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In their recent paper, Parnia and colleagues propose a new label for the near‐death experience (NDE): recalled experience of death. They claimed NDEs are "authentic" only when an objective danger is present and that authentic NDEs have a proven core phenomenology. We consider that these claims are insufficiently supported by empirical data. NDEs appear as a continuum of heterogeneous experiences of consciousness precipitated by the disjunction of processes usually combined in normal mental activity. The "core phenomenology" of NDEs is also opened to several criticisms. Closeness to "real" death does not appear to be a decisive criterion for characterizing NDEs. The author's adhesion to Raymond Moody's NDE model produces a biased partition of this field of research that is unable to provide the basis for a consensus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary artistic practices were provided with a space for reflection and the creation of opinion in the galleries of the Fundació Espais and in the pages of its art magazine, Papers d'Art. A group of independent voices of multidisciplinary artistic production was made audible thanks to this publication that provided a critique which forged dynamic connections between artistic meaning and social and cultural contexts. This paper highlights a shift in meaning of the conception of contemporary art as a key element in intellectual culture, including politics, philosophy, science and other creative formats such as music and literature. Based on an analysis of the critical awareness of the various contributors to the magazine and on the historiographic study of certain aesthetic and symbolic questions, a review of the articles published in the Studies and Research section is detailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this essay, I undertake a critical analysis of the UN‐Habitat publication, The Quito Papers. I begin by unpacking the representation within The Quito Papers of the Charter of Athens of 1941 as an outcome of CIAM IV in 1933. Here, the ways in which the authors centralize the Charter of Athens within their critique of contemporary urbanization is critically analysed. Ultimately, I argue that what emerges is a simplification of the complex intertwining of urbanization and urbanist ideals. Based on this, I situate what is presented in The Quito Papers as alternative imaginaries—centred largely on European ideals of urbanism—within the context of urban change since the 1970s. This includes a discussion of the manner in which these ideals are promoted within urbanist discourse, including the role of the authors themselves in their engagement with UN‐Habitat. Finally, I situate some of the arguments contained in The Quito Papers within current debates in urban theory. I contend that the relationship between processes of urbanization and the ideals of modernist urbanism are more genealogical than direct. Furthermore, I argue that it is through this relationship that broader power dynamics and their resultant inequalities can be further examined and challenged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to outline an overview and to discuss some constraining factors related to teaching Spanish as L1 in the context of linguistic diversity in Argentina. The underlying argument of this paper is that diverse school materials and teaching methodology involved in teaching Spanish as L1 neglects linguistic diversity. Instead, they subscribe to discourses that reinforce a pyramidal normative structure where the Spanish Royal Academy is the apex, and therefore, so is its linguistic authority. Our suggestion in this regard is that the diversity of voices must have a space not only in the classroom and materials, but also in research processes and academia's knowledge management. For this purpose, and framed within a glotopolitical approach, this paper analyzes, firstly, the obstacle represented by the fixed categories included in school curriculum such as "language", "variety", "standard", and even "national language"; secondly, the paper reviews the role played by grammatization instruments (such as dictionaries and school textbooks, among others) and their monologic discursive wording. Finally, the article suggests didactic strategies to analyze linguistic varieties in class, and to reinforce a critical reading of norm distribution instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local Authorities in England are rarely able to find a school place for newly arrived unaccompanied sanctuary seekers when the young person arrives in their locality aged 15–16. Criticisms regarding this exclusionary practice are plentiful; that said, it has been argued the dominance of debate regarding access to mainstream education for pupils aged 15–16 obfuscates critical analysis of the educational needs of this group. Focussed on a bespoke Local Authority educational offer for fewer than twenty newly arrived unaccompanied sanctuary seekers aged 15–16, this paper analyses the essence of this offer in relation to social inclusion. Analysed in relation to the category, structure and level/function of the young people's social inclusion, this paper draws on interview and focus group data to shine a light on the efficacious elements of the offer which point to ways forward for mainstream schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we introduce Critical Praxeological Analysis (CPA). CPA respecifies critical studies and researrch by operationalising insights from gestalt psychology and, in particular, the praxeological and linguistic gestalts identified by Harold Garfinkel and Ludwig Wittgenstein. CPA offers a framework for analysing the in-situ production, maintenance, challenging, repair and overcoming of norms and structures. Using naturally occuring data, as well as fictional and imagined examples, CPA examines the meanings that situations have for the participants who constitute them. The paper provides brief praxeological analyses, which draw upon themes from Frantz Fanon’s work to illustrate CPA in practice. We conclude by inviting others to apply CPA to themes drawn from the critical studies literature, in the hope that such analyses will deepen our understanding of how norms and structures are produced, maintained, challenged, repaired and overcome in interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe emergence of Covid-19 and its diverse impacts on human life ushered in the need to rethink some of the old ideas that humans have lived by. The desire to preserve human life amid threatening circumstances, without giving up on the values of life, requires the reordering of critical sectors of social existence. Against this backdrop, the paper aims to achieve three principal objectives. First, with the Covid-19 pandemic in mind, it reinterprets the individualist-communitarian debate. Second, it argues that the human instinct for self-preservation, reinforced by the Covid-19 pandemic, forcefully compels the concept of a person torn between the individual’s efforts to survive and a community committed to an environment enabling survival. Third, the paper extrapolates the concept of ‘person’ developed in objective two to reflect on students’ resilience in the context of the ‘new normal’ that has characterized academic success during Covid-19. While employing philosophical methods of conceptual and critical analyses to achieve these objectives, the paper concludes that academic success among students in the Covid-19 era has demanded the effort of willing students, combined with a supportive responsible community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Megaprojects are vehicles of change and spatial products of policies from near and far. In this paper, we demonstrate how insights from the policy mobility literature can contribute to a critical analysis of the legitimization of megaprojects. Through a study of the planning of a new ‘world-class' hospital in Stockholm, we show that ideas, experiences and practices from abroad played a decisive role in legitimizing this megaproject. Policies mobilized from elsewhere were strategically used to construct, modify and (re)present a legitimizing narrative centred on the aspiration of excellence and international competitiveness. This narrative emphasized the need to transform both the spatial structure and the organization of the studied welfare institution based on political and value-based rationalities. Initial international references and ideas were adopted in an unstructured and selective manner, but proved enduring throughout the extensive planning process and were eventually consolidated into a coherent concept, effectively excluding alternative development paths. The vague notion of ‘world-class' functioned as a ‘magic concept’ that strengthened this narrative, rendering the project difficult to criticize. In conclusion, the paper emphasizes the importance of considering the temporal dimension of planning processes alongside the relational geographies of policy-mobility in megaproject analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citations are valuable capital in the academy as the number of citations is the most frequently used indicator in evaluating the quality of papers, journals, researchers, and universities. Thus, the characteristics of highly cited articles (HCA) have become a common research topic but the approach has been mainly descriptive with no profound critical reflection of what kind of research is cited, where the research is from, where the research is published, and what do these things mean for edtech research. This paper contributes to this need by providing a descriptive and critical analysis of 200 highly cited articles from 10 edtech journals. To summarize the key findings, a 'typical' edtech HCA is a Western-based review article or quantitative research paper reporting positive findings from higher education, published in a high-impact factor general edtech journal by a major publisher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is increasing attention for LGBTQIA+ concerns within human rights, the legal instruments and academic discussions regarding children's rights remain largely silent on issues involving sexuality and gender. Due to pervasive protectionist narratives and heteronormative assumptions governing modern childhood, children's rights implicitly limit the expression of (queer) children and lack the tools and guidance to navigate complex queer disputes. In this context, this paper explores the world's leading document on children's rights – the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – from a queer theoretical perspective, uncovering how children's rights are interwoven with social constructs surrounding gender and sexuality. In doing so, this paper first explores the relevance of queering the UNCRC and sets out a queer theoretical framework within the human rights context. Through this lens, finally, the paper discusses three overarching areas of queer critique within the UNCRC: 1) the construction of childhood, 2) child sexuality and gender and 3) the normalising impacts of restrictions on child agency on queer children. It concludes that the UNCRC has great potential to catalyse the implementation of LGBTQIA-focused protections, but more work is needed to clarify and strengthen the legal position of the queer child within its ambit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Aflatoxins represent highly toxic secondary metabolites of fungi. • Sample preparation relies on liquid–liquid or solid-phase extraction. • Chromatographic methods ensure advanced purification of analytes. • Optical methods, mass spectrometry and electrochemical techniques are used for detection. • Sensitivity, selectivity, time, procedure complexity, influence the choice of the method. Aflatoxins represent secondary metabolites of fungi, being characterized by a high degree of toxicity. They are classed as poisonous mycotoxins, hence the interest in the control of their level. 20 fungal metabolites compose the class of aflatoxins, that structurally derive from difuranocoumarin. Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are the main species producing fungal metabolites in cereals, peanuts and animal feeds. Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, M1 and M2 are the most often encountered. Sample preparation techniques are crucial steps in aflatoxin analysis: they rely on liquid–liquid extraction or solid-phase extraction. Chromatographic methods ensure separation, advanced purification of analytes, which are subsequently quantified through detection techniques. The latter encompass optical methods, mass spectrometry and electroassay. Many analytical methods like ELISA, fluorescence polarization immunoassay, lateral flow immunoassay or PCR impart selectivity by using biorecognition elements: enzymes, antibodies or a DNA sequence. Given the high toxicity and presence of aflatoxins in food and agricultural products, their determination is an essential element in food safety. The analysis method is chosen according to the nature of the sample (type of matrix), the available equipment, the concentration range in which the toxin's level is placed, sensitivity and detection limit, precision, selectivity, required analysis time, personnel training. The present paper provides a comprehensive view, and critically compares the performances of aflatoxin analysis methods, encompassing extraction, separation and detection techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper is a critique of Western modernity and the problems and promises of postmodernism in (re)liberating disaster studies. It criticizes metanarratives and grand theories of Western discourses to advance postmodern discourses in disaster studies. Design/methodology/approach: This paper outlines a conceptual domain through which approaches of postmodernism can be employed to (re)liberate disaster studies. Findings: Metanarratives and grand theories frame the scope and focus of disaster studies. But the increasing number and the aggravated impacts of disasters and environmental challenges in the late 20th and early 21st centuries are proofs that our current "frames" do not capture the complexities of disasters. Postmodernism, in its diversity and various meanings, offers critical and complementary perspectives and approaches to capture the previously neglected dimensions of disasters. Research limitations/implications: Postmodernism offers ways forward to (re)liberate disaster studies through ontological pluralism, epistemological diversity and hybridity of knowledge. Originality/value: The agenda of postmodernism in disaster studies is proposed in terms of the focus of inquiry, ontological and epistemological positionalities, research paradigm, methodologies and societal goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this paper, we perform a critical re-reading of selected animal-related folklore texts and, applying Hubert Zapf's concept of imaginative counter-discourse, consider the potential of imagination as a methodological tool in the transformative program of zoofolkloristics. Nonhuman animal protagonists of folklore texts in the European space have tended to be perceived primarily as performing a symbolic and metaphoric function. But behind the symbols and the metaphors hide real flesh-and-blood nonhuman animals, and flesh-and-blood humans interacting with them, mostly from a position of power. The emerging discipline of zoofolkloristics considers nonhuman animals in their own right. Through critical analysis of folklore material, zoofolkloristics examines the role of animals and power relations within the interspecies entanglement with the aim of deconstructing the oppressive system and establishing multispecies justice. We begin this paper with a brief reflection on the 'historical animal' as an embodied being and a human construct. We then perform a critical re-reading of three animal-related folklore texts from the Slovenian tradition and, applying Hubert Zapf's concept of imaginative counter-discourse, consider the potential of imagination as a methodological tool in the transformative program of zoofolkloristics. Implications for animal ethics, liberation, and conservation are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a conspicuous growth in the height and extent of luxury urban development in the 21st century. This has been accompanied by important critical analyses exploring how this upward construction has created new vertical social divides and landscapes of power. This article argues, however, that there are spatial and methodological limitations to the way luxury urban skies have tended to be framed and pursued. Through a focus on the decisions taken in producing the 2017 meditative film Vertical Horizons by Tom Wolseley, the paper offers an expanded agenda for engagements with elite vertical development. This film juxtaposes views of London and Western Europe's tallest skyscraper, the Shard, from different vantage points, with contrasting narratives about the building. Vertical Horizons seeks to use its focus on the Shard to open up more imaginative experiments with high-rise landscapes, and better recognition of the potential complicities in responses to the gleaming façades of contemporary urbanisation. The paper posits that more multi-sited, creative and reflective approaches, such as those pursued in Vertical Horizons, are required in efforts at levelling with the social and symbolic power of urban vertical luxification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The victimization of gay and bisexual men has gained significant academic and social attention, with that focus extending to the role of digital victimization. Grindr has dominated the market for online dating apps targeting gay, bisexual, trans and queer people. Drawing on qualitative data collected from men who use Grindr, this paper addresses a gap in criminological literature by exploring the way that men that have sex with men negotiate perceptions of safety when engaging in real-world meetings that have been facilitated by Grindr. It is argued throughout this paper that risk-reduction strategies adopted by interviewees only reduce the perception of risk, rather than the actual risk of experiencing violent victimization. As such, it is claimed exploring digital integration offers a more nuanced reading of the intertwined and fraught relations of risk and safety within digital and physical spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Indicators of surgical outcomes are designed to objectively evaluate surgical performance, enabling comparisons among surgeons and institutions. In recent years, there has been a surge in complex indicators of perioperative short‐term and long‐term outcomes. The aim of this narrative review is to provide an overview and a critical analysis of surgical outcomes indicators, with a special emphasis on hepato‐pancreato‐biliary (HPB) surgery.A narrative review of outcome measures was conducted using a combined text and MeSH search strategy to identify relevant articles focused on perioperative outcomes, specifically within HPB surgery.The literature search yielded 624 records, and 94 studies were included in the analysis. Included papers were classified depending on whether they assessed intraoperative or postoperative specific or composite outcomes, and whether they assessed purely clinical or combined clinical and socio‐economic indicators. Specific indicators included in composite outcomes were categorized into three main domains: intraoperative metrics, postoperative outcomes, and oncological outcomes. While postoperative mortality, complications, hospital stay and readmission were the indicators most frequently included in composite outcomes, oncological outcomes were rarely considered.The evolution of surgical outcomes has shifted from the simplistic assessment of crude mortality rates to complex composite outcomes. Whether the recent explosion of publications on these topics has a clinical impact in real life is questionable. Outcomes from the patient perspective, integrating social and financial indicators, are not yet integrated into most of these composite analytical tools but should not be underestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary care is an essential pillar of health systems. Many countries have implemented different policies to improve access to primary care. However, persistent challenges remain. This paper offers a critical analysis of the evolution of primary care coverage in Portugal, focusing on the number of patients without an assigned general practitioner (GP). Methods: We collected and analyzed publicly available data from 2009 to 2023 to decompose primary care coverage in three components: the number of patients enrolled in primary care units (demand-side effect), the number of GPs measured in full-time equivalent (supply-side effect), and the average number of patients on each GP's list (patient-to-GP ratio, capturing a productivity effect). We provide national and local level estimates for these three components. Results: Between 2009 and 2023, there was an overall decline in the number of patients enrolled in primary health care units. Concurrently, there was also a net decrease of GPs measured in full-time equivalent. Additionally, there was a progressive reduction in the average number of patients on each GP's list. The rise in the number of patients without an assigned GP is attributed not only to a reduction in the number of physicians, but also to a decrease in the patient load per doctor. Conclusions: Hiring additional GPs may not suffice to enhance coverage. Achieving higher coverage may imply revisiting patient load per doctor or considering alternative care models. Understanding the challenges related to GP coverage is critical for improving the efficiency of primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although present in large numbers, Black refugee students do not necessarily feel welcome in Canadian public schools. In fact, research has long demonstrated that they face all sorts of oppressions from peers and educators, despite the abundance of seemingly welcoming discourses in educational policies and guidelines. Through a critical analysis of six curriculum documents published by the Government of Manitoba, and in light of the tenets of the ethic of hospitality and critical race theory, in this paper I discuss the role played by educational policies and guidelines in (un)welcoming Black refugee students. In the pursuit of 'hospitable education', I explore the strengths and weaknesses found in those documents while observing areas for improvement—with major roadblocks being linked to the pervasiveness of (White) assumptions and expectations as well as a lack of critical self‐reflexivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is twofold. First, I present a framework called historical coherentism (Chang, 2004; Tal, 2016; Van fraassen 2008) and argue that it is the best epistemological framework available to tackle the problem of coordination, an epistemic conundrum that arises with every attempt to provide empirical content to scientific theories, models or statements. Second, I argue that the problem of coordination, which has so far been theorized only in the context of measurement practices (Reichenbach, 1927; Chang, 2001; Tal, 2012; Van fraassen 2008), can be generalized beyond the philosophy of measurement. Specifically, it will be shown that the problem is embodied in classificatory practices and that, consequently, historical coherentism is well suited to analyze these practices as well as metrological ones. As a case study, I look at a contemporary debate in phylogenetics, regarding the evolutionary origin of a newly identified archaeal phylum called Methanonatronarchaeia. Exploring this debate through the lens of historical coherentism provides a detailed understanding of the dynamics of the field and a foothold for critical analyses of the standard rationale used by practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scholarly investigation provides a critical analysis of the developmental trajectory of the central linear axis in the context of South Korean new towns. The study traces the genealogy of this urban planning model, examining its conceptual origins in the 1960s, maturation through the Mok-dong New Town project in the 1980s, and subsequent iterations in first- and second-generation new towns. Employing a diachronic methodology, the research elucidates the changing dimensions, compositions, and functionalities across these phases, with a particular emphasis on how the model has been localized to suit socio-temporal and site-specific conditions. This adaptation process has yielded variations such as the 'service axis' and the 'community corridor,' each contributing to the heterogeneous landscape of South Korean urban planning. Within this evolutionary trajectory of urban design concepts, this paper highlights the pivotal roles of institutional environment, planners, and other stakeholders such as land developers and local municipalities. As the first scholarly work to formally define and contextualize the 'community corridor' concept, this study makes a significant contribution to academic discourse. It provides valuable insights into the mechanisms through which imported urban planning methodologies undergo transformation and localization in different cultural and temporal contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Islamophobia has historically been used to refer to racism, prejudice, and securitization, indicating that these are structural, cognitive, or cultural aspects of the issue. The term now refers to an Islamophobic social structure in the West, where people tend to act in a way that is hostile against Islam and everything that it represents, according to the current study. The prefix neo has thus been introduced by the researchers to this phrase to account for the psychological aspect of Islamophobia, which shows itself in behaviors and discourses. In order to comprehend the nature of Islamophobia in the UK and the USA, this research aims to investigate Islamophobic discourses in the media of these two Western cultures. Using the DHA analytical methodology, it examines 446 top stories from The Washington Post (The Post editorial board has supported Democratic candidates for federal, state, and municipal offices in the great majority of U.S. elections. Decisions on endorsements and the editorial board of the newspaper are made independently of journalistic activities. It wasn't until 1976 that the Post consistently endorsed candidates for president. The Post has never backed a Republican for president in the general election since it endorsed Jimmy Carter in 1976. Instead, it has consistently supported Democrats in presidential contests. Despite this, the Post declined to either Republican nominee Vice President George H. W. Bush or Democratic candidate Governor Michael Dukakis in the 1988 presidential contest. Obama in 2008 and 2012, Clinton in 2016, and Biden in 2020 were all backed by the Post editorial board (The Washington Post, 2020).) and The Independent (The Independent is typically characterized as liberal, liberal-left, and center to center. The paper's founders believed that readers from The Times and The Daily Telegraph would be its primary audience when it was first founded in 1986 and aimed for its political stance to match the middle of the British political spectrum. It is more of a rival to The Guardian because of perceptions that it leans left on the political spectrum. On economic matters, The Independent, however, leans liberal and pro-market. The Independent described itself as a proudly liberal publication on Sunday (Luce, 2019).) between November 2016 and December 2017. This study finds that although Neo-Islamophobia is more prevalent in the US, where it is considered as a challenge to the socio-political order, classic Islamophobia is more prevalent in the UK, where Islam is seen as a threat to Europe's symbolic identity. It suggests a cycle of neo-Islamophobia that starts with problematizing Islam and moves on to ultimately securitizing Muslims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn this paper, we examine traditional psychosocial approaches to the study of student agency in science education, emphasizing the importance of incorporating sociocultural and critical perspectives. We present both contemporary studies of student agency in educational psychology and the work of scholars who study students’ student agency with attention to the cultural, economic, political, and historical forces shaping agentic behaviors in schools. We overview conceptualizations of and evidence for fostering agency among historically marginalized students in science across three major theoretical frames (i.e., psychosocial, sociocultural, and critical). We end by calling for the expansion of psychosocial conceptions of student agency to underscore the role of complex classroom dynamics and to account for the historical exclusion of nondominant communities in science. Specifically, four principles for broadening the scholarship of student agency toward socially just goals are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a critical analysis of Law 20.393, which regulates the criminal liability of legal persons in Chile, with special emphasis on those aspects in which the national legislator was innovative in relation to the Italian legislation used as the main inspiring model, weighing the sense of each of them in the light of the discussion on these elements in comparative law. In this sense, the reflections are especially focused on the weighting of the relevance and scope of three important modifications: the unification of the regime of attribution of liability whether a subject acts in a superior position or one in a subordinate position; the omission of the inclusion of the requirement of fraudulent circumvention of the preventive rule; and the certification as a mechanism of preventive suitability of the model recognized by international regulations as useful for the accreditation of a serious and efficient self-regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last three quarters of a century, international guidelines and regulations have undergone significant changes in how children are problematised as participants in biomedical research. While early guidelines enacted children as vulnerable subjects with diminished autonomy and in need of special protection, beginning in the early 2000s, international regulatory frameworks defined the paediatric population as vulnerable due to unaddressed public health needs. More recently, ethical recommendations have promoted the active engagement of minors as research partners. In this paper, I adopt a post-structuralist approach to policy analysis to examine deep-seated assumptions and presuppositions underlying the changes in the problematisation of children as biomedical research participants over time. While biomedical research ethics focuses on the autonomy and vulnerability of minors, ethical guidelines are situated in specific sociocultural contexts, shaped, among other things, by contingent public health needs and changing conceptions of the value of research and science for society. In the process, I demonstrate the challenge of moving away from an approach that in taking adults as the model overshadows the complexity of children's lived experiences as well as their personal, cultural, and social lives. The lack of acknowledgement of this complexity makes children vulnerable to epistemic injustice, which is particularly crucial to address in public involvement initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institutional racism within Australia, grounded in the country's settler‐colonial structure, has sidelined Indigenous interests in public policymaking since federation. In an attempt to redress this, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was endorsed by the Australian government in 2009. UNDRIP is an authoritative international standard that could inform the ways that governments engage with Indigenous peoples and protect their rights. This paper introduces Indigenist Critical Policy Analysis (ICPA). While mainstream policy evaluation assesses whether policies and processes have met the governments stated objectives, ICPA assesses whether they uphold or violate Indigenous rights. ICPA involves reviewing policy documents against the key principles and specific Articles of UNDRIP. Presenting a worked example of ICPA, the NSW Regional Health Strategic Plan 2022–2032 is assessed against the five phases: (1) Orientation; (2) Close examination; (3) Determination; (4) Strengthening practice; and (5) Indigenous final word. This analysis finds that the Strategic Plan is poorly aligned with UNDRIP. Specifically, there is little evidence that Indigenous values influenced or held any authority in the process. ICPA offers a practical approach to analysing policy for compatibility with Indigenous rights under international law that could be used by Indigenous organisations and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the debate about the integration of refugees in European nation-states, several scholars have recently noted a so-called 'agency paradox' (Klaver et al., 2018), which draws a contrast between, on the one hand, the initiative and inventiveness of refugees during their flight and, on the other hand, an allegedly lethargic attitude upon arrival in a new country. In this paper, we will unpack this paradox in a critical analysis of civic integration in the Netherlands. We shall write 'against integration' (cf. Rytter, 2019) by recovering the muted voices of a group of Eritrean refugees whose future depends on the obligation to complete civic integration exams. Using Dialogical Self Theory (DST), we will demonstrate that a seemingly passive attitude among migrants must not be interpreted as a lack of agency. Instead, we will show that their agency is silenced and subordinated by the integration process, but that they are simultaneously involved in a hidden dialogue with the new society in order to negotiate a future in which their multiple identifications as both Eritrean and Dutch are recognized. By facilitating the recovery and recognition of the muted voices of Eritrean refugees, Dialogical Self Theory contributes to their empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperspectral imaging systems (HSIs) are becoming widespread in the mining industry for mineral classification. The spectral features detectable from near infrared to long-wave infrared make HSIs a potentially efficient tool for exploration, clay mapping, and leach pad modeling. However, the redundancy of hyperspectral data makes the analysis of hyperspectral images complicated and slow. Many researchers have proposed different algorithms and strategies to speed up processing and increase accuracy. These procedures rely on endmember extraction as one of the critical steps. However, no one has tested whether endmember extraction actually improves accuracy under all circumstances. Eliminating endmember extraction, if possible, would speed up the analysis of hyperspectral data. This study tested whether endmember extraction improves the accuracy and efficiency of mapping materials at leach pads, which are among the most complicated situations in mining environments. We compared the accuracy of abundance maps produced with fully constrained least squares (FCLS) (a) with endmember extraction by N-FINDR and (b) without endmember extraction, using a spectral library instead. The results from endmember extraction showed lower accuracy than the results from using a spectral library, probably because the spectral data were noisy and the scanned materials were mixtures. The application of FCLS to hyperspectral images provides useful information for metallurgists. The abundance maps showed that kaolinite, muscovite, and precipitation (hexahydrite and pickeringite) were the dominant minerals on the leach pad. The abundance maps of pipes and precipitation can be used to monitor leaching conditions. Lixiviant ponds mapped out in the abundance map of water can indicate saturation. This technique can also detect organic leakage and agglomeration effectiveness, but it will need different wavelength ranges and more future study. This paper also suggests best practices for using hyperspectral imaging systems to map leach pads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimulant laxatives are well established as first- or second-line treatments for constipation and although they have a reliable therapeutic effect, alleged safety concerns still exist, particularly with long-term use. The potential harmful effects on the gastrointestinal system (including carcinogenicity) of the long-term use of diphenylmethane [bisacodyl, sodium picosulfate (SPS)] and senna stimulant laxatives were assessed in a comprehensive review of the publications identified in literature searches performed in PubMed and Embase up to and including June 2023. We identified and reviewed 43 publications of interest. While stimulant laxatives at supratherapeutic doses have been shown to cause structural alterations to surface absorptive cells in animals and humans, these effects are reversible and not considered clinically relevant. No formal long-term studies have demonstrated morphological changes in enteric neural elements or intestinal smooth muscle with bisacodyl or SPS in humans. Furthermore, there is no convincing evidence that stimulant laxatives are associated with the development of colon cancer, and in fact, chronic constipation itself has been reported to potentially increase the risk of colon cancer, therefore, the use of stimulant laxatives might reduce this risk. Many studies suggesting a possible harmful effect from laxatives were limited by their failure to consider confounding factors such as concomitant neurological disease, metabolic disorders, and age. These findings highlight the lack of evidence for the harmful effects of laxatives on the colon, and thus, the benefits of treatment with stimulant laxatives, even in the long-term, should be reconsidered for the management of patients with constipation. Plain language summary: Do stimulant laxatives damage the gut? Stimulant laxatives are widely used treatments for constipation that work by causing the muscles in the gut to contract and so move stool more effectively. Examples of these treatments include senna, bisacodyl and sodium picosulfate. Treatments such as these are typically available without a doctor's prescription and have a long history of helping people relieve their constipation. However, some concerns have been expressed about the safety of these treatments, particularly when they are used for a long time. We did a critical review of published studies of the safety of stimulant laxatives to try to find out whether there is any strong evidence for harm being caused by these treatments. We found 43 papers with information on the gut safety of stimulant laxatives. These studies looked at whether the treatments are associated with changes to gut structure or function and at whether there might be a link between these treatments and bowel cancer. Unfortunately, many of the studies were of poor quality. For instance, they did not look for things, in addition to the laxatives, that could have affected the results, such as the age of the patients, other medications they were taking or whether they had other health conditions that might have affected the bowel. Also, the populations in which the studies were done differed a lot, so they were hard to compare with one another. However, we did not find any strong evidence suggesting that stimulant laxatives damage the gut or cause cancer. We therefore concluded that the harms associated with stimulant laxatives are likely to have been overstated, and that patients should not be denied the benefits of stimulant laxatives for constipation, especially as they have been on the market for a very long time with no serious problems emerging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All produced spaces are curious since they could, by definition, be different. Atriums—double height or greater vertical voids typically to be found in skyscrapers' lobbies—are an interesting illustration of this general contention. An internal feature of super-tall architecture the world over, the atrium flourishes in parts of cities where land value is high and given that atria could be occupied with directly rentable space this is an ostensibly puzzling affinity. Drawing primarily on the ideas of Henri Lefebvre and Walter Benjamin, this paper suggests that the presence of atria in major commercial—and increasingly public—buildings grows from oblique attempts to generate surplus value. Paradoxically, it is the voided space of the atrium that explains this strategy. My argument is that voids of open space can actually increase the value of objects, bodies, and practices that are assembled in and around them; paradoxically 'emptiness' itself can be monetised in a context of rentier capitalism. Defamiliarising the atrium, which is a distinctive and singular architectural feature of this moment, suggests a wider research agenda for those interested in critical analysis of the contradictory spaces that are produced when capital builds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pierre Bourdieu is one of the most important social scientists of the twentieth century. However, the intersections between his work and geography largely remain to be investigated. This paper explores the place of spatiality in Bourdieu's models of the social world. It first offers a critical analysis of the ternary model elaborated in his article entitled "Site-Effects," in which "physical space" is theoretically central (a model that Bourdieu later seemed to retreat from). It then builds upon another triad, developed in "The Three States of Cultural Capital," to submit a model in which the three "states" can be extended to the social world at large and correspond to three modes of "crystallizationc" of social relations, which all have a spatial dimension. The generalization of the triad leads to a consistent theorization of the intrinsic spatial dimension of the social world, thus overcoming the misleading dualism between society and space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper intends to analyze in detail the legislative procedures relating to laws that regulate money laundering in Brazil and their future tendencies, exploring the research field called criminal legislative policy. The main objective of this paper is to help build this research area in Brazil, as well as to map out some characteristics of the Brazilian legislative process concerning the criminalization of conduct related to the economy (political parties involved, foreign influences, etc.). The first part of the paper is theoretical and explores the concept of legislative policy and the international regulation of money laundering, mainly in Latin America, that could have influenced Brazilian legislation. The last part of the paper is composed of graphs that explore details about the legislative procedure of the two main Brazilian pieces of legislation on money laundering. This part also contains a table with the main active bills that seek to change the current legislation on the matter, as well as a critical analysis. The initial conclusions point to an increase in punishment in the years analyzed, with future trends heading in the same direction. The methodology used is bibliographic, legislative, and documental research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has emerged as a global focal point, notably affecting vulnerable countries like Pakistan. The country faces heightened risk, prompting concern among many due to its susceptibility to climate-related hazards. An imperative challenge arising from this phenomenon is the necessary shift towards sustainable energy, particularly concerning energy consumption within the building sector. Buildings significantly contribute to daily energy usage and subsequent GHG emissions. In Pakistan, transitioning to energy-efficient building stock holds pivotal importance in mitigating climate change impacts. This hinges on establishing a robust institutional framework and regulatory structure centered around energy efficiency. While Pakistan possesses policies and national guidelines advocating for energy-efficient buildings, their practical enforcement and application remain inadequate. The inception of the Building Energy Code of Pakistan in 1990, based on ASHRAE 90.1 standards, marked a step forward. However, obstacles rooted in institutional weakness and limited capacity building have impeded its effective adoption and adherence. Although the Energy Provisions of 2011 introduced modifications, their scope remained confined mainly to commercial structures. This paper conducts an extensive assessment of Pakistan's existing institutional and regulatory framework for building energy efficiency and transition. Drawing on literature insights and stakeholder perspectives, an in-depth understanding of prevailing policies and institutions uncovers underlying reasons for noncompliance and limited implementation. Additionally, input was gathered from stakeholders through interviews, aiming to identify barriers obstructing the reinforcement of building energy efficiency measures in Pakistan. Discourse and narrative analysis, informed by literature and stakeholder interviews, revealed the significance of awareness, participation, coordination, capacity building, technical expertise, finance, and resources as key factors contributing to deficient compliance and implementation of existing codes and policy guidelines. This paper also proposes actionable recommendations to expedite the transition towards a sustainable, energy-efficient building stock in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial is dedicated to presenting the papers published in a special issue focused on modeling, qualitative analysis and simulation of the collective dynamics of systems in engineering and life sciences. All papers have a minor or major reference to living, i.e. complex systems, and a critical analysis of the overall content of the issue is proposed, leading to a forward look at research perspectives. This paper first defines the goals of the issue. Then, a brief description of the scientific contribution of the papers published in this issue is given. Finally, a look into the future is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pen portrait is an analytical technique for analysing, condensing, and depicting qualitative data from participants that can also incorporate themes or patterns. A review of the use of pen portraits indicates that researchers have employed them in different ways across a variety of disciplines. The scarcity of methodological detail in these articles makes it difficult to engage with pen portraits as a trustworthy form of qualitative analysis. This paper outlines the authors' approach called Single Pen Portrait Analysis (SPPA). SPPA was used by both authors, to overcome the issue of fragmented people or experience during their initial analysis. This paper describes ways that researchers could identify SPPA as a useful approach for answering their research question, and then details a step-by-step guide. This guide is provided alongside two worked examples from the authors' doctoral research projects. A tentative critical analysis of SPPA is also offered.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Originated in southern China, nanyin (南音) is regarded as 'the sound of motherland' (乡音) performed and loved by the Hokkien dialect speakers in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and diasporic populations living in Southeast Asia. Having thrived in transnational spaces, nanyin is now celebrated as a shared heritage in China and Southeast Asian countries, such as Singapore. This paper explores the process of heritage‐making, that is, the ways in which the art form and cultural practice of nanyin have been re‐shaped and re‐appropriated by the diasporic communities and the native place to articulate different understandings of the Chinese identity in their distinct nation‐state frameworks. In this ambivalent entanglement, China has re‐appropriated the diasporic history of nanyin to gain international recognition and build soft power through United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. In Singapore, the Siong Leng Music Association has actively engaged in the heritage‐making of nanyin, leading to the creation of a unique Singapore brand that speaks to hybridity and cosmopolitanism, in the same way as the re‐construction of their Chinese identity. Examining the two processes of heritagisation of nanyin along the China‐Singapore 'heritage corridors', the paper argues that the two ends are connected in important ways but always seek to maintain distance to articulate their own cultural representations at international stages. Thus, nanyin through a comparative perspective enables a critical examination of issues of centre versus periphery, authenticity, and hybridity in the Sinophone world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence is a crucial lens for inquiring historically into Christianity worldwide. The field of World Christianity, however, has been oriented by a paradigm of growth, success and Christian converts' creative agency. This article establishes the need for a historiographical intervention in the literature on World Christianity through a critical analysis of texts that have formed the field, followed by examinations of anti-Evangelical violence in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Mexico, and Catholic-Protestant conflicts in colonial East Africa. These case studies identify lacunae in the field and suggest that violence has often been a constitutive part of the contextual formation of World Christianity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This is the first of a series of four papers, the goal of which is to identify the overcontact eclipsing binary star systems for which a solid case can be made for mass exchange. To reach this goal, it is necessary first to identify those systems for which there is a strong case for period change. We have identified 60 candidate systems; in the present paper and in two succeeding papers we will discuss the individual cases. For each system, we will present a detailed discussion and evaluation concerning the observational and interpretive material presented in the literature. An eclipse timing diagram (or diagrams), commonly referred to as an “O–C diagram”, using the latest available data will accompany each discussion. In paper 3, we will also present a table of marginal and rejected cases. In paper 4, we will present a discussion of the mechanisms that can effect period change and which of the systems presented can be reliably concluded to exhibit mass exchange. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this Authors’ Reply is to examine critically certain assertions by Logo in a Discussion and in two conference papers about a publication by Rozvany and Maute on a reliability based benchmark example [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of critical states during fracture of wood materials is crucial for wood building safety monitoring, wood processing, etc. In this paper, beech and camphor pine are selected as the research objects, and the acoustic emission signals during the fracture process of the specimens are analyzed by three-point bending load experiments. On the one hand, the critical state interval of a complex acoustic emission signal system is determined by selecting characteristic parameters in the natural time domain. On the other hand, an improved method of b_value analysis in the natural time domain is proposed based on the characteristics of the acoustic emission signal. The K-value, which represents the beginning of the critical state of a complex acoustic emission signal system, is further defined by the improved method of b_value in the natural time domain. For beech, the analysis of critical state time based on characteristic parameters can predict the "collapse" time 8.01 s in advance, while for camphor pines, 3.74 s in advance. K-value can be analyzed at least 3 s in advance of the system "crash" time for beech and 4 s in advance of the system "crash" time for camphor pine. The results show that compared with traditional time-domain acoustic emission signal analysis, natural time-domain acoustic emission signal analysis can discover more available feature information to characterize the state of the signal. Both the characteristic parameters and Natural_Time_b_value analysis in the natural time domain can effectively characterize the time when the complex acoustic emission signal system enters the critical state. Critical state analysis can provide new ideas for wood health monitoring and complex signal processing, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WiFi Channel State Information (CSI)-based human action recognition using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has emerged as a promising approach for non-intrusive activity monitoring. However, the integrity and reliability of the reported performance metrics are susceptible to data leakage, wherein information from the test set inadvertently influences the training process, leading to inflated accuracy rates. In this paper, we conduct a critical analysis of a notable IEEE Sensors Journal study on WiFi CSI-based human action recognition, uncovering instances of data leakage resulting from the absence of subject-based data partitioning. Empirical investigation corroborates the lack of exclusivity of individuals across dataset partitions, underscoring the importance of rigorous data management practices. Furthermore, we demonstrate that employing data partitioning with respect to humans results in significantly lower precision rates than the reported 99.9% precision, highlighting the exaggerated nature of the original findings. Such inflated results could potentially discourage other researchers and impede progress in the field by fostering a sense of complacency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piecemeal changes to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process have to date not fully delivered EIA's normative goals and met today's environmental challenges. By regarding the to date approaches to change-making as a problem requiring a solution, this paper applies critical analysis to reflect upon current change-making based on England's EIA system as a case study. The analysis identifies a lack of innovative ideas and sound evidence-based approaches to inform and support the change-making process. Consequently, we argue for an epistemology of change-making (changeology) so that the entire approach can be based on an empirically informed framework, to inform the journey (process) and destination (fit-for-purpose EIA) and make the EIA process fit-for-purpose and aligned to future expectations. Changeology should be viewed as more than informing one-time change-making but as a framework of well-studied practice for changing (or improving) EIA in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In some finite clauses only one of the subjunctive and indicative moods might occur, while in others there is option between these two moods. This is the basic distinction between intensional and polarity subjunctive. This paper questions the sustainability of such division in Portuguese, providing a critical analysis of the major arguments sustaining that those two types of subjunctive need to be considered. Instead, it is shown that a semantic analysis of the indicative and subjunctive moods accounts for the distribution of these moods in European Portuguese (EP), no different explanations being needed for the cases of lexical selection and those of mood choice. In both cases Indicative signals that only p-worlds are taken in account, while Subjunctive signals the consideration of non-p worlds. This allows a comprehensive account of the EP data: Subjunctive or Indicative occurs depending on whether the meaning of the sentence leads to the consideration of non-p worlds or not. However, in other varieties of Portuguese, Indicative occurs in some sentences whose meaning involves the consideration of non-p worlds. Such is the case of Brazilian Portuguese (BP), where, in colloquial speech, the use of Indicative is common in complement clauses of querer ('to want'), a paradigmatic domain of Subjunctive. The conjecture is made that in this variety resorting to one or another mood is used as a pragmatic, discursive, strategy, even if the meaning of the sentence leads to the other mood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The High Average Utility Itemset Mining (HAUIM) technique, a variation of High Utility Itemset Mining (HUIM), uses the average utility of the itemsets. Historically, most HAUIM algorithms were designed for static databases. However, practical applications like market basket analysis and business decision-making necessitate regular updates of the database with new transactions. As a result, researchers have developed incremental HAUIM (iHAUIM) algorithms to identify HAUIs in a dynamically updated database. Contrary to conventional methods that begin from scratch, the iHAUIM algorithm facilitates incremental changes and outputs, thereby reducing the cost of discovery. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art iHAUIM algorithms, analyzing their unique characteristics and advantages. First, we explain the concept of iHAUIM, providing formulas and real-world examples for a more in-depth understanding. Subsequently, we categorize and discuss the key technologies used by varying types of iHAUIM algorithms, encompassing Apriori-based, Tree-based, and Utility-list-based techniques. Moreover, we conduct a critical analysis of each mining method's advantages and disadvantages. In conclusion, we explore potential future directions, research opportunities, and various extensions of the iHAUIM algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many Christians have misconceptions about predestination. It is a complex issue that is characterized by great theological disagreement. However, it cannot be disregarded given that someone’s belief on the matter has great consequences. The African theologian Saint Augustine (AD 354–430) spoke extensively on predestination. Although the setting of the modern church is different from Augustine’s day, this article argues that the issues that Augustine confronted were not unique to his day. A comparative analysis of the literature is conducted to discover and evaluate some historical ideas. As a result, the translated work of Augustine and recent scholarly publications on this topic were consulted. This was done to identify historical opinions to assess Augustine’s influence on the theological development of the doctrine of predestination. The present article endeavors to demonstrate the influence of Augustine’s exegetical approach to the Epistle of Romans on his dogmatic pronouncements. Furthermore, it seeks to establish the polemical influence of the Pelagius controversy on Augustine’s theological views. Through a critical analysis of Augustine’s writings, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these two factors shaped Augustine’s theological thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore the critical praxis approach of an equity initiative with students who have left care. We contend that 'praxis' (International Studies in Widening Participation, 2018, 5: 10–20) – understood here as the close, dialogic and iterative relationship between research and practice, can be a powerful tool for approaching ordinarily rigid equity categorisations as a means for interrogating their conceptual efficacy while simultaneously creating more exploratory approaches to equity populations and initiatives. We examine how unproblematised notions of care leavers migrate between fields and institutions, arguing for a more robust and rigorous interrogation of the salience of the concept of a care leaver as it is integrated into the field of higher education. We contend that rigid definitions of care that narrowly define people only through their relationship to formalised state‐legitimated forms of welfare intervention risk making 'absent' (Epistemologies of the south: Justice against Epistemicide, 2014; Routledge) the substantial population of people nearby this experience of care. This includes people who have escaped official definitions as policies change, circumstances that are similar or identical to people placed in care that have not been included in the official definition of care, or the overlapping and intersecting conditions of marginality that often shape the conditions for being removed into state care. Critical praxis is offered here as providing the basis for allowing the category of 'care leaver' or 'care experienced' to become an in‐road for expanding practice initiatives and research understandings to further dimensions of marginalisation and social vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) issued a new version of the general rules on food hygiene in 2020, which revised and improved the structure, definition and technical contents of the standard, clarified the important role of good hygiene practices in food safety management, and emphasized the advantages of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCPL) in dealing with more complex food safety issues. It also added the latest achievements of standardization research in the field of food safety in recent years, such as allergen control and food safety culture. By comparing the new version of the standard with the 2003 edition of general principles of food hygiene, this paper expounds and analyzes the main changes of the new version of the standard in detail, so as to provide reference for the formulation and implementation of food-related standards in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global reliability sensitivity index measures the effect of uncertainty of model input on model failure probability, which is critical for simplifying analysis model and the reliability-based design optimization model. For efficiently estimating the global reliability sensitivity index of each model input, this paper transforms it into estimating an unconditional failure probability and a two failure modes-based parallel system failure probability from the perspective of single-loop estimation method. Furthermore, the relationship of computational accuracy among the global reliability sensitivity index, the unconditional failure probability, and the two failure modes-based system failure probability is constructed, on which the error stopping criterion-based sequentially adaptive Kriging model approach is developed to significantly decrease the number of calls to the actual limit state functions and the corresponding computational time under the sufficient accuracy. Results of three case studies covering explicit and implicit limit state functions demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]