Developing the Concepts of Homeostasis, Homeorhesis, Allostasis, Elasticity, Flexibility and Plasticity of Brain Function

I discuss some concepts advanced for the understanding of the complex dynamics of brain functions, and relate them to approaches in affective, cognitive and action neurosciences. These functions involve neuro-glial interactions in a dynamic system that receives sensory signals from the outside of the central nervous system, processes information in frequency, amplitude and phase-modulated electrochemical waves, and control muscles and glands to generate behavioral patterns. The astrocyte network is in charge of controlling global electrochemical homeostasis, and Hodgkin–Huxley dynamics drive the bioelectric homeostasis of single neurons. In elastic processes, perturbations cause instability, but the system returns to the basal equilibrium. In allostatic processes, perturbations elicit a response from the system, reacting to the deviation and driving the system to stable states far from the homeostatic equilibrium. When the system does not return to a fixed point or region of the state space, the process is called homeorhetic, and may present two types of evolution: (a) In flexible processes, there are previously existing “attractor” stable states that may be achieved after the perturbation, depending on context; (b) In plastic processes, the homeostatic set point(s) is(are) changed; the system is in a process of adaptation, in which the allostatic forces do not drive it back to the previous set point, but project to the new one. In the temporal phase from the deviant state to the recovery of stability, the system generates sensations that indicate if the recovery is successful (pleasure-like sensations) or if there is a failure (pain-like sensations).

Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations and Small Island Developing States Approach

The fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCAS) and small island developing states (SIDS) approach represents a new way of doing business for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its most vulnerable developing member countries. FCAS and SIDS face unique development challenges such as a greater need for governance and institutional capacity building, geographic isolation, small populations, narrow asset bases, and armed conflict. The FCAS and SIDS approach—or FSA—introduces flexible processes and procedures that will allow ADB to tailor interventions to the specific challenges of these countries, with the goal of improving project results, and ultimately improving livelihoods.

Modeling time-varying parameters using artificial neural networks: a GARCH illustration

We propose a new volatility process in which parameters vary over time according to an artificial neural network (ANN). We prove the process’s stationarity as well as the global identification of the parameters. Since ANNs require economic series as input variables, we develop a shrinkage approach to select which explanatory variables are relevant to forecast volatility. Empirically, the proposed model favorably compares with other flexible processes in terms of in-sample fit on six financial returns. It also delivers accurate short-term volatility predictions in terms of root mean squared errors and the predictive likelihood criterion. For long-term forecasts, it can be competitive with the Markov-switching generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic (MS-GARCH) model if appropriate exogenous variables are used. Since our new type of time-varying parameter (TVP) process is based on a universal approximator, the approach can readily revisit and potentially improve many standard TVP applications.

How COVID-19 impacts the U.S. economy and predictions about the future

The spread of COVID-19 is one of the most impactful global events in recent years. It has destroyed the U.S. economy and financial market. In just several months, the stock market experienced major fluctuations, the entire economy has basically stopped, and the unemployment rate peaked. Its severity even penetrated people’s daily lives; many are not getting basic requirements needed for survival. As cases increase daily, more and more are concerned with how the future will look like and what this pandemic will do to the economy in the long run. Faced with many uncertainties in macroeconomic trends and the continuous spreading of the virus, I have compared this current crisis with the subprime mortgage crisis in 2008. With a goal to reasonably forecast future developments of the U.S. economy, from both micro and macro perspectives, financial market trends and government actions have been analyzed. Specifically, the two events’ causes, essences, policies’ effectiveness, and other factors have been evaluated and suggestions in adjusting government policies have also been made. Unlike the 2008 crisis, this crisis will require longer, more complex, and more flexible processes and regulations to recover, and citizens should be prepared for this slow recovery. But overall, a promising outlook for the U.S. economy still stands in the long-run.

What Are the Challenges of Cyber-Physical Models in the Tourism Business?

In the information age, factors such as globalization and new technologies have influenced consumers' choices. Many companies are connecting with them in a creative way. Customers contribute with ideas, not only for products but also for services and systems. Cyber-physical and mobile media tend to revolutionize the business model across multiple industries. This chapter reflects on how Portugal is in terms of digital transformation, through the internet of things (IoT) and smart applications. Also, which impacts can these trends have in tourism, facing the fourth industry challenge whose cyber-physical processes perform new services. Portuguese firms increasingly focus on services and knowledge. Customer data has been a factor of knowledge expansion and its materialization into new goods and services. However, this overwhelming potential requires more flexible processes and digital skills in companies. Recent innovation acceleration programs are helping them to cope with these trends, due to their entrepreneurial orientation and external knowledge connections.

The sustainability of outcomes in temporary co-production

Purpose The temporary use of vacant spaces as a format to co-produce public services is becoming popular. Research addressing the question of whether the public outcomes created in temporary co-production lead to sustainable results is lacking. The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential sustainability of public outcomes created through temporary co-production. Design/methodology/approach The paper builds on the literature on creating sustainable outcomes in policy making and on co-production to design a theoretical framework that captures the sustainable co-production of public outcomes. Attention is directed to problem solving and capacity building, and to addressing the needs of society today and being responsive to the needs of tomorrow. A study of 8 temporary initiatives set in a large city in Flanders and 35 in-depth interviews with public servants, project coordinators and citizen co-producers provide empirical data for this exploratory study of the creation of sustainable outcomes in temporary co-production. Findings The data indicate that lasting collaborations, institutionalized (flexible) processes and empowered citizens support the creation of sustainable results from temporary co-production. Originality/value The paper bridges the literature on policy capacity, the co-production of public services and value creation. By doing so, the paper sheds light on the temporary use of vacant spaces as a way to effectively create outcomes. In addition, the paper addresses the paradox of temporary co-production and the creation of lasting outcomes. Finally, the framework presented offers a tool for analysts and practitioners to take into account various conditions for co-production to create lasting effects.

IMPLEMENTING A FLIPPED CLASSROOM STRUCTURE IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION BETTER SUITED TO THE INDUSTRY 4.0

The fourth industrial revolution or industry 4.0 which is a consequence of the rapid change of information is characterized by ultra-connected and flexible processes in order to develop rapidly a personalized product to be utilized in a limited time. This revolution requires new competencies named the soft skills. So, the challenge for educators is to train students with the soft skills needed in the industry 4.0. This is why; I implemented the flipped classroom method with a new structure based on PowerPoint presentation for the hydraulic and pneumatic systems’ course during the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year. The flipped course was delivered for two classes in their fourth year of engineering studies in the National School of Applied Sciences, Fez Morocco. The flipped classroom method is being implemented in a growing number of higher education institutions, but I propose a new structure which aims to improve the engineering students’ soft skills especially the lifelong learning, critical thinking, curiosity, autonomy and communication and presentation techniques in order to success in this digital age and to meet the industry 4.0 requirements. The results of an anonymous survey and a t-test are very satisfactory and show that this method has a very positive feedback from the students. For me, I can approve that this method is a rewarding teaching experience with minimum technical, technological and logistical resources, but it requires more effort from the teacher who becomes rather a coach and a facilitator.

Supply chain flexibility and mass personalization: a systematic literature review

Purpose This paper aims to explore the current state of research on supply chain flexibility (SCF) and mass personalization (MP) to identify the literature findings to date, research gaps and to provide guidelines for future research in this area. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review of 64 papers was undertaken to address the use of SCF as a productive response to MP environments. The methodology used is made up of five steps: formulation of the research questions, identification of studies, selection and evaluation of studies, analysis and synthesis and presentation of the results. Findings Three main research topics have been identified: personalization levels and flexible processes in supply chain, where flexible processes in supply chain are analysed as a productive response to high levels of MP; supply chain collaborative processes for SCF and MP, where product co-creation and relationships between supply chain members is analysed; and SCF and MP enabling technologies, in which technologies to support MP implementation and SCF are considered. Each of these three main topics have been divided into research lines and research sublines that allowed identifying a positive relationship between the SCF and the MP strategies. Research limitations/implications Systematic literature review is a methodology reliable and recommended by a large number of scientific papers. However, it depends on available and accessible research studies and the researcher’s criteria. The selection of certain criteria for inclusion and exclusion of papers introduces publication bias, which should be considered an intrinsic limitation to systematic literature review. Originality/value The main literature findings in each research line and subline related to the SCF-MP relationship are identified and analysed. Furthermore, research gaps and further research lines in the SCF-MP area are highlighted. The information presented in this paper improves the literature on the advances in the SCF use as a productive response to MP environments.

Agile Software Development: Reusability and Customizability is key to Competitive Advantage

The study addresses the research issue of how software firms can compete in a dynamic industry through creating agile software development processes. It gives an insight into what a firm needs to do to equip its software process engineers to create flexible processes which can be customized specifically for the customer or reused for another customer without having to recreate them. Can these perceived process dimensions impact the competitive advantage of the firm? Survey design was used to collect responses from 100 software firms. Senior managers in the delivery departments were taken as respondents. The model and hypothesis were assessed on AMOS using structural equation modelling for path analysis. The results suggested that firms that can reuse the codes and customize the services specific to customers through training and development initiatives taken for employees are able to create competitive advantage in the industry. The improvement in the processes be having direct impact on the economic efficiency of the firm.