frequency of structured reduction of cores, compared to the earlier 1.6 Ma assemblage. In contrast, the MW5 lithic assemblages inform of the diachronic shift of lithic techno-economy into a large flake-based LCTs technology. This shift is characterized by: (1) A highly selective use of a specific raw material (glassy ignimbrite) for the production of large flake blanks; (2) transport of prepared large flake blanks from relatively distant sources into the sites as part of a spatially and temporally fragmented reduction sequence; (3) improved know-how of large flake production, (4) the introduction of the Kombewa technology; (5) a unified technological concept for the production of handaxes and cleavers, diverging only in the specific decisions determining their final shape parameters. Taken together, these trends indicate changes in techno-economic strategies related to LCT production, including higher levels of pre-planning in the raw material acquisition stage and higher investment in controlling the morphometric properties of the artifacts.

Research on the Impact of Internet Environment on Adolescent Gender Role Identity and Analysis of Countermeasures

With the popularization and development of the Internet, the network environment has become an important part of the daily life of adolescents. The network environment, with its unique information dissemination mode, social mode, and value concept, has an impact on the formation of adolescents’ gender role identity concept. Research at home and abroad shows that the vividness and visualization of gender information and gender imitation objects in the network environment are more likely to affect individual gender identity. The purpose of this paper is to deeply explore the influence of the Internet environment on adolescents’ gender role identity through the method of interview and observation and to analyze certain countermeasures, to provide a useful reference for further research and education.

PARAMETERS OF INTERACTION BETWEEN THE STRATEGIC ACCOUNTING SYSTEM AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

The efficiency of enterprises depends on the correct and timely assessment of past events, the current state, and the determination of strategy. The adaptation of an enterprise's internal capabilities to external threats is carried out through strategic management, which relies on accounting and analytical support. The lack of consensus on the relationship between strategic management and accounting gives rise to various options and does not allow the construction of a unified concept for the further development of accounting within the strategic management system. The analysis of possible options for the correlation between strategic management and accounting has shown that businesses can independently determine ways of interaction and build a unified system for the strategic development of the enterprise within their own policies.

S@FeS2 Core-Shell Cathode Nanomaterial for Preventing Polysulfides Shuttling and Forming Solid Electrolyte Interphase in High-Rate Li-S Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery is a potential next-generation energy storage technology over lithium-ion batteries for high capacity, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solutions. However, several issues including polysulfides shuttle, low conductivity and limited rate-capability have hampered its practical application. Herein, a new class of cathode active material with perfect core-shell structure is reported, in which sulfur is fully encapsulated by conductivity-enhancing FeS2 (named as S@FeS2), for high-rate application. Surface-stabilized S@FeS2 cathode exhibits a stable cycling performance under 2 - 20 times higher rates (1-2 C, charged in 30-60min) than standard rates (e.g., 0.1-0.5C, charged in 2-10h), without polysulfides shuttle event. Surface analysis results reveal the unprecedented formation of a stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on S@FeS2 cathode, which is distinguished from other sulfur-based cathodes that are not able to form the SEI layer. The data suggest that the prevention of polysulfides shuttling is owing to the surface protection effect of FeS2 shell and the SEI layer formation overlying core-shell S@FeS2. This unique and potential material concept proposed in the present study will give insight into designing a prospective fast charging Li-S battery.