scholarly journals The Debate If Agents Matter vs. the System Matters in Sustainability Transitions—A Review of the Literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2821
Author(s):  
Katariina Koistinen ◽  
Satu Teerikangas
Keyword(s):  
System Level ◽  
Sustainability Transitions ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Transition Research ◽  
Sustainability Challenges ◽  
Transition Studies

Transition studies is a growing discipline for addressing sustainability challenges. Traditionally, its focus has been at the system level. However, addressing sustainability challenges also requires attending to the role of agents in sustainability transitions. This is the focus adopted in this paper. We review the literature on agency in sustainability transitions, based on 77 journal articles on sustainability transitions listed in Scopus from 2014 to 2018. We find that agency is increasingly explored in the sustainability transitions literature. Despite this growing interest, this body of knowledge remains scattered in regard to typologies or theoretical framings. Our review leads us to identify three recurring themes. One theme drew our attention in particular: the transition research community is divided into those who argue that agency is sufficiently embedded in the transition literature and those who oppose this argument. Going forward, the dynamics of individual-level agency, including behaviors and motivation, deserve further attention.

Knowledge transfer supporting sustainable development: implications for regional intermediaries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon J. Winkler-Portmann
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Sustainability Transitions ◽  
Planetary Boundaries ◽  
Knowledge Types ◽  
Technical Systems ◽  
Sustainability Challenges

The wicked sustainability challenges of current socio-technical systems, crossing the planetary boundaries vital for human life, call for fundamental and radical change in the form of transitions. These sustainability transitions require a knowledge basis of relevant actors in the system, which intermediary structures organizing knowledge transfer can support. Over the last decades, sustainability researchers have not only increasingly studied the dynamics of transitions (Rip and Kemp 1998; Geels 2002; Papachristos et al. 2013), but have also gained insights on activities contributing to the acceleration of transitions and the sup-portive role of intermediaries in that regard (Wieczorek and Hekkert 2012; Kanda et al. 2018; Kivimaa et al. 2019). This paper revisits the literature on the dynamics of transitions, the activities of intermediaries in contributing in order to formulate implications of the characteristics of sustainable development and sustainability transitions and the related knowledge types for the organization of knowledge transfer by regional intermediaries.

Social Representations and Commitment

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Bonetto ◽  
Fabien Girandola ◽  
Grégory Lo Monaco
Keyword(s):  
Social Representations ◽  
Social Representation ◽  
Second Line ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
First Line ◽  
Research Perspectives ◽  
The Social ◽  
Bibliographic Search ◽  
English Articles

Abstract. This contribution consists of a critical review of the literature about the articulation of two traditionally separated theoretical fields: social representations and commitment. Besides consulting various works and communications, a bibliographic search was carried out (between February and December, 2016) on various databases using the keywords “commitment” and “social representation,” in the singular and in the plural, in French and in English. Articles published in English or in French, that explicitly made reference to both terms, were included. The relations between commitment and social representations are approached according to two approaches or complementary lines. The first line follows the role of commitment in the representational dynamics: how can commitment transform the representations? This articulation gathers most of the work on the topic. The second line envisages the social representations as determinants of commitment procedures: how can these representations influence the effects of commitment procedures? This literature review will identify unexploited tracks, as well as research perspectives for both areas of research.

The role of inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of premature labor in multiple pregnancy as a result of ART

2016 ◽  
pp. 73-76
Author(s):  
B.M. Ventskivskiy ◽  
◽  
I.V. Poladych ◽  
S.O. Avramenko ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproductive Technology ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Proinflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Multiple Pregnancy ◽  
Reproductive Technology ◽  
System Level ◽  
Premature Labor ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

In recent years there has been an increase in the frequency of multiple pregnancies and the associated perinatal losses. It is a result of multiple pregnancy in ART refers to a high-risk gestation, at which premature births occur in 2 times more often than in singleton pregnancies. The objective: to determine the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of premature labor in multiple pregnancy, as a result of assisted reproductive technology. Patients and methods. to determine the pro-inflammatory cytokines that all pregnant with bagtopliddyam held immunosorbent assay, defined concentrations of interleukin (IL) in serum and cervical mucus. Results. The analysis of the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-8) in the test environment, found high concentrations in the surveyed women with multiple pregnancy, due to the use of ART, compared with spontaneous multiple and singleton pregnancy. Increased concentration of proinflammatory cytokines in patients with multiple pregnancy by ART is associated with their synthesis at the system level, it stimulated foci of inflammation in the female genitals and extragenital localization. This correlates with the clinical data and statistical analysis, patients with multiple pregnancy as a result of ART had weighed infectious-inflammatory history. Conclusion. The study showed that elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the systemic and local level in patients with multiple pregnancy due to ART, typical for women with miscarriage, because of the physiological course of pregnancy characterized by the predominance of anti-inflammatory cytokines that prevent rejection of the fetus as a foreign factor. Based on the data obtained proved the role of systemic inflammatory factors in the genesis of preterm labor in women with a multiple pregnancy, as a result of assisted reproductive technology. Key words: multiple pregnancy, assisted reproductive technology, premature birth, interleukine-1, interleukine-8.

Knowledge creation in small building and construction firms

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Durst ◽  
Ingi Runar Edvardsson ◽  
Guido Bruns
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Knowledge Creation ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Knowledge Sources ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Construction Firms ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Small Building

Studies on knowledge creation are limited in general, and there is a particular shortage of research on the topic in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Given the importance of SMEs for the economy and the vital role of knowledge creation in innovation, this situation is unsatisfactory. Accordingly, the purpose of our study is to increase our understanding of how SMEs create new knowledge. Data are obtained through semi-structured interviews with ten managing directors of German SMEs operating in the building and construction industry. The findings demonstrate the influence of external knowledge sources on knowledge creation activities. Even though the managing directors take advantage of different external knowledge sources, they seem to put an emphasis on informed knowledge sources. The study´s findings advance the limited body of knowledge regarding knowledge creation in SMEs.

Stages of the formation of temporary and permanent occlusion and the impact of early tooth extraction on the dentition state. Literature review

2019 ◽  
pp. 22-24
Author(s):  
G.A. Murachueva ◽  
I.M. Rasulov ◽  
S.G. Gusenov
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Temporomandibular Joint ◽  
Tooth Extraction ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Full Development ◽  
Permanent Occlusion ◽  
The Impact

A review of the literature on the stages of the formation of temporary and permanent occlusion has been performed. This stages play an important role not only for the full development of the maxillofacial apparatus, temporomandibular joint, but also the whole organism. The role of early tooth extraction in the formation of the physiological state of the dentoalveolar system is considered. The conclusion is drawn about the need for a deeper study of this problem in the structure of general dental morbidity.

Virome and Inflammasomes, a Finely Tuned Balance with Important Consequences for the Host Health

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1027-1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Freer ◽  
Fabrizio Maggi ◽  
Mauro Pistello
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Downstream Effects ◽  
Host Health ◽  
Inflammatory Processes ◽  
Human Immune ◽  
Immune Defences

Background:The virome is a network of viruses normally inhabiting humans. It forms a conspicuous portion of the so-called microbiome, once generically referred to as resident flora. Indeed, viruses infecting humans without leading to clinical disease are increasingly recognized as part of the microbiome and have an impact on the development of our immune system. In addition, they activate inflammasomes, multiprotein complexes that assemble in cells and that are responsible for the downstream effects of sensing pathogens.Objective:This review aims at summarizing the evidence on the role of the virome in modulating inflammation and emphasizes evidence for Anelloviruses as useful molecular markers to monitor inflammatory processes and immune system competence.Method:We carried out a review of the literature published in the last 5 years and summarized older literature to take into account ground-breaking discoveries concerning inflammasome assembly and virome.Results:A massive amount of data recently emerging demonstrate that the microbiome closely reflects what we eat, and many other unexpected variables. Composition, location, and amount of the microbiome have an impact on innate and adaptive immune defences. Viruses making up the virome contribute to shaping the immune system. Anelloviruses, the best known of such viruses, are present in most human beings, persistently without causing apparent disease. Depending on their interplay with such viruses, inflammasomes instruct host defences to tolerate or forfeit a specific microorganism.Conclusion:The virome plays an important role in shaping human immune defences and contributes to inflammatory processes by quenching or increasing them.

Jurisprudence Study of the Importance of the Role of a Woman’s Right to Have a Child: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 188-193
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Ghodrati
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Civil Law ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Maternal Role ◽  
The Right ◽  
Time Limitations ◽  
Natural Barrier ◽  
Taking Care

Background: Every woman has the right to have children. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the Jurisprudence study of the importance of the role of a woman right to have a child. Methods: A review of the literature with keywords of motherhood. The viewpoints of the jurists, jurisprudent law, right contraception and breastfeeding, spiritual rewards, pregnant women, instinct of having a child and the Quran. The Information Centers such as Scopus and Iranmedex, Magi ran SID, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Pub med, and in the returns without any time limitations up to 2018. Therefore, Qur'anic verses based on the topic and authentic Hadith texts as well as authoritative, authentic scientific articles. Results: Narrations and Quran verses on greatness and respect of a mother show the importance of the maternal role. The maternal role is a fabulous facet of perfection of a woman and Islam has considered spiritual rewards for it. In the Quran, many biological changes such as pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and taking care of a child and spiritual characteristics of mothers as the instinct seeking a child or generosity towards child have been mentioned. Islamic rules have a duty to extend this culture and aid mothers to achieve this right. Nobody can deprive a woman of it. Conclusion: In view of jurisprudent rules in Islam, if there is no limitation or natural barrier for a woman to have a child but her husband’s illogical unwillingness for having a child; this is, according to article 1130 of civil law, a kind of distress and embarrassment and the woman has the right to divorce.

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