Impact assessment method: sustainability with existing frameworks and integral approach

Implementation of monetary innovation for social innovation network development may be appropriate as a reliable exchange and an incentive system for community value co-creation between stakeholders and sustainable regional development. Nevertheless, some questions remain: (1) What context and objective favour the implementation of monetary innovation? (2) How to enhance and evaluate the impacts of such innovations? To contribute to these research questions, a synthesis of 4 reference currency evaluation studies and 3 assessment frameworks standards, such as Sustainable Development Goals, Impact Reporting and Investment Standards and Global Reporting Initiative, will allow us to not only improve a previous impact assessment method of 71 indicators, by integrating an integral approach categorization, but also to qualitatively assess a recently launched currency, the Léman case study, as a first impetus with 34 indicators. Beyond policy intervention, networks of individuals and organisations may integrate an impact assessment method with an integral approach and continuous improvement process, to reach economic, social, environmental, governance and cultural impacts to evaluate the interest of supporting such initiatives. Further research is needed to develop this impact assessment framework, especially a bottom-up methodology

Integrative review of integral, mixed and creative methods research approaches to currency innovation and its impact - through 102 articles published in the International Journal of Community Currency Research from 1997 to 2013 as a preliminary study

I was surprised to discover that not one-eighth (12.7%) as previously found in 2013 but five-seventh (69.6%) of its articles were actually dealing with currency impact assessment—of which one-third (33.8%) were a positive impact and seven-eighth (88.7%) were aiming at sustainable development objectives. Moreover, all 102 articles investigated currencies involving 2.55 of the 5 pillars of sustainable development and targeting 4.66 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals—confirming what was already suspected about them. Finally, one-nineth (11.8%) used at least one of these meta-theoretical paradigms; one-third (34.3%) used a ‘mixed methods’ research; one-half (47.1%) used some ‘creative research’ methods excluding ‘mixed methods’ research; and three-fifth (60.8%) used more than one methodological family—for an average of 1.78 of these 8 methodological families for all 102 articles. Knowing that authors came from some 16 different disciplines

Concept de service innovant et d'incitation au développement durable: étude de faisabilité d'un système d'échange implémenté au sein d'un réseau de parties prenantes

implémenté au sein d’un réseau de parties prenantes. En réaction à la crise financière de 2008 et après un vote unanime le 29 mai 2013 à l’Assemblée Générale d’APRÈS-GE, qui regroupe près de 250 membres, la Chambre de l’Économie Sociale et Solidaire a décidé de coopérer dans le processus de création d’une monnaie complémentaire porté par le groupe Monnaie Grand Genève ou Grand Genève : une monnaie solidaire et APRÈS-GE, comptant près de 70 personnes bénévoles actives. Ce projet débutera effectivement le 27 septembre 2013 grâce à une co-construction collective à soumettre au bassin de vie genevois ou région transfrontalière du franco-valdo-genevois, intitulé Grand Genève. Cependant, quelle est la faisabilité de la mise en oeuvre d’une monnaie complémentaire au sein d’un réseau de parties prenantes sensibilisées par le domaine du développement durable ? Ce mémoire apporte une réponse à cette question grâce à divers outils de recherche anthropologique, tels que le modèle PESTEL, une enquête qualitative basée sur 14 interviews, et le plan de service blueprint. Aussi, les retombées de cette enquête s’annoncent favorable pour le lancement de ce mouvement entrepreneurial populaire. Effectivement, les tendances recueillies pour chaque axe de l’enquête révèlent, de la part des particuliers et des organisations, un avis favorable à l’implémentation de ce projet, un intérêt vif et une curiosité face à cette monnaie complémentaire. Le principal attribut saillant de ce concept de service est d’être perçu comme un accélérateur de richesse et une innovation à forte valeur ajoutée. D’autant plus que les bénéfices perçus par les organisations et les particuliers sont supérieurs aux coûts perçus face au projet. En complément de la diffusion d’information ; de la mobilisation des entreprises du réseau de l’Économie Sociale et Solidaire ; et de l’étude des flux transactionnels potentiels actuellement réalisés par le groupe, ce travail contribue à proposer des prototypes de format monétaire physique et digital ; un plan d’action avec étape, acteurs et ressources humaines et financières ; un plan de communication ; et enfin un tableau de bord avec indicateurs de performance de facteur humain. Ce travail préconise de rendre ce projet intelligible, pragmatique et appropriable à l’ensemble des parties prenantes, même insensible aux valeurs de l’Économie Sociale et Solidaire ; à identifier et mesurer leurs attentes et besoins des parties prenantes ; à prendre le temps nécessaire pour s’approprier les ressources humaines, techniques, financières et culturelles indispensable avant le lancement d’un tel projet stratégique basé sur l’audace, la confiance et l’intelligence collective

Integral research on the Lake District Pound: six mixed methods for assessing the impact of a currency

How does one assess the impact of a currency innovation? This study explores the experience of the Lake District Pound (LD£), a free local currency issued by a social enterprise from May 2018 to January 2020, for approximately LD£215’000 within 342 local independent businesses and 28 bureaux de change – who were also stamping passports – and based in the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Northwest England. After presenting the historical and regional context, we will introduce six mixed methods – consistent with integrative research approach of Integral Methodological Pluralism based on Complex Integral Realism – and analyse the respective and combined results of 12 data collections over 25 months to provide a holistic impact assessment. By promoting the local heritage and by providing a unique visitor experience, it has had some impact on local spending and the local economy and has raised some awareness of localism and Money; without transforming behaviour and the local supply chain. It has proven its ground-breaking revenue model based on the annual leakage once the currency expires: keeping rather than spending it – targeting visitors rather than residents. Its short-term financial plan proved unsuccessful in generating profit for two charities (environmental conservation, community support)

In vitro studies and preliminary in vivo evaluation of silicified concentrated collagen hydrogels

Hybrid and nanocomposite silicacollagen materials derived from concentrated collagen hydrogels were evaluated in vitro and in vivo to establish their potentialities for biological dressings. Silicification significantly improved the mechanical and thermal stability of the collagen network within the hybrid systems. Nanocomposites were found to favor the metabolic activity of immobilized human dermal fibroblastswhile decreasing the hydrogel contraction. Cell adhesion experiments suggested that in vitro cell behavior was dictated by mechanical properties and surface structure of the scaffold. First-to-date in vivo implantation of bulk hydrogels in subcutaneous sites of rats was performed over the vascular inflammatory period. These materials were colonized and vascularized without inducing strong inflammatory response. These data raise reasonable hope for the future application of silicacollagen biomaterials as biological dressings.Fil: Desimone, Martín Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; ArgentinaFil: Hélary, Christophe. Université Pierre et Marie Curie; FranciaFil: Quignard, Sandrine. Université Pierre et Marie Curie; FranciaFil: Rietveld, Ivo B. Universite de Paris; FranciaFil: Bataille, Clement. Université de Versailles Saint-quentin-en-yvelines.; FranciaFil: Copello, Guillermo Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; ArgentinaFil: Mosser, Gervaise. Université Pierre et Marie Curie; FranciaFil: Giraud Guille, Marie-Madeleine. Université Pierre et Marie Curie; FranciaFil: Livage, Jacques. Université Pierre et Marie Curie; FranciaFil: Meddahi Pellé, Anne. Université de Versailles Saint-quentin-en-yvelines.; FranciaFil: Coradin, Thibaud. Université Pierre et Marie Curie; Franci

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Simple scoring system to predict in-hospital mortality after surgery for infective endocarditis

BACKGROUND: Aspecific scoring systems are used to predict the risk of death postsurgery in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). The purpose of the present study was both to analyze the risk factors for in-hospital death, which complicates surgery for IE, and to create a mortality risk score based on the results of this analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Outcomes of 361 consecutive patients (mean age, 59.1\ub115.4 years) who had undergone surgery for IE in 8 European centers of cardiac surgery were recorded prospectively, and a risk factor analysis (multivariable logistic regression) for in-hospital death was performed. The discriminatory power of a new predictive scoring system was assessed with the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Score validation procedures were carried out. Fifty-six (15.5%) patients died postsurgery. BMI >27 kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; P=0.049), estimated glomerular filtration rate 55 mm Hg (OR, 1.78; P=0.032), and critical state (OR, 2.37; P=0.017) were independent predictors of in-hospital death. A scoring system was devised to predict in-hospital death postsurgery for IE (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.780; 95% CI, 0.734-0.822). The score performed better than 5 of 6 scoring systems for in-hospital death after cardiac surgery that were considered. CONCLUSIONS: A simple scoring system based on risk factors for in-hospital death was specifically created to predict mortality risk postsurgery in patients with IE