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The peroxidase-like properties of a graphene oxide/platinum-cobalt nanocomposite and the rapid color development mechanism of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) through the decomposition of ·OH from H2O2 were utilized to prepare a nonlabelled, simple, and sensitive paper-based colorimetric sensor. This sensor allows visualization of the results and instantaneous detection, enabling quantitative measurement of H2O2. The graphene oxide/platinum cobalt composite was synthesized using a two-step procedure. Its properties were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The composite was subsequently transferred onto a paper substrate to create the colorimetric sensor. The optimal catalytic conditions were a composite concentration of 201.17 µg/mL, a color development time of 3 min, a TMB concentration of 2 mmol·L−1, and a pH of 4. Using the optimal conditions, the paper-based colorimetric sensor has a linear range for H2O2 from 1.0 × 10−5 to 0.1 mol·L−1, with a limit of detection of 1.0 × 10−6 mol·L−1 which is comparable or better than comparable methods. This paper-based colorimetric sensor has potential applications for the rapid determination of hydrogen peroxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorotelomer-based acrylate polymers and surfactants used to grease-proof food contact paper (FCP) are potential sources of dietary exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Food contact substances (FCS) containing polyfluorinated long-chains (≥C8) were voluntarily removed by their manufacturers from the U.S. market in 2011 due to health concerns and largely replaced with FCSs containing short-chain (≤C7) PFAS. In 2020, FDA findings of potential biopersistence of 6:2 FTOH (CF3(CF2)5CH2CH2OH) similarly prompted an additional voluntarily phase-out of FCSs containing 6:2 FTOH by their manufacturers that was completed by the end of 2023. To monitor the phase-out process, a screening method was developed to detect FCPs containing ester-linked polyfluorinated pendant chains. Direct Analysis in Real Time-Isotope Dilution-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (DART-ID-HRMS) enabled rapid semi-quantitative detection of 6:2 FTOH in FCP saponification reaction headspace without requiring sample concentration or chromatography. 19F-NMR analysis confirmed 6:2 FTOH pendant chain identity and detection dependence on saponification. The speed and specificity of this approach arise from ester saponification in the presence of stable isotopically labeled 6:2 FTOH; high FTOH differential volatility relative to nonfluorinated matrix, and the facile production of FTOH gas-phase anions (e.g., [M + O2]·−, [M-H + CO2]−) under ambient ionization conditions. The efficiency of this simple workflow makes it well-suited for monitoring the phase-out of FCS containing ester-linked polyfluorinated chains from the U.S. marketplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic had an exceptionally long and consequential rally effect in China. Drawing on an eight-wave nationwide survey, this article shows that the Wuhan lockdown boosted public confidence in the central government. The persistence of the pandemic and the initial success of the zero-COVID policy sustained the enhanced trust in the central government for over two years. However, the rally effect did not dissipate as quietly as usual. As trust in the central government returned to the pre-pandemic level following the Shanghai lockdown, defiant protests collectively known as the White Paper Movement broke out. Angry protesters demanded the termination of the zero-COVID policy and called for accountability from the ruling party and its top leader. This article argues that while the rally effect lasted exceptionally long in the authoritarian country, it could not be prolonged indefinitely. Ultimately, the dissonance between the declining trust in the central government and the persisting restrictive measures provoked the protests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1960s and 1970s witnessed the formation of multiple school students’ unions in England, accompanied by a rich print culture. Young people retained absolute editorial control, even as they formed their work in dialogue with spaces constructed as belonging to the “adult” world. This article contends that youth-authored literature served a specific function for young people as a forum in which the meanings of childhood, youth, and adulthood were pulled apart and reconstructed. An emergent concept of age-based oppression – sometimes analysed in dialogue with other identities, including gender and class – provided the foundations for new political community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on postcolonial, feminist and gendered migration theories and the 'turn to mobility' this article aims to explore the agency of so-called low-skilled Moroccan female marriage migrants in Flanders (Belgium). More precisely, it aims to study how religious temporality plays a role and how it shapes their experiences in a specific context of migration and precariousness. It questions how these women invoke a religious temporality in confronting the uncertainties and difficulties of which motherhood and a precarious residency status are the most challenging and stigmatising. Firstly, focussing on two ethnographic vignettes this article empirically analyses their nonlinear, risky and often undocumented trajectories laying bare a politico-discursive temporality in marriage migration, motherhood and belonging. Secondly, it analyses how exactly these women tend to challenge this bureaucratic temporality. The analyses show that through their active engagement with sabr (patience) and tawakkul (reliance on God) these women become agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Econometric Reviews journal announced the winners of the 2024 Esfandiar Maasoumi Best Paper Award and the Emerging Econometrician Award. The Best Paper Award was given to Mingfeng Zhan and Karen X. Yan for their paper on quantile treatment effects estimation, while Maurizio Daniele received the Emerging Econometrician Award for his work on factor models. The awards were selected by the journal's Editorial Board, and the winners received certificates, subscriptions, and monetary prizes. Congratulations were extended to the recipients by Yuya Sasaki from Vanderbilt University. [Extracted from the article]

This paper defines the Metaverse in the business environment using a holistic lens, highlighting opportunities and challenges. The research is based on a systematic literature review (SLR) that collects definitions, opportunities and challenges of the Metaverse from the latest marketing and management research streams. The research results highlight the emergence of the Metaverse as a technology that facilitates communication, actor interaction and knowledge dissemination, both for the competitive advantage of companies and for the social interaction of people in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I analyse forms of belonging and un-belonging created in a situation of permanent liminal legality in one's place of residence. The concept of liminal legality zooms in on spaces of social existence in everyday lives in a context of legal ambiguity. The focus of the paper is Eritrean and Ethiopian migrant communities who resided in the Sudanese capital Khartoum in 2021. The majority had lived in Khartoum for decades, or were even born there, but remain without any hope for full legal status or citizenship in Khartoum. Based on 30 in-depth interviews with Eritrean and Ethiopian migrants, I analyse the complex and ambiguous forms of belonging and un-belonging this liminal legality produces, and how aspirations are created and shaped by it. I argue that in certain aspects of everyday life, liminal legality does not hinder a social existence as quasi-citizens of Khartoum. At the same time, important aspirations are being curtailed by liminal legality. This creates forms of un-belonging that undermine social existence. I conclude that migrants are subject to the enduring power of the nation-state in defining who belongs and who is excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold chain logistics networks represent intricate systems that require harmonisation of their influence on the economy, environment, and society. However, simultaneously achieving these goals is hard. This paper defined a comprehensive model aiming to achieve a tradeoff of these goals related to cost efficiency, product quality, delivery timeliness, and environmental impacts. Meanwhile, the influences of ambient temperature, path flexibility, and hybrid fleet on the proposed dual-mode location-routing problem-based cold chain logistics (DMLRPCCL) are analyzed. A meticulously crafted hyper-heuristic framework employing Q-learning has been developed to address the complexity of cold chains to obtain high-quality solutions. The numerical study has shown that the proposed model can analyze various scenarios for perishable products and evaluate their impact on cost, emissions, and quality. The proposed algorithm is efficient and effective in achieving competitive results compared to three tailored algorithms. Extensive analyses are performed to empirically assess the effect of path flexibility, hybrid fleet, and ambient temperature on the DMLRPCCL planning. Several managerial insights are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THE JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENThttps:// doi. org/ 10.1080/ 09638199.2025.2443074 Best paper 2024 The editors are pleased to announce that the winners of the best paper prize for 2024 are Fan Yang, Yuxuan Wang, and Unjung Whang, for their paper titled, ‘ Export effects of non- tariff measures: The role of aid for trade’, published in volume 33, issue 8, pages 1626– 1651. We congratulate Drs. Yang, Wang, andWhang, who will receive a joint prize of 500 pounds. David Giles dgiles@ uvic. ca © 2024 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group [Extracted from the article]

The Journal of Adhesion's special issue features selected papers from the 7th International Conference on Structural Adhesive Bonding (AB 2023) held in Porto, Portugal. The conference aimed to facilitate the exchange of information and discuss current issues in structural adhesive bonding research. The special issue includes 16 papers covering topics such as adhesion, surface treatments, and adhesive properties, reflecting the latest trends in adhesion science and advancements in adhesive formulation for various applications. The guest editors, Lucas F. M. da Silva and Robert D. Adams, express gratitude to the authors and reviewers for their contributions to this issue. [Extracted from the article]

Capital market stability is important for safeguarding investors' interests and promoting the healthy development of enterprises. Based on the data of Chinese-listed companies from 2008 to 2019, this paper explores whether corporate political connection building can reduce stock price volatility from the perspective of government–enterprise relationship. We find that corporate political connection building can significantly reduce stock price volatility, and the higher the political uncertainty, the more significant the effect of corporate political connection building in reducing corporate stock volatility. It is further found that information transparency plays a mediating role in the reduction of stock price volatility by corporate political connection building, and the effect of corporate political connection building in reducing stock price volatility is significant in the samples of non-state-owned enterprises and those with a low degree of marketization. This paper provides a reference for the realistic path to reduce stock price volatility and realize the stable development of capital market from the perspective of government–enterprise relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Self-awareness is a multifaceted phenomenon that comprises two main concepts: general awareness and online awareness. The latter is an emerging concept that requires further consensus on its definition. The aim of this paper is to define the key components of online awareness and identify approaches for measuring this concept for adults with neurological conditions. Materials and methods: Concept analysis using Rodgers' evolutionary method was used to systematically review and summarise relevant literature. Papers were included if they provided a definition of online awareness or method for assessing online awareness for an adult neurological population. Results: Fifty-six papers were included in this review, with 21 online awareness assessment approaches identified. Online awareness was described to occur within the context of task performance, with the definition framework comprising four main aspects: 1/appraisal; 2/anticipation and prediction; 3/monitoring; and 4/self-evaluation. Self-regulation is a related concept that is considered to sit outside the conceptual boundaries of online awareness. Conclusions: The findings of this analysis highlight the complexity of online awareness and its importance in rehabilitation. Psychometrically robust measures of online awareness that are inclusive of the essential elements of this concept are needed to advance practice in this area. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Online awareness or awareness of performance within the context of an activity should be included in the comprehensive assessment of self-awareness for individuals with neurological conditions. Online awareness is a task-specific phenomenon that is activated in the context of task performance, and requires assessment across a range of tasks and environments. When assessing online awareness, careful consideration is required when selecting tasks to ensure they have the right level of challenge to elicit the need to monitor performance. The heterogeneity of existing online awareness assessments highlights the need to interpret outcomes with caution. Future efforts should be directed towards development of an online awareness assessment that includes key attributes of this concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper inductively distinguishes six types of European Parliament (EP) involvement in the negotiation of international agreements. Since 2009, the EP has veto power on international agreements and has leveraged it through various activities such as resolutions. However, there exists no cross-case characterization of the EP's involvement. Therefore, this paper asks: what are the types of EP involvement during the negotiation of international agreements? To systematically compare the nature, frequency and timing of EP activities, sequence analysis is applied to a dataset of EP activities relative to the 344 agreements concluded since 2009. For a majority of agreements, the EP acts as a 'bystander' and does not conduct any activities. When it does conduct activities, the EP most frequently acts as a 'loud late riser' and is active only during the ratification stage. For other agreements, EP involvement is very diverse regarding the timing and frequency of activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the usefulness and challenges of Action Research in generating rigorous knowledge while solving relevant and real problems in organizations. The paper emphasizes the importance of instituting learning mechanisms in Action Research to ensure useful and valuable data collection and sustainable changes after an Action Research project completion. By presenting two action learning cases at the companies LEGO and VELUX, the paper demonstrates how action learning can enable the institution of learning mechanisms, generating data, and creating a supportive learning environment that fosters continuous improvement and innovation with Action Research. Hence, the paper provides insights into how researchers can institute learning mechanisms through action learning interventions to guide and help them conduct relevant and rigorous action research. Overall, this paper highlights the benefits of Action Research in solving real problems in organizations and generating theoretical knowledge, as well as the importance of learning mechanisms in ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of Action Research projects through action learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration towards the EU has passed for many decades via Russia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, using Ukraine and Belarus as transit states, yet it adopted new forms under Russia's intensified 'hybrid' warfare, and its 2022 military invasion of Ukraine. This paper seeks to uncover: (1) how formal policies and informal practices were interconnected in the governing of the migration 'crisis' on the EU's eastern border with Belarus (2021–2023); and (2) what different modes of power were used to govern it. The paper advances a polycentric governance perspective. It demonstrates that crisis governance was not simply pursued by the Belarussian government and the EU as direct parties to the conflict. It involved a plethora of other stakeholders including Middle Eastern states, Russia, and travel agencies as non-state actors, all entangled in specific relationships with one another. This paper's contribution is to show how relational dynamics among these stakeholders governed the crisis via a mixture of formal and informal practices that entailed different levels of coersion. The polycentric perspective advanced here is more useful when studying crisis governance than statist, multilevel governance, or EU-centric approaches emphasising institutional logics, as it emphasises relations among actors, and the power that shapes these relations and the governance system as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article raises two questions: (1) how do formal policies and informal practices intersect in coercing returns of migrants without legal immigration status, refused asylum seekers and those unlikely to get asylum? (2) how do migrants at risk of return navigate the coercion they are exposed to? Focusing on the entanglement of formal and informal practices, we develop a typology of involuntary returns, distinguishing among pushing, imposing, and incentivising policies and practices. This typology invites us to see nuances in the forced and voluntary return dichotomy because coercive practices of implementation are embedded in all these types, but the level of coercion varies in different situations. The paper also investigates how migrants exercise agency by contesting/resisting or complying with the return procedures. The article contributes to the scholarship on returns by unpacking formal and informal policy and practice dynamics and migrant agency. Empirically, the paper is based on observations and documentation of practices derived from field research and 97 interviews conducted with returnees from EU countries and Turkey to Albania, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan between 2018 and 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the accelerated development of the digital economy and the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy, does digital transformation inevitably improve corporate resilience? Based on measuring the moderation of corporate digital transformation, this paper examines the dynamic relationship between digital transformation and corporate resilience using the theory of new structural economics and double machine learning methods. The results show that the more moderate the digital transformation, the higher the level of corporate resilience. Agency costs, financing constraints, and irrational decision-making bias constitute important influencing mechanisms. Further analysis reveals that the resilience-enhancing effect of moderate digital transformation is more pronounced among corporations with high levels of corporate governance, low levels of information asymmetry, more diverse executive backgrounds and in manufacturing corporates. The relevant findings of this paper provide guidance and decision-making references for promoting the high-quality development of corporates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Net Promoter Score (NPS) is one of the most relevant instruments for measuring customer loyalty in practice. The NPS has been repeatedly criticised in the scientific community, partly because it is calculated based on a single question and the metric is therefore not very reliable. Against this background, the use of suggestive design elements in data collection poses a particular challenge. For the first time, this paper examines how the colouring of the scale in the style of a traffic light and the placement of an arrow on the scale like a speedometer affect the NPS. The results show that the use of suggestive design elements has a significant effect on the survey results. The paper provides important insights for marketing managers who use the NPS to measure customer loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines contemporary Chinese-Kazakhstani political economic ties from the perspective of trade. In particular, it traces the evolution of this relationship before and after the critical juncture of 2013, when the Silk Road Economic Belt was announced in Astana, ushering the era of the Belt and Road Initiative. This paper advances three arguments. First and foremost, Kazakhstan has avoided developing a dependency on the Chinese economy. Its trade autonomy has been maintained before and after the Belt and Road Initiative was launched in 2013, as Kazakhstan benefited from the development of markets alternative to China. Secondly, trade between Kazakhstan and China was mostly focused on natural resources during the immediate pre-BRI years, but it has gradually shifted to a more balanced mix, encompassing intermediate goods, raw materials, and consumer goods. Thirdly, such diversification is the product of an increasingly sophisticated, complex value chain interconnecting Kazakhstan and the rest of the world, including but not limited to China. The growing complexity of these production networks, while certainly beneficial to Chinese firms, has also contributed to Kazakhstan's multi-vector geopolitical strategy. In this environment, Kazakhstan demonstrates the capability to weather the ongoing deceleration of China's economy, as the Central Asian country pursues the diversification of its own economy and external economic ties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public projects are enablers of policy and are often framed within a political context characterized by the unpredictable, emergent, ambiguous and contextual; this creates tensions around conceptualizations of project performance and project success. Public projects are generally authorized based on a favourable benefit-to-cost ratio, so ex-post scrutiny of realized benefits is crucial to effective evaluation. Nevertheless, evidence suggests that sometimes, the focus on project delivery may come at the expense of benefits realization. This paper describes part of a wider programme of research into benefits realization in public projects. We present 'deep dives' into 3 UK projects and draw on a formal theoretical base to consider questions such as 'what is a benefit?', 'how good are we at defining benefits/beneficiaries?', 'how can we manage and capture evolving benefits in complex environments?'; 'how do we recognize and accept complexity while the environment changes?' and 'what effects does this have on our understanding of benefits realization?'. This paper presents an analysis of the case studies and provides a synthesis of the main findings. We make eight recommendations for professional practice in the field of benefits management and set out some conclusions relevant to the wider discourse on the evaluation of investment in public projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inquiry-based teaching is the most widespread approach in science education worldwide. However, in Peru, this model became better known since the latest curriculum reform in 2016, which proposed implementing that teaching approach at all levels of schooling. Since then, no literature review has been conducted on the status quo of implementing inquiry-based science teaching. Therefore, the present study contributes to bridging the gap. This study aims to review and analyse the main characteristics and findings of earlier studies in Peru from 2016 to 2022. The methodology used in this systematic review was informed by the PRISMA statement. Thus, of a sample of 629 studies, sixteen were selected for the integrative analysis. The results were presented considering the main characteristics of papers and their main findings. Each category was discussed in light of the reviewed papers' findings, and the discussion and conclusions suggest recommendations for future research in Peruvian settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings from a qualitative research project examining the dating narratives of single migrant men residing in Sweden and Italy. The study, analyzing 48 interviews with individuals from Syrian, Polish, Bangladeshi and Romanian backgrounds, along with ethnographic observations, employs a theoretical framework rooted in sexual capital theory and critical studies on men and masculinities. The analysis sheds light on the challenges faced by heterosexual single migrant men in their pursuit of intimate partners, attributing these difficulties to lower levels of social, economic and cultural capital, as well as the influence of their specific masculinities, which may be perceived as less attractive within the host societies. The paper argues that the migrant experience can be viewed as a distinctive sexual field wherein individuals encounter unique dynamics and obstacles in the realm of intimate relationships. The implications of these findings extend beyond the personal experiences of migrant men, offering insights into the broader socio-cultural landscape of host societies and the complex interplay between migration, masculinity and intimate relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While injuries sustained from body armour backface deformation (BFD) have not been well-documented in military injury trauma registries, data from US law enforcement officers, animal tests and currently available data pertaining to military combatants has shown that BFD can not only cause minor injuries, but also result in serious trauma. However, the nature and severity of injuries sustained depends on a multitude of factors including the projectile type, the impact location and velocity, and the specific type of body armour worn. The difficulties involved in current measurement techniques for ballistic testing has led researchers to seek alternative techniques to evaluate the level of protection from body armour, such as the finite element (FE) method. In the current study, a systematic review of the open literature was undertaken using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology. The aim was to summarise the literature pertaining to the development and application of FE models to investigate body armour BFD and behind armour blunt trauma (BABT), and included FE models representing the projectile, clay-based mediums, ballistic gelatine and the human torso. Using the keywords 'behind armour*', 'ballistic blunt trauma', 'BABT', 'backface signature', 'backface deformation', 'BFS', 'BFD', 'wound ballistic', 'ballistic impact testing', 'body armour', 'bullet proof vest', 'ballistic vest', 'Finite Element*' and 'FE', an electronic database search of EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, ProQuest, Scopus, Standards, Web of Science and PubMed was conducted, and included peer-reviewed journal articles, review papers, research reports, conference papers, and MSc or PhD theses. While this research demonstrates the potential of FE analysis for recreating realistic blunt impact scenarios and enhancing the current understanding of BABT mechanisms, a common limitation in most studies is the lack of validation. Thus, in order to address this issue, it is proposed that injury predictions from FE models be correlated with trauma data from soldiers who have sustained BABT. Consequently, pressure and energy distributions within the organs can be used to interpret the effects of non-penetrating ballistic impacts on the human torso. Bridging the gap between simulation and real-world data is essential in order to validate FE models and enhance their utility in optimising body armour design and employing injury mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As businesses undergo digital transformation, supply chain fraud poses an increasing threat, necessitating more sophisticated detection and prevention methods. This paper explores the application of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) in detecting and preventing supply chain fraud. The research design involves analyzing a dataset of supply chain operations and employing various ML algorithms to detect consumer-based fraud within the supply chain, which occurs when consumers partake in deceptive practices during the order process of e-commerce transactions. We analyzed 180,000 transactions from an international company recorded between 2015 and 2018. This study emphasises the necessity of human oversight in interpreting the results generated by these technologies. The implications of supply chain fraud on financial stability, legal standing, and reputation are discussed, along with the potential for ML technology to identify irregularities indicative of fraud. Descriptive findings highlight the prevalence of fraudulent transactions in specific payment types. The AI sequential and the CatBoost classifiers were the top-performing algorithms across all performance metrics. The top features to detect unusual orders are delivery status, payment type, and late delivery risks. The discussion emphasises the promising predictive capabilities of the ML and AI models and their implications for detecting supply chain fraud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the design of supply chain (SC) risk mitigation and recovery strategies during long-term disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, which affect both suppliers and plants. Consequently, concurrent disruptions in supply and production are observed, which vary in duration and result in time-varying reductions in supply and production capacity. To cope with long-term disruptions, a modified multi-portfolio approach that integrates simulation and predictions is proposed to develop efficient mitigation and recovery plans. This approach involves selecting primary and recovery supply and production portfolios concurrently. To achieve this objective, time-dependent mixed integer programming (MIP) models that incorporate preparedness and recovery measures are developed to optimise SC operations. A prediction-based decomposition optimisation method is proposed to solve MIP problems and coordinate supply and production portfolios under disruptions and uncertainties. Furthermore, a heuristic approach is established to provide a comprehensive solution process. Finally, computational experiments and comparative analysis are conducted on a real-life case study. The results demonstrate that the proposed modelling and optimisation methods can effectively address disruptions and improve SC resilience. In addition, the developed models and approaches have the potential to serve as decision-making tools in SC management during disruptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most European member states, employees stay with a company for over ten years. During this time, people gain valuable experience and build up expertise that is lost to production companies when employees leave. Despite increasing digitalisation, there will still be processes, especially in individual production, that require experts. Ontologies are an established method for formalising knowledge. Standards are needed to ensure interoperability. However, not all reference models are based on the standardised basic formal ontology. To the best of our knowledge, there are also no references for modelling human-bound production steps. We have developed the freely accessible ROXANA ontology based on actual use cases from special-purpose machines. This ontology is based on the basic formal ontology and uses references from the common core ontologies and the industrial ontology foundry. The difficulty with expert-bound process steps in production is individuality and complexity. The design of special-purpose machines is individual, as are the machine-specific documents and the associated workflows. This paper presents the ontology, explains it using practical examples, and shows its implementation in a real software-based expert system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fierce marketing competition and varied customer requirements on products make a lot of companies transfer to the customisation strategy. However, customers may be overwhelmed by the vast assortment of products and options. This paper proposes a methodology aimed at optimising the range of customised product varieties considering synergy effects of modules and preferences of experts. The methodology outlines key steps required for a successful customised product configuration. Firstly, a questionnaire based on the Kano model is designed to identify customer preferences for product module customisation. The potential customers can be segmented based on the distance among their multidimensional preferences. Secondly, within each segmented market, the customer satisfaction function that considers module synergies is established using the quantified Kano model and coefficient matrix. Thirdly, the cost function that considers experts' preferences is established based on the prospect theory. Finally, a bi-objective optimisation model is formulated to maximise customer satisfaction and minimise cost under technical constraints. Pareto solutions are obtained by solving the model with the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II). Modules and attributes available to customers can be determined by the solutions. An illustrative example of modular laptop computers confirms the methodology's effectiveness in optimising product configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considerable research has focused on the question of how to better utilize the rural digitization to enhance rural enterprises' resilience. However, there has not been a unified conclusion reached on the influence of rural digitization on rural enterprises' resilience. To reconcile the existing inconclusive evidence, this paper aims to investigate the nonlinear impact of rural digitization on rural enterprises' resilience. We also hypothesize the mediating role of rural labour outflow in the relationship and explore the moderating role of rural social organization. Following a mixed research method, we employ the U-test method and 205 listed Chinese rural enterprises as the research objects to test the hypotheses. We then use a qualitative case study to offer unique insights for explaining the underlying mechanisms behind the quantitative results. The findings show that rural digitization and rural enterprises' resilience have a U-shaped relationship, and labour outflow plays a nonlinear mediating role in it. Moreover, rural labour outflow and rural enterprises' resilience show an inverted U-shaped relationship, which regulated by rural social organization. Together, the mixed methods research offers nuanced and scientific advice for enhancing rural enterprises' resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses differences in life satisfaction along the urban-rural continuum in 111 countries across the globe. It combines survey data with a consistent definition of settlements to maximize international comparability. Once controlled for observed individual characteristics, differences in life satisfaction between people living in cities and in rural areas change with development levels. We found a positive difference at low development levels, which disappears or reverts for high-income countries. Among the factors associated with such differences are city-rural gaps in reported health problems, in physical infrastructure (built-up area), in expectations for future economic conditions, as well as in perceived housing affordability. We also show that life satisfaction varies by city size. Globally, large cities between one and five million inhabitants drive the observed city-premium, with stark heterogeneity across income levels. More specifically, residents in large metropolises over five million inhabitants report the highest and lowest life satisfaction in low- and high- income countries, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased demand for actionable knowledge in operations- and supply chain management has fuelled the interest in collaborative, action-oriented research design as well as modes of theorising that generate adaptable and actionable frameworks. Whilst action research (AR) design as well as middle-range theories (MRT) offer guiding principles herein, they are researcher centric in nature. It is taken for granted that practitioners that enter such an endeavour have a certain level of knowledge or experience prior to the initial stages of formalising the research problem. Practitioners in non-academic, operations management-intensive industries or craftsmanship-based industries, such as construction or carpeting (often in the SME range) are often neither prepared nor equipped with the principles necessary to convey their managerial challenges into collaborative research design. This risk limiting or even hindering altogether such participation. This paper elaborates on combining the logic of AR and MRT. By conceptualising a preparatory phase for initiating practitioner engagement, complementing the conventional AR cycle, a four-step approach is presented: (1) Identifying a joint interest; (2) Teaching – Awakening interest in the topic through MRT frameworks; (3) Accepting buy-in to the AR cycle and determining the problem; and (4) Proposing MRT frameworks for analysis and entering the traditional AR cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After three decades of action research (AR) there are still questions about its application and contribution in comparison to traditional research methods. The aim of this paper is to explore and critique how two action research frameworks can be employed when improving healthcare processes. We also investigate the role of the Researcher in Residence when using AR in health operations management. Using Problem Resolving Action Research and Collaborative Action Research models we identify the benefits and challenges of conducting AR. To improve the reporting of action research we offer revised guidelines developed within the context of healthcare improvement that will assist both academics and practitioners when undertaking AR. The study also clarifies the important role of the researcher in residence which will assist academics and practitioners by providing consistency to terminology and understanding when undertaking AR research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the effective development and use of interactive simulations as a learning tool, integrating didactic and active approaches with complex laboratory and lecture content in undergraduate biochemistry and immunology courses. University science courses require students to master vast quantities of foundational knowledge that is commonly taught using didactic approaches. Over time, students are required to become more active and teaching approaches become more student-centred, extending students' application of knowledge, critical thinking, and creativity which relies on a student's ability to recall knowledge. Identifying the right timing and means for shifting from didactic approaches toward an active approach is critical for maintaining student interest and extending their learning. Active learning can transform the perception of a given subject, phenomenon, or experience, allowing students to engage meaningfully and deeply with critical and complex ideas. This paper demonstrates how active approaches to learning through simulations have been effectively used to reinforce threshold concepts in laboratory and lecture settings and the impact on student learning is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates a dual-channel event-triggered model-free adaptive iterative learning control problem for unknown nonlinear systems under periodic denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. Firstly, periodic DoS attacks on the measured output of the system are modelled using the Bernoulli distribution. Then, to minimise the utilisation of system bandwidth resources, a dual-channel event-triggered mechanism is designed for the sensor-to-controller and controller-to-actuator channels. Subsequently, a dual-channel event-triggered model-free adaptive iterative learning control algorithm is introduced. The convergence of the tracking error is proven in terms of mathematical expectation using Lyapunov stability theory. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified through two simulation cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distributed convex optimisation issue with inequality constraints and box constraints on the directed communication topology is examined in this paper. In the case of the communication delay between agents, we propose a piecewise zero-gradient-sum triggered control algorithm that allows arbitrary initial values. Using the log-barrier penalty method, we only need to study an unconstrained approximation problem of the original problem. Firstly, each agent's state converges to the optimal value of the related local objective function in a fixed time. Simultaneously, the upper bound of fixed time in this paper is smaller than some existing results. Then, in the case of communication delay, time-triggered and event-triggered methods with non-uniform sampling interval are proposed in this paper, which make the communication cost lower and the application broader. Using the Lyapunov function method, the sufficient conditions for each agent's state to converge to the optimal point are given, and the Zeno behaviour is excluded. Finally, to confirm the algorithm's effectiveness, we provide two numerical examples and one machine learning example as demonstrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionsVirtual technologies (VR) could respond to several challenges in Unilateral Spatial Neglect (USN) assessment, particularly the lack of sensitivity and ecological validity of traditional paper-and-pencil tests. A scoping review was conducted to explore current trends in this area.PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, IEEE, ACM, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched for VR USN assessment. The Joanna Briggs Institute methodological guidelines for scoping reviews were used to inform our methodology.Thirty-one publications were included. There were two populations: healthy adults (n = 349) and post-stroke individuals (n = 903). A classification based on tasks and type of interaction used was proposed. Correlations with paper and pencil tests (PPTs) were often significant when the task structure was similar to PPTs but was lacking for activities with more dynamic components. The ecological validity of the tasks was assessed in comparison with the Catherine Bergego Scale (n = 4) and a real-world navigation task (n = 1). Using VR, USN disorders have been characterized using a wide range of indicators.Few studies have addressed ecological validity, yet the use of VR in the assessment of the USN in this scoping review shows an undeniable contribution compared to traditional pencil-paper tests, especially for capturing the patient’s behavior toward the far extrapersonal space, essential in daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous order literature ("Tradition of Spontaneous Order" (1982) by Norman Barry; The Scottish Enlightenment and the Theory of Spontaneous Order (1987) by Ronald Hamowy; "Spontaneous Order" (1989) by Robert Sugden; "The Theory of Spontaneous Order and Cultural Evolution in the Social Theory of F.A. Hayek" (1990) by Peter J. Boettke; Calculation and Coordination: Essays on Socialism and Transitional Political Economy (2001) by Peter J. Boettke; Hayek's Liberalism and Its Origins: His Idea of Spontaneous Order and the Scottish Enlightenment (2001) by Christina Petsoulas; "The Origin and Scope of Hayek's Idea of Spontaneous Order" (2007) by Louis Hunt; "Spontaneous Order" (2015) by Daniel J. D'Amico; "Spontaneous Economic Order" (2016) by Yong Tao) has long downplayed the ideas of Michael Polanyi. When attempts were being made to change this attitude ("Polanyi on Liberal Neutrality" (1996/97) by C. P. Goodman; "Michael Polanyi and Spontaneous Order, 1941-1951" (1997) by Struan Jacobs), they mostly suggested to replace Hayek with Polanyi as the key figure who recoined the concept for the twentieth century. Not surprisingly, scholars of Austrian economics jumped into the arena of competing priority claims ("Against Polanyi-Centrism: Hayek and the Re-Emergence of "Spontaneous Order"" (2005) by John P. Bladel) and claimed that Hayek, von Mises and Röpke have argued for such an order long before Polanyi's first writing using this terminology was published in 1948. Only a few accounts attempted to present some kind of balance in this respect (Adam Smith's Political Philosophy: The Invisible Hand and Spontaneous Order (2006) by Craig Smith; The Collected Works of F.A. Hayek, Volume 15: The Market and Other Orders (2014) by Bruce Caldwell; "Friedrich Hayek and Michael Polanyi in Correspondence" (2016) by Struan Jacobs and Phil Mullins; The Architecture of Neoliberalism: How Contemporary Architecture Became an Instrument of Control and Compliance (2016) by Douglas Spencer; "Editorial Introduction to 'Collectivist Planning' by Michael Polanyi (1940)" (2019) by Geoffrey M. Hodgson). This paper aims to explore the so far untold characteristics of Polanyi's spontaneous order theory through analysing archival materials and doing so offers a reason for reconsidering what we have to know about the history of spontaneous order theory. And this reconsideration might lead to developing new, more fine-grained and viable theories of spontaneous order, including those that can treat claims of spontaneous order and claims of social justice not as incompatible but as compatible aims in ordering social affairs. This perspective should, no doubt, come in handy in our increasingly polarized societies at the beginning of the twenty-first century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we construct two families of new explicit exact traveling wave solutions of the Camassa–Holm equation which solve an open problem in the previous paper [Zhang G, Qiao ZJ, Liu F. Cuspons and smooth solitons of the Camassa-Holm equation under an inhomogeneous boundary condition. Pac J Appl Math. 2007;1(1):113–130]. With the help of the numerical graphs and a profound mathematical analysis, we discovered the analytic formulas for those two explicit exact solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]