Structure Determination of Microtubules and Pili: Past, Present, and Future Directions

Historically proteins that form highly polymeric and filamentous assemblies have been notoriously difficult to study using high resolution structural techniques. This has been due to several factors that include structural heterogeneity, their large molecular mass, and available yields. However, over the past decade we are now seeing a major shift towards atomic resolution insight and the study of more complex heterogenous samples and in situ/ex vivo examination of multi-subunit complexes. Although supported by developments in solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (ssNMR) and computational approaches, this has primarily been due to advances in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The study of eukaryotic microtubules and bacterial pili are good examples, and in this review, we will give an overview of the technical innovations that have enabled this transition and highlight the advancements that have been made for these two systems. Looking to the future we will also describe systems that remain difficult to study and where further technical breakthroughs are required.

Synchronous Generative Development amidst Situated Entropy

The Sustainable Development Goals have been criticized for not providing sufficient balance between human well-being and environmental well-being. By contrast, joint agent-environment systems theory is focused on reciprocal synchronous generative development. The purpose of this paper is to extend this theory towards practical application in sustainable development projects. This purpose is fulfilled through three interrelated contributions. First, a practitioner description of the theory is provided. Then, the theory is extended through reference to research concerned with multilevel pragmatics, competing signals, commitment processes, technological mediation, and psychomotor functioning. In addition, the theory is related to human-driven biosocial-technical innovation through the example of digital twins for agroecological urban farming. Digital twins being digital models that mirror physical processes; that are connected to physical processes through, for example, sensors and actuators; and which carry out analyses of physical processes in order to improve their performance. Together, these contributions extend extant theory towards application for synchronous generative development that balances human well-being and environmental well-being. However, the practical examples in the paper indicate that counterproductive complexity can arise from situated entropy amidst biosocial-technical innovations: even when those innovations are compatible with synchronous generative development.

The historical way of embroidery of traditional clothing

Purpose of the article. Trace the historical origins and genesis of embroidery decoration of traditional Ukrainian clothing and analyze the implementation of technological and technical innovations in the decoration of Ukrainian clothing. The methodology is based on the principles of historicism, art history analysis, scientific objectivity, and consistency in the study of the genesis of the decoration of the Ukrainian dress. Scientific novelty. The current state of embroidery decoration of traditional Ukrainian clothing is revealed and the issue of introducing innovative technologies in modern clothing design is raised. Conclusions. Based on the results of the study, we can conclude that modern decoration imitates the traditions of folk dress, including more and more the latest technologies. The unique experience of modern masters is analyzed and the ways of development in the direction of the art of embroidery decoration are determined. A variety of embroidery techniques with limitless skillful potential appear alongside machine embroidery works. Keywords: traditions, fashion designer, embroidery, creativity, innovation, education.

EU Criminal Law and Electronic Surveillance: The Pegasus System and Legal Challenges It Poses

The introduction of modern forms of communication, such as encrypted messengers or VoIP telephony, has forced law enforcement agencies to use new technologies to carry out surveillance of people facing criminal proceedings. Rather than relying on the interception of communications during transmission, modern surveillance systems are often based on breaking or bypassing the security features of a user’s mobile device – making it possible to conduct various forms of surveillance that include audio and video recording. One example of such a system is Pegasus – a tool that was initially used to pursue national security objectives but is now increasingly applied in criminal surveillance. The introduction of technical innovations in criminal surveillance must include an examination of their compatibility with legal constraints laid down to protect the individual against the risk of arbitrariness and abuse of power. The effectiveness of surveillance should never be the sole determinant for tasks undertaken by public authorities. The aim of this article is to demonstrate that the implementation of modern surveillance measures such as Pegasus must also include a review of existing legal regulations to ensure that the use of these products’ extended capabilities is under proper control and complies with the rule of law.

Venetian Lagoon Mussel Farming Between Tradition and Innovation An Example of Changes in Perception and Multispecies Relations

In Venetian lagoon, mussels as a food, together with technical innovations and new knowledge for their exploitation, are a recent discovery. In the past, the lagoon’s fishers considered them inedible. The first mussel farming was launched in 1939 and mussels began a new process of rehabilitation. It is the beginning of a new relationship. Mussels turn themselves into delicate animals that need care and fishers develop new interactions with the other non-human components of the environment. A mutual relationship (or inter-agentivity) is created between mussel farmers and mussels, and it brings undeniable advantages to both species.

Plate Tectonics and Macrogeomorphology

The plate tectonics revolution was the most significant advance in our understanding of the Earth in the 20th century, but initially it had little impact on the discipline of geomorphology. Topography and landscape development were not considered to be important phenomena that deserved attention from the broader earth-science community in the context of the new model of global tectonics. This situation began to change from the 1980s as various technical innovations enabled landscape evolution to be modelled numerically at the regional to sub-continental scales relevant to plate tectonics, and rates of denudation to be quantified over geological time scales. These developments prompted interest amongst earth scientists from fields such as geophysics, geochemistry and geochronology in understanding the evolution of topography, the role of denudation in influencing patterns of crustal deformation, and the interactions between tectonics and surface processes. This trend was well established by the end of the century, and has become even more significant up to the present. In this chapter I review these developments and illustrate how plate tectonics has been related to landscape development, especially in the context of collisional orogens and passive continental margins. I also demonstrate how technical innovations have been pivotal to the expanding interest in macroscale landscape development in the era of plate tectonics, and to the significant enhancement of the status of the discipline of geomorphology in the earth sciences over recent decades.

Editorial

We are pleased to announce several innovations at SComS. In July, SComS was added to the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). This gives our young open access journal more visibility and connects us even better with the growing community dedicated to developing open access journals and making scientific knowledge accessible. In addition, there are technical innovations on the Submission Platform. Authors can now directly enter their ORCID ID as part of the submission process and link their papers to their unique researcher ID. In case you are not familiar with ORCID, you can find more information on https://orcid.org. Let us now turn our attention from future issues to this issue of SComS. It contains four articles in the General Section, a Thematic Section entitled “Critical perspectives on migration in discourse and communication,” and two book reviews in the Reviews and Reports Section. In addition, the Community Section contains the summary of Sina Blassnig’s dissertation, which was awarded the 2021 Dissertation Prize of the Swiss Association of Communication and Media Research (SACM). On a sad occasion, the issue also contains an obituary of the communication and media scientist Michael Schanne.

Obstacles and Solutions Driving the Development of a National Teleradiology Network

Background: Teleradiology has the potential to link medical experts and specialties despite geographical separation. In a project report about hospital-based teleradiology, the significance of technical and human factors during the implementation and growth of a teleradiology network are explored. Evaluation: The article identifies major obstacles during the implementation and growth of the teleradiology network of the Berlin Trauma Hospital (BG Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin) between 2004 and 2020 in semi-structured interviews with senior staff members. Quantitative analysis of examination numbers, patient numbers, and profits relates the efforts of the staff members to the monetary benefits and success of the network. Identification of qualitative and quantitative factors for success: Soft and hard facilitators and solutions driving the development of the national teleradiology network are identified. Obstacles were often solved by technical innovations, but the time span between required personal efforts, endurance, and flexibility of local and external team members. The article describes innovations driven by teleradiology and hints at the impact of teleradiology on modern medical care by relating the expansion of the teleradiology network to patient transfers and profits. Conclusion: In addition to technical improvements, interpersonal collaborations were key to the success of the teleradiology network of the Berlin Trauma Hospital and remained a unique feature and selling point of this teleradiology network.

Therapeutic Pathways of Vesicovaginal Fistula, From the Past to the Future: A Mini-Review

Over the last decade, innovation of medical interventions concerning less radical surgery consists cornerstone of therapeutic management. Among gynecologic surgical procedures, medical experience and completion of educational curve lead to the decrease of potential post-operative complications. Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) represent ultimate medical injury in cases of total laparoscopic or abdominal hysterectomy. The aim of our study, consists of primary detection of such cases, assiduous imaging depiction, and ultimate therapeutic strategy. New technical innovations and less radical intervention consist of necessary conditions to establish proper therapeutic mapping.