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The present paper explores how implementation of digital technologies (DTs) assists firms in transition economies in addressing weaknesses of the institutional environment surrounding them, in particular via establishment of collective governance systems. Based on case studies of three large-scale agroholdings operating in Ukraine, the paper aims to fill the research gaps with regard to the following: motivation of the firm to initiate DT-enabled collective governance systems; the rules these systems are based on; and the reasons behind the firm's choice of a particular governance mode – closed, shared or open – for these systems. The findings generally support the institutional theory argument that complex technology enables coordination of exchange relationships not only within but also outside firm boundaries. At that, the choice of a governance mode between closed, shared or open institutional infrastructure is likely to depend on the firm's ownership concentration, corporate transparency, availability of resources and social embeddedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the pedagogical practices in three case studies of elementary science lessons that took place in classrooms or laboratories to make connections to the discourse about inclusivity in science teaching. Using the Singapore Teaching Practice as a reference, we analyzed the pedagogical practices enacted during three lessons where specific intervention strategies were undertaken during the lessons to address the needs of students with dyslexia. Using event-oriented inquiry, nine (including one emergent) pedagogical practices were adapted by the science teachers. The findings also suggested differences in the outcomes from enacting the same pedagogical practices in different teaching situations. This study contributes to the literature by offering a situated definition of 'pedagogical practices', a dynamic construct in the existing literature, in the context of inclusive education. Suggestions on ways to adapt the nine pedagogical practices to enhance the reflexivity of teachers in inclusive science teaching are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employed the multi-case study method to explore the interactions between nonprofit support organizations (NSOs): NPI and three practical nonprofit organizations (NPOs) (X, Y, Z), which is incubated by NPI. By applying the analytical framework of collaborative governance, this paper indicates that a well-developed interactive relationship exists between these two organizations, on basis of equality and voluntary. Meanwhile, they shared a mutual goal and maintain an effective interaction. Consequently, it stimulates the building of collaborative network among social organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mainstream strategy in the coordination of agri-food chains has traditionally focused more on the enhancement of chain performance by adopting lean and highly integrated strategies. These strategies are premised on the principle that governance structures are the result of tactics that economize on transaction costs in exchanges in chains. Due to existing interdependencies between chain players such strategies expose these chains to detrimentally disruptive uncertainty. This paper adopted a heuristic stress-testing approach to measure the fragility of South African egg value chain and performed a comparative fragility analysis of two coordination approaches in the egg chain. Additionally, the analysis of results indicated that the egg chain strategy with high levels of interdependencies between its chain players as significantly fragile. Precisely, the difference between the chain strategies was associated with a variety of differences at the factor and chain player levels that led up to a higher overall chain fragility of the chain with higher levels of interdependency. Inevitably, the paper propositions that there is a trade-off between chain performance and fragility. The results of the study affirmed that there is a trade-off between chain performance and fragility which needs to be balanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inductive Metaphysics (IM) combines an anti-aprioristic emphasis on an empirical and scientific basis for metaphysics with an insistence on a specifically philosophical abductive theory-building. Since the latter specifically philosophical work is not empirical itself, it may in a liberal sense be called apriori. This paper highlights this apriori dimension within IM by a case study on Structuralism, the view that fundamental reality consists of a network of relations (and properties), which a number of philosophers consider to be suggested by modern physics. Focussing on Dasgupta's algebraic Generalism, the author argues that Structuralism suffers from a severe entailment problem, because the relations-spanning apparatus must stand for metaphysically fundamental forms. Schaffer's contention that there are no entailment problems is rejected. Advocates of IM are well advised to take seriously their own insistence on metaphysical abduction and not to one-sidedly emphasise the empirical input: the elaboration of exact metaphysical theories and the apriori evaluation of their inherent tenability is a constituent of IM no less important than the consideration of scientific input. More traditional ways of metaphysical reasoning inevitably survive as an essential dimension within IM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers new insights into the much-debated topic of double accusatives, taking διδάσκειν as a case study. By focussing on the different syntactic and semantic properties of the two accusatives in expressions such as διδάσκω σε σωφροσύνην 'I teach you moderation', it is shown that the mere reference to distinct semantic roles (Recipient vs Theme) does not provide a satisfactory account of some crucial properties of these constructions. As emerges from textual evidence, the so-called "Theme" may alternate with an infinitival complement (e.g. διδάσκω σε σωφρονεῖν 'I teach you (how) to exert moderation'). Both the infinitival and the nominal complements are bound to the object of διδάσκω through a relationship which may be defined by the notion of control. This finding reveals the predicative function performed here by the "Theme", thus supporting a multi-predicative approach to the double accusative construction of διδάσκειν. This hypothesis has relevance to the analysis of other double accusatives of Ancient Greek, and opens a new path for the analysis of comparable data offered by modern languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Similar to most Western nations, Germany has experienced a history of secularization, resulting in church decline. However, some Christian communities have been less affected by decline. The historical free churches (Freikirchen), usually of an evangelical nature, have not only developed a more explicit missionary identity than the mainline churches, some of them have also been able to experience church growth against the larger trends. In this paper quantitative and qualitative data are presented based on a study of the Bund Freier evangelischer Gemeinden (BFeG) in Germany. These data show that general church growth and conversion growth are correlated, that young churches grow better (in both respects) than older churches, that the net conversion growth (conversions minus decline) of younger and older churches is overall largely the same, and that growth results in Berlin outperform the results in other cities and in the BFeG as a whole. These results are put into context by extended case studies of two churches, one old and one young, and they are discussed with a view to existing studies of (free church) mission in the West. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I discuss the relevance theoretic view of shared content and ask how one can use the theory to understand in what situations communication is successful and when it's not. The paper is meant as a case study in the philosophy of linguistics, in which I aim to draw some conclusions based on a particular debate between two very influential groups of theorists. I look at Cappelen and Lepore's (2007) critique of Sperber and Wilson (1995) and claim that, contrary to standard conceptions in philosophy, it is possible to be a coherent similarity theorist about communicated content, postulating another level of content as the locus of identity. I emphasize the importance of basing a similarity view of communication on a foundation of identity, and argue, against Wedgwood (2007), that it's not possible for relevance theorists to abstract away from this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using Exod 12:21-27 as a case study, this paper shows how literary analysis can find itself subordinated to historical-critical theory. It will be argued that this practice is ill advised. An established reading of a text should never be dismissed when it is found to challenge accepted paradigms. It is, rather, the presumed historical and social settings that must be problematized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I discuss the potential of archival research (i.e. the reassessment of pictures and drawings) for the identification of hitherto overlooked fossil footprints. All of the most important sites of the Pleistocene sequence of Melka Kunture (Upper Awash Valley, Ethiopia) showed evidence of biogenic structures that had escaped attention during the archaeological investigations which started in the 1960s. The case studies described here show that fossil footprints at Melka Kunture occur more frequently than expected. This could encourage archaeologists to be more aware of the possible presence of bioturbated layers in other archaeological contexts and plan specific research accordingly, using Melka Kunture as a reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that, for both sociological and epistemic reasons, the ethics of war needs the social sciences and, accordingly, sets an alternative to the two prevailing approaches in the literature in the ethics of war field, i.e. the just war tradition model and the ethics of war theory. Given what we learn from the factual description of war and its interpretation in the social sciences, and given what their epistemic premises are, both models - and more particularly the second one - fail to address important normative issues that arise in the course of warfare. Based on the discussion of two case studies - states' policy in the face of hostage-taking and the rule of proportionality - I argue it is important to move beyond the divide between a state-centric approach (the just war tradition) and an individualistic one (the ethics of war theory): it is indispensable to take into consideration other social spheres where norms emerge and find, between those spheres, some 'overlapping normative ground'. I argue, both sociologically and normatively, that norms rely upon interlocking sets of expectations. I also argue that these social expectations need to be thoroughly examined in order to ascertain the plausibility of norms in warfare. As a conclusion, for reasons that are both sociological and normative, I stress the political importance, within a liberal and knowledge-oriented society, of the access to facts that always need to be interpreted when making normative claims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the phenomenology of the prisoner in the Gulag. In this extreme situation, the prisoner is reduced to the body-as-an-object and, as a result, develops a strong sense of hostility towards the body. In cognitive terms, this mechanism can be defined as body-disownership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines medical writing in Karl Philipp Moritz' Journal of Empirical Psychology by looking at the alterations Moritz made to his sources. It shows how he rearranged the data in order to introduce a new type of text into psychology: the case or case study. He did so by altering the main parts of a report that had been published a few years earlier. In rewriting the report, Moritz introduced not only a new type of text but also a style of reasoning; i.e. the casuistic form of thinking that became more widely acknowledged only later in the course of experiential psychology (Erfahrungsseelenkunde). The paper thus links writing techniques in psychology to the rise of a type of text and a new style of reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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There are certain areas of study where present-day pragmatics can benefit from history. This study investigates the processes of identity construction and negotiation through face work, using as a case study the historical courtroom in 18th century America. Adopting a social constructionist perspective to identity, the paper proposes that face is inextricably intertwined with identity, as it involves the process in which interlocutors position themselves, through discourse, in social interaction. Drawing upon the framework of self-politeness (Chen 2001), the paper reveals the ways in which an expert identity is constructed and negotiated during a trial where two medical professionals testified as expert witnesses and, at the same time, were challenged by the hostile interrogators. It is found that the experts resorted to two main discursive strategies which enhanced and restored their self-face, namely redressive and off-record, in their struggle for an expert identity, primarily because in the context of cross-examination, such strategies enabled the experts to directly or indirectly voice their response to previous face damaging utterances, instead of being silent on an issue (i.e. the withhold self-face threatening act strategy) or admitting that there was inconsistency in their testimony (i.e. the bald, on-record strategy). Such strategies helped the experts to construct and renew their identity or even resist others' identity ascriptions, enabling them to present themselves in a favourable light as their identity was under constant face threats from the adversarial interlocutors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last 40 years, the State of Qatar has shown tremendous development at a rapid pace, thus becoming a powerful state both in the Gulf and international arena. The State of Qatar shares a concern for protecting the environment with the rest of the world. Rapidly increasing populations, pollution and wastes are increasing as well. The State of Qatar is addressing this concern by issuing many environmental regulations. In fact, it has ratified international conventions related to protecting the environment and waste management and has created environmental bodies such as the Ministry of Environment. Using collected data and comparison with other countries, this article will provide an assessment of Qatar's recycling waste regulations, their efficiency and implications. Having evaluated the data, I propose that steps now be taken and plans made for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past, large multinational corporations led entrepreneurial activities in the technology sector, creating value and stimulating growth by bringing new ideas to market. Further, they were in charge of the growth internationally. In the last two decades, however, immigrants have increased their percentage in starting technology companies in the United States, as well as investing in technology companies, building business partnerships, allocating resources, exchanging information, and tapping technical expertise in their home countries. This paper presents a case study of Indian immigrants in the U.S. technology sector to demonstrate how entrepreneurialism is changing with transnational migration. Indian immigrants are actively contributing to an emergent global reality where the borders containing them in the field of technology are increasingly virtual, and beyond the control of any country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaboration with the government is not just a key factor in the organizational growth of a single NPO, but a key issue influencing the development of the whole NPO sector. Especially in China, NPOs still remain weak even as they proliferate widely. The government has made clear its intention to change from a management-oriented government to service-oriented government. As one step in this direction, it has begun to procure social services from NPOs. However, it is still unclear how the approach of procuring services can become a regular form of collaboration between the government and NPOs and, as such, a driver of NPO growth. This paper analyzes the case of Shining Stone Community Action (SSCA). SSCA has successfully promoted its collaboration with the government and has realized the goal of the government purchasing its services. The paper examines various factors required for collaboration between NPOs and the government, with a special focus on those necessary for government procurement of NPO services to take place. These factors provide valuable lessons for building relationships between governments and NPOs. The paper closely examines three key factors: NPO expertise, communication between NPO leaders and government officials, and the presence of persons who understand both governmental and NPO systems profoundly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the new challenges of our time, beginning with the end of the Cold War, the recent spread of democracy, and explosion of ethnic and religious turmoil around the world, we need to reexamine critically the complex web of UN human rights machinery. This paper does so by using the 1994 genocide in Rwanda as a case study. It contrasts the violent reality of the genocide with how the UN human rights system reacted. This analysis reveals that many early warning signals emanate from the UN human rights system but that they often go unheard due to the lack of any formal procedures and mechanisms for early warning and for rapid responses. This paper therefore argues for the need to develop and adopt a coherent system for early warning and, finally, seeks to identify some creative ways to strengthen the role of the various human rights bodies in reacting to massive scale human rights violations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the methodology employed in the recent survey and reconstruction of the major Early Byzantine domed churches of western Asia Minor. This involved both the documentation of construction details, as well as their interpretation by reference to coeval monuments elsewhere. Focusing on this methodology, the author explores techniques of graphical recording and the theoretical framework within which parallels with other buildings can inform the work of reconstruction. The detailed examination of two case studies illustrates the way in which seemingly random scraps of testimony can be interpreted to provide evidence for the missing superstructure of ruined churches. These case studies also serve to demonstrate how the methodology adapts to sites with different characteristics, and helps to assess the credibility of the resulting graphic reconstructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that effective staff and ICT development are inseparable from the wider ecologies in which schools are positioned. The paper draws on data from a research and development project in which a Scottish secondary school pioneered the use of a virtual learning environment (VLE) before migrating this activity to 'Glow', the national schools intranet, in Scotland1. Researchers worked closely with the school over a two year period to try and inform this process. A variety of methods to collect data were employed ranging from interviews and focus groups to the analysis of login frequencies and patterns of usage of VLE tools. These data were shared and facilitated ongoing reflection and understanding throughout the different stages of the project. The findings illustrate the ways in which the school and its teachers have experienced innovation in ICT as a challenge to their organisational and professional development. It is further argued that there is an urgent need to recognize and reconceptualise ICT development from a 'technology push' for change into a process of broader educational reform. Such a system wide development is necessary to prevent a deficit view of schools and teachers emerging in which debates about increasing support and resources are dislocated from the wider issues of educational development and transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change and its impacts have ethical dimensions, for instance carbon footprint equity concerns. World issues, including the state of the ecosphere and biodiver­sity, regularly see political leaders, NGOs, business representatives, religious/spiritual orga­nizations, academics, and others engage in international aviation-dependent meetings to address critical challenges facing humanity and the planet. Yet, climate scientists and advocates call for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 to cap the increase in global temperatures to 2ºC. Aviation emissions resulting from international meetings raise questions that are not silenced by GHG emissions offsetting. The era of climate change and 'peak oil' poses ethical challenges for holding international in-person religious and academic events, especially when the events propound an environmentalist concern and when aviation use is assumed. This paper raises ques­tions regarding the ecological impacts of large international events and focuses the 'inconvenient truths' associated with international aviation in the era of global warming. The Parliament of the World's Religions, the largest multifaith gathering in the world, serves as a case study. The paper emphasizes the view that faith-based/faith-inspired organizations have a special responsibility for leadership in policy and praxis on the moral imperatives of sustainability, sustainable development and climate justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change and its impacts have ethical dimensions, for instance carbon footprint equity concerns. World issues, including the state of the ecosphere and biodiver­sity, regularly see political leaders, NGOs, business representatives, religious/spiritual orga­nizations, academics, and others engage in international aviation-dependent meetings to address critical challenges facing humanity and the planet. Yet, climate scientists and advocates call for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 to cap the increase in global temperatures to 2ºC. Aviation emissions resulting from international meetings raise questions that are not silenced by GHG emissions offsetting. The era of climate change and 'peak oil' poses ethical challenges for holding international in-person religious and academic events, especially when the events propound an environmentalist concern and when aviation use is assumed. This paper raises ques­tions regarding the ecological impacts of large international events and focuses the 'inconvenient truths' associated with international aviation in the era of global warming. The Parliament of the World's Religions, the largest multifaith gathering in the world, serves as a case study. The paper emphasizes the view that faith-based/faith-inspired organizations have a special responsibility for leadership in policy and praxis on the moral imperatives of sustainability, sustainable development and climate justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the use of 'vague language' (Channell, 1994) in English L1 and L2 speaker discourse. In particular, the item 'thing', which is used about 2.5 times more often by the L1 than the L2 speakers, is analysed in job interviews in Australia. Since 'thing' has been termed 'vague language' this paper will first provide a theoretical discussion of the notion of vagueness with a special focus on 'thing'. The discussion of vagueness is mainly based on the 'underdeterminacy thesis' (Carston, 1988, 2002; Atlas, 2005) and is, thus, closely linked to explicature construction and the notion of saturation. The theoretical discussion will lead to a definition of vagueness as a pragmatic hearer based phenomenon (vaguenessP) which will be applied to an analysis of 'thing' in the L1 and L2 employment interview data collected. The analysis will show that 'thing' is used differently by the two populations with regards to the notion of vaguenessP but also with respect to the saturation requirement of this item. While the analysis shows that 'thing' is not inherently vagueP, some instances of 'thing' in the L2 data do seem to introduce the phenomenon of vaguenessP. Furthermore, the preference of L1 and L2 speakers for different saturation processes has an influence on the effect achieved by 'thing'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract São Paulo, Brazil's largest city, is also home to one of the largest Chinese populations in Latin America, with only Lima being indubitably larger. This paper briefly describes the history and present situation of the Chinese community in São Paulo, with a focus on the contemporary mainland Chinese who make up the majority. The fieldwork for this research was conducted in the months of March to June 2011, and the findings are based on the accounts provided by Brazilian, Chinese and Sino-Brazilian respondents supplemented by the existing Brazilian, Chinese and international scholarship on the subject, as well as Brazilian and Chinese press reports and internet publications. Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data presented in this paper are based on the observation of 52 individuals of Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896, collected in August and September 2010 by local fishermen using gillnets and traps in the area of the delta of the river Neretva (Croatian coast, south-eastern Adriatic Sea). Carapace width (CW) and carapace length (CL) frequency distributions indicate 3 age cohorts (modes) (CL: 7.2 cm, 8.4 cm, 9.0 cm; CW: 12.2 cm, 14.9 cm, 16.7 cm). The carapace width (CW)-to-weight (W) relationship was calculated (for both sexes) as W = 0.816CW2.281 (r2 = 0.785). The current substantial records, the occurrence of ovigerous females and juveniles (observations by fishermen through visual census), as well as the fact that the species was regularly caught in the estuarine area, together constitute evidence of an established population of this species in the region investigated. In future, continuous monitoring of the C. sapidus population, the dispersal of the species in areas adjacent to the one now investigated, as well as all along the eastern Adriatic coast, will be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stomach flushing is one of the proposed techniques to study lizard diets. Apparently, it is ranged, together with direct observation and faecal analysis, as a non-harmful method for dietary studies. Some works explored the usefullness of stomach flushing, but we lack information about its effect on lizard's survival probabilities. In this paper we studied the effect of stomach flushing in an urban population of the rainbow lizard (Agama agama) from Calabar (Nigeria). During a period of five months of 2010, 147 lizards were noosed, sexed and individually marked. One group of lizards was stomach flushed only once, whereas the rest of lizards were not flushed. The flushed sample of lizards showed a lower survival than non-flushed lizards of all sex and age classes. In this study, the pictured diet from stomach flushing was very similar to results obtained with a faecal analysis of the same lizard population. Thus, both methods seem to be reliable to study the diet of the rainbow lizard. However, our results indicate that stomach flushing increases the probability of mortality (or at least emigration rates) in all age and sex classes, precluding its extensive use as a method to study lizard's diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article approaches the topic of Japanese Christianity during the Meiji era (1868-1912). Missionaries introduced Protestant Christianity to the Japanese people after the end of Japanese national seclusion, and many of them converted to Christianity. This paper particularly focuses on Ebina Danjō, a Japanese theologian and a Christian leader. It examines his syncretistic Christianity, in which he combined some Japanese traditional religions with Christianity. This study first presents a historical background of Christianity in Japan during the Meiji era and biographical information of Ebina Danjō. It then explores Ebina's formation of his theological foundation. Finally, it discusses and evaluates how he established syncretistic Christianity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On November 14, 1750, Joao Pereira da Cunha, a former captain-major of Ambaca, located in the Portuguese colony of Angola, was imprisoned in Lisbon, on the orders of the King after charges against him had been presented to the Inquisition. He was accused of witchcraft and idolatry, a heavy charge for a man who was an esteemed military commander in Angola and a member of the Order of Christ. Catarina Juliana, an African woman from Angola and Cunha's concubine, was also captured on the same charges. The trials that followed their arrival in Lisbon offer a wealth of information on mid-18th-century Angolese religious life and the extent of creolization. This paper shows that neither Christianity nor indigenous African religious beliefs were a dominant aspect of an individual's religious identity in this period in Angola. Both were equally viable and led to syncretic religious practices among Central Africans. The inquisitors examined these practices in depth. Although they found that Joao Pereira da Cunha and Catarina Juliana had relied on African healers, they also found ample evidence of their Catholic devotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comparative analysis of two case studies in which attempts were made to resolve intractable ethno-national conflicts: the peace process undertaken in Aceh between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement, which led to the signing of the Helsinki Memorandum of Understanding (mou) ending the conflict in Aceh, and the process conducted in the Sri Lanka conflict from 2001 through 2004 between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers, which failed to yield an agreement. The two peace processes will be examined using readiness theory, which focuses on the factors influencing the decision to enter into negotiations. This article also attempts to extend the hypotheses of readiness theory to explore the process of concession-making during the negotiations that took place in the two case studies. The findings indicate that the theory does contribute to understanding the dynamics of the pre-negotiation in both case studies and that applying its hypotheses may contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of the process of reaching an agreement in the Aceh process and of the factors leading to the failure of the negotiations in the Sri Lanka conflict. The analysis also gives rise to some questions that challenge readiness theory and its hypotheses - empirically and methodologically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employees are a strategic resource for agribusiness firms to achieve sustained competitive advantage (SCA). The resource-based theory (RBT) has emerged as a useful framework to analyze the significance of the human resource system in achieving SCA. However, few empirical studies in agribusiness provide evidence of a relationship between human resource system and SCA. This paper builds off our 2005 case study exploring human resource management and sustained competitive advantage. It provides an in depth review of the RBT and develops a framework by which agribusiness scholars might operationalize the RBT for both applied research and guidance for managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smallholder farmers have difficulties entering established value chains with value-added products. In this paper, we look at smallholders' capability to establish and sustainably manage a competitive and economically viable local dairy value chain through the case of Twawose, a small dairy goat co-operative in Tanzania. The analysis uses a value chain approach as a framework to identify the possibilities for upgrading and the determinants of competitiveness in value chains in which smallholder farmers can participate. Results highlight the benefits Twawose participants receive, but caution that a multitude of constraints could impede scaling-up in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Fund for Agriculrural Development (IFAD) was established in 1977 under unique circumstances during a period of severe food crisis coupled with the oil crisis. Although it was bestowed with a broad mandate to "mobilize additional resources to be made available on concessional terms for agricultural development in developing member states", IFAD has relied almost exclusively on donor conrributions through the tradirional replenishment process to finance its operations. As a result, the scope and scale of IFAD's operations has been dependent on its ability to mobilize resources from irs donors, these contributions have nor been particularly forthcoming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a case study on the construction of Islam and Muslims in sixty editorials 2006 in a Swedish Evangelical newspaper, Världen idag ('The World Today'). The paper was founded in 2001 and is officially independent and non-denominational. In reality, it is financially and ideologically dependent on the radical faith movement. Its circulation is about 8,500. The main theme in the selected editorials is 'Muslim threat,' in some cases combined with 'Western retreat' and 'Islam's incompatibility with democracy.' Islam and Muslims are consistently described as causing these problems. However, terms denoting Muslims are rarely derogatory, instead Muslims are depicted in terms of broad denotation, like 'Muslims' or 'the Muslim world.' These labels are often combined with a stark derogatory complement. Aggressive acts like 'demanding' and 'murdering' or 'mass-murdering' are the most common ones associated with Muslims. Good Muslim behavior is constantly disregarded; bad behavior reflects true character. Muslims are depicted as one homogeneous stereotypical and static group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religious extremism presents an ideological perspective found in most major religions and is currently associated with various forms of religiously motivated acts of violence. A conceptual framework is adopted to study the warning features of religious extremism and apply it to case studies of Nigeria, Uganda, and the Central African Republic (CAR). The application of a religious jihadism model to Christianity provides a comparative basis for assessing Islamic radical jihadism, helping to understand religion as a security threat, with particular reference to Christian contexts and examples. Using extremist rhetoric and the mobilization of Christian rituals, members of religious groups attempt to renegotiate their position in the public space within a society from which they are excluded due to political, social, and economic dynamics based on their exclusion. This study finds no significant difference between Islamic jihad and Christian jihad, as each seeks to politically exploit religion for political ends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the creation of the EU, there have been instances in which a restricted number of member states has handled an issue of international security on behalf of the Union. This article argues that, while controversial, these 'lead groups' have been a valuable practice. They have been effective in generating intra-EU consensus on specific issues and spurring the EU into action, thereby enabling a European response in the context of conflict management and complex international negotiations. Lead groups are sub-optimal arrangements compensating for the in-built institutional shortcomings of unanimity-based decision-making in EU foreign policy. As such, they do not bring integration further. They have nonetheless shown significant potential in giving initiative and content to EU foreign policy. This is shown through the analysis of two case studies, the Anglo-Franco-German trio involved in Iran's nuclear issue and the Franco-German duo brokering a truce between Russia and Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we look at recent developments in our understanding of the life cycle of the red spiny lobster Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) and examine the evidence for connectivity between geographical regions, especially the north-northeast Brazilian continental shelf and the Wider Caribbean. The study also covers aspects of reproduction, phyllosoma density, large-scale oceanic circulation, self-recruitment, settlement patterns, ecological behaviour, and the impact of the Amazon and Orinoco river discharge on recruitment. Our findings support the hypothesis that lobster larvae are transported by ocean currents and free eddies from Brazil to the Caribbean via the Lesser Antilles, outlining a south-to-north connectivity. In addition, we look into the probable existence of hybrids between sympatric lobster species, as evidenced by differences in colour patterns and morphology. Resumo: Neste estudo, examinamos os desenvolvimentos recentes em nossa compreensão do ciclo de vida da lagosta vermelha Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) e examinamos as evidências de conectividade entre regiões geográficas, especialmente a plataforma continental norte e nordeste Brasileira e o Caribe mais amplo. O estudo também cobre aspectos de reprodução, densidade do filossoma, circulação oceânica em grande escala, auto-recrutamento, padrões de assentamento, comportamento ecológico e o impacto da descarga dos rios Amazonas e Orinoco no recrutamento. Nossos resultados apoiam a hipótese de que as larvas de lagosta são transportadas por correntes oceânicas e redemoinhos livres do Brasil para o Caribe através das Pequenas Antilhas, delineando uma conectividade sul-norte. Além disso, examinamos a provável existência de híbridos entre espécies de lagostas simpátricas, como evidenciado por diferenças nos padrões de cores e morfologia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the relevance of readiness theory's analytical framework in illuminating the fundamentals that contribute to the de-escalation process in international crises. By applying this analytical framework to the U.S.-North Korea crisis management episode of 2017–2018, this study elucidates the interplay of elements that led to the winding down of the intense crisis and to the parties' agreement to formally embark on negotiations at the end of the Singapore Summit in June 2018. The study shows how the multiple variables underlying the movements in conflict transformation, as outlined by readiness theory, can help to explain the effect of bilateral strategies applied by the U.S. and North Korea and the role of third-party involvement by South Korea and China in managing the crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapheme–color synesthetes experience graphemes (e.g., letters of the alphabet) as having a specific, consistent color. Most studies of grapheme–color synesthesia have only examined synesthetes in English, leaving underexplored the question of how synesthetic phenomenology might differ in languages that do not use alphabets. In particular, grapheme–color synesthesia in an abugida (a segmental writing system in which vowels are added to consonant graphemes using 'accent'-like diacritical marks) has never been studied. Here, we present a case study of a Bengali synesthete, MJ, the first report of a grapheme–color synesthete in an abugida. First, we show that for MJ, diacritics influence the overall color of the consonant grapheme they modify, 'pulling' it toward the color she experiences for the vowel. Second, we describe and analyze the complex synesthetic experiences reported by MJ for conjunct graphemes, a unique orthographic feature of Brahmi-derived scripts (such as Bengali) in which multiple graphemes are visually combined into a single 'merged' grapheme. Finally, we show that in addition to these language-specific features, MJ's synesthetic associations are influenced by some of the same linguistic properties (such as orthography and phonology) that influence synesthetic associations in other languages. We conclude that the idiosyncratic features of MJ's synesthesia reflect unique properties of the Bengali writing system, that more studies of synesthesia in non-alphabetic scripts are needed, and that synesthetic phenomenology can offer insights into how linguistic properties shape grapheme representation in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor mentions various reports within the issue such as the six papers from the winners and finalists of the Best Paper Competition for agribusiness, five standard research articles, and a case study by Dr. Cheryl Wachenheim on war-torn Afghanistan.

In recent years, images of rage against monuments have filled the media. Unmistakably expressing a high degree of tension in societies, these forms of hostility against heritage have been diversely interpreted, prompting passionate expressions of support as well as fierce criticism. Contesting public memorials, however, is not a new form of socio-political dissent. During Late Antiquity, for example, a new sensibility towards ancient monuments emerged in the vast territories that were once part of the Roman Empire. In this article, the late-antique fate of the so-called 'temple of Hadrian' at Ephesus is analysed as a case-study. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the approaches adopted to accommodate traditional monumental landscapes in the changed late-antique socio-political context. This analysis offers a new perspective on ancient and contemporary phenomena of contestations of monuments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Pan-Arab dramas (Ar. al-drama al-ʿarabiyya al-mushtaraka) are a recent trend in Arabic drama series (Ar. musalsalat); they portray an ensemble of characters of various Arab nationalities in a transnational narrative setting. By considering transnational television a factor that contributes to the cosmopolitan imagination, and given the argument that Gulf cities are replacing historical Arab capitals and becoming 'new centers' for Arab culture, education and business, we explore the manner in which cosmopolitanism is represented in transnational Arab drama content. We do this through a case study of '04' (Zero Four), a pan-Arab drama series that tells the story of four young expatriates of four Arab nationalities, experiencing their personal, professional and private lives in modern-day Dubai. We find that the boundaries of the cosmopolitan imagined community encompass the Arab world, resulting in a cosmopolitan imaginary that seems to favor Arabs over non-Arabs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slurs are special. They can be so powerful and harmful that even mentioning them can be offensive. What explains this "toxicity" that many slurs display? Most discussions in the literature on slurs attempt to analyze the derogatory meaning of slurs, differing in where they locate this meaning – in the semantics, pragmatics, etc. In this article, the author argues that these content theories, despite their merits, are unable to account for toxicity. For a content-based approach to toxicity implies that two meaning-equivalent phrases should have the same toxicity. The author argues that this is not the case for the analyses proffered by current content theorists. Instead, he argues that we can only explain toxicity by understanding the special neurolinguistic properties of slurs. The author then draws out the consequences of this view for the issue of non-derogatory uses of slurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research was conducted in a non-privatized community at T Kibbutz Industries. Its aim was to analyze the unique T factory culture and to understand its covert source. The study develops a typology of cultural features observed at kibbutz industries (based on four previous case studies, with focus on T Industries) that can also be applied to other businesses. Research was conducted using qualitative methods, namely a case study including ethnographic interviews and document analysis. The findings identified an organizational culture embodying two contradicting traditions: socialistic and capitalistic values and norms. The former comprised collective principles, transparent information, teamwork, egalitarian and amicable human relationships and future management orientation, while the latter upheld professionalism, innovation, creativity and global aspirations. The managers' ability to overcome the conflictual culture yielded an open and innovative organization that responded well to competitive environmental markets. The case study was analyzed through development of the typology first devised by Cameron and Quinn (1999, reprinted 2010), perceiving T Industries according to its clanlike, bureaucratic and competitive market attributes, whereas other kibbutz industries studied are more compatible with the combination of bureaucratic and competitive market features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early twentieth century, approximately eighty-five percent of the Chinese population relied on agriculture for their livelihood. Aiming to improve the well-being of China's vast rural population, the Rockefeller Foundation (RF) made their own efforts through conducting philanthropy in rural China. The North China Council for Rural Reconstruction (NCCRR), a RF-funded rural philanthropic program composed of six Chinese institutions, was established in Peiping (Beijing) on April 2, 1936. As a nontraditional and experimental program, the NCCRR brought together the leading professors from various disciplines at different universities into intimate contact with philanthropic and educational activities in rural China. Although the program perhaps pointed to the modest ways in which institutions conducted rural philanthropy, the task of reviving China's countryside was ultimately too heavy for the RF as a foreign private foundation. Due to complicated circumstances far beyond their control, the RF had to terminate its rural reconstruction work in 1944. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand purity from both the male and the female perspective within the Qumran ‎communities, this article will be using 4QTohorot A (4Q274) as a case study to: review the formation and function of gender within the manuscript; permit a broadening of the critique of purity to include a range of gender ‎issues; enable a discussion of the position of women in relation to ‎female purification laws; and permit exploration of the male perspective and ‎experience from a masculinist perspective. ‎By concentrating on the ‎functionality of this particular scroll, further insights will be gained to understand the gendered ‎and identity politics at play behind such strict purity regulations in order to discern—and to ‎imagine—what it actually meant to be a constant threat of potential pollution within ‎communities where purity ruled all aspects of everyday life, and how such regulations worked on a gendered ‎level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research about nonprofit rationalization (especially in China) tended to focus on "net" effect explained by a particular theory, and thereby ignored the combinatory effects of different mechanisms in specific environments. In this article, echoing from the configurational perspective, we used csQCA to explore the potential combination of different mechanisms that may shape the formation of nonprofit rationalization. Through the analysis of 14 cases from three cities of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China, we found that rationalization of a nonprofit requires its leaders/important members to have certain career experience when it receives the corporate giving; the results also indicate that rationalization requires leaders/important members to have corporate work experience when it receives corporate giving, despite the absence of government support and competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines deficits in the current legal framework of posted workers in a global setting through a case study involving Chinese posted workers striking in Equatorial Guinea. Posting highlights the challenges that economic globalisation and transformation of the labour market pose to labour law. As a phenomenon whose normativity is deeply embedded in the cross-border setting where it occurs, posting should profoundly affect the transnational labour law agenda. The emergence of transnational labour law should be seen from the perspective of reconceptualising existing normative regimes in the light of an underpinning transnationality and sketching the architecture for the normative edifice of transnational labour protection. The transnational legal context under scrutiny calls for a wider normative framework where the intersections between labour law, international law and private international law are taken seriously. Global protection of posted workers should be a featured project on the transnational labour law agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intractability is generally associated with prolonged tensions, employment of destructive means, suspicion and mistrust, inflammatory rhetoric and polarized solutions that are usually presented as ultimatums. Existing studies on intractability have emphasized the resistance to solution as a crucial indicator of intractability, and subsequently explored the phases through which intractability evolves and key characteristics these conflicts possess. What is largely missing is a nuanced explanation of at what point resistance turns into intractability. Building on earlier studies from social-psychology on entrapment in negotiations this article will develop a novel conceptual framework of entrapment as a precondition to intractability, and apply it to assess the causes and consequences of entrapment in an escalating conflict using the Syrian Civil War as a case study. The study will demonstrate that resistance to solution, which is a consequence of entrapment, does not automatically lead to intractability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]