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In praise of instrumentality : philosophy with politics and critique
No full textFor centuries, philosophy, politics and critique have been separated. Kant's designation of the theoretical and practical and the aesthetics as separate realms consolidated this separation. By contrast, I hold that a consequence of the rejection of transcendence in secular modernity is a monist metaphysics – what I call monist materialism – that entails the intermeshing of the philosophical, the political and the critical. For this to be possible, however, we need a recognize the pivotal function of instrumentality, not an easy task in an age where the instrumental has a host of negative connotations’
Teacher's practice and perception of the influence of stories during preschool child development : a cross-sectional study from ethnically diverse South Indian city
No full textStories constitute a significant part of the Indian preschool curriculum due to their various benefits in preschool child development. However, the teachers’ practice of stories and their perception regarding the influence of stories on preschool child development are vital determining factors in the benefit preschoolers receive from stories. The global concern for providing quality education for preschool children necessitates the exploration of teachers’ practices and perceptions; however, such studies in the Indian context, where education is shaped by its multicultural and linguistic diversities, are limited. The present study provides an original contribution to exploring the Indian preschool teachers’ practice of stories and perception of the influence of stories on preschool child development using a developed questionnaire, Teachers’ Practice and Perception of Stories (TPPS). Ninety-six preschool teachers from English medium schools in Mangalore, India, participated in the study. The findings indicated that irrespective of teachers’ demographic variables, they played an active role in telling stories to children and positively believed that stories facilitate speech and language, cognition, literacy, and socio-pragmatic development in preschoolers. The findings broadly apply stories for preschool child development in clinical and school settings
Planetary health values and their implications for sustainability governance : case study in the City of Blue Mountains, Australia
No full textPlanetary health asserts that human health is contingent on the health of ecosystems. While the field has grown significantly since 2015, no known research has tested the expediency of planetary health as an applied values framework in local sustainability governance. This article seeks to address this gap by answering: how useful is planetary health for understanding the way citizens value nature and how nature shapes their health and wellbeing? What are the implications for using planetary health as a sustainability governance framing? Blue Mountains City Council is arguably the first local government globally to adopt a planetary health approach to its strategic framing of sustainability. This makes the Blue Mountains, Australia, an internationally relevant case study for contributing original knowledge about the usefulness of planetary health for sustainability governance. Through this case study, I undertook a face-to-face survey (n = 85) in March and April 2022 with Blue Mountains residents on their values associated with planetary health. I used the IPBES Assessment for Diverse Values of Nature as the basis for thematic analysis of the survey data. The article presents a first outline of residents’ planetary health values. Planetary health was found to be an effective means of understanding diverse nature-health values. Local governments can consider using planetary health in its strategic planning, outcomes monitoring and financial reporting. Future research can consider how planetary health values are prioritised in respect to other values framings and improve knowledge of planetary health by understanding of how people with diverse life experiences value nature-health relationships
Thermal shock fracture in a cracked strip : incorporating convective heat transfer between lateral surfaces and ambient environment
No full textThis paper presents a comprehensive analysis of transient temperature and thermal stress around a thermal insulated crack in a finite thermoelastic strip subjected to thermal shock based on the dual-phase-lag (DPL) heat conduction. A detailed investigation of the effect of convective heat exchange between the lateral surfaces of the strip and the ambient environment is conducted. By employing integral transform technique, the thermoelastic crack problem is reduced to a set of singular integral equations, and solutions for the transient temperature distribution and dynamic stress intensity factors (SIFs) at the crack tips are then obtained. Numerical results reveal a considerable temperature gradient near the heating surface when both the high convective heat transfer coefficient and thin strip are involved. Consequently, the SIFs in such scenarios where cracks are located close to the heating surface are significantly larger compared to those calculated by neglecting the convective heat loss. Furthermore, during the initial period following a thermal shock, the SIFs may exhibit higher magnitudes than the steady-state values. These findings emphasize the importance of accounting for the influence of convective heat exchange with the ambient environment in material design and optimization to enhance fracture resistance under transient thermal loading
Data Driven Science for Clinically Actionable Knowledge in Diseases
No full textData-driven science has become a major decision-making aid for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Computational and visual analytics enables effective exploration and sense making of large and complex data through the deployment of appropriate data science methods, meaningful visualisation and human-information interaction. This edited volume covers state-of-the-art theory, method, models, design, evaluation and applications in computational and visual analytics in desktop, mobile and immersive environments for analysing biomedical and health data. The book is focused on data-driven integral analysis, including computational methods and visual analytics practices and solutions for discovering actionable knowledge in support of clinical actions in real environments. By studying how data and visual analytics have been implemented into the healthcare domain, the book demonstrates how analytics influences the domain through improving decision making, specifying diagnostics, selecting the best treatments and generating clinical certainty
Assessing groundwater quality, health risks, and policy implications : a case study of West Medinipur District, West Bengal, India
No full textGroundwater is a vital freshwater resource for various uses, including drinking, irrigation, and industry needs. The increasing dependence of India on groundwater due to dwindling surface water sources and climate extremes has led to concerns about its availability and quality. This study focuses on the groundwater quality and associated human health risks in the West Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. The region, situated between the Kangsabati and Subarnarekha rivers, faces challenges from anthropogenic activities such as agricultural practices and industrial pollution. A comprehensive analysis of physicochemical parameters was conducted on well water samples collected during the monsoon and post-monsoon periods. The study examined the suitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes. Water quality indices were calculated to assess its fitness for human consumption. Despite several parameters meeting the water quality standards, elevated iron (Fe) and ammonia (NH4+) levels were observed, potentially impacting groundwater use for drinking. Similarly, groundwater's suitability for irrigation was evaluated based on parameters like sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and sodium percentage (Na%). The groundwater types dominated by magnesium bicarbonate and the quality could affect soil structure and crop productivity in certain areas. The elevated levels of Fe and NH4+ showed potential human health risks, indicating the need to mitigate adverse effects on human well-being through appropriate policy and other interventions. The study highlights the complexity of groundwater quality in the study area. It underscores the necessity for comprehensive water policy and management strategies to safeguard water resources and human health in rural India. The findings emphasize the importance of ongoing monitoring and intervention measures to ensure the sustainability and safety of groundwater for present and future generations
Circular economy in construction : the digital transformation perspective
No full textThis systematic review critically examines the intersection of digital transformation and circular economy (CE) principles within the built environment. While digitalisation has been shown to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability in construction, its role in fostering circularity is less established. This study analyzes literature from 2010 to 2022, focusing on how digital technologies such as open-BIM, digital twins, material passports, blockchain, RFID, and gamification can integrate into and enhance the circular building lifecycle. The findings reveal that while digital tools are pivotal in design and construction phases, their application to existing structures is less straightforward, with challenges including the absence of digital twins for demolished structures, the high costs of retrofit digitalisation, and the predominant focus on environmental benefits over practical implementation. The review also highlights the need for a unified digital transformation strategy and greater cross-industry collaboration. Future research directions are proposed, including the development of localized material banks, the application of RFID in circularity, the scope of Design for Disassembly (DfD) tools, digital inventory of existing buildings, the circularity of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) databases, and policy implications for promoting circular construction practices
COPD in never-smokers : BOLD Australia study
No full textPurpose: Tobacco smoking is the major risk factor for COPD, and it is common for other risk factors in never-smokers to be overlooked. We examined the prevalence of COPD among never-smokers in Australia and identified associated risk factors. Methods: We used data from the Australia Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study, a cross-section of people aged ≥40 years from six sites. Participants completed interviews and post-bronchodilator spirometry. COPD was primarily defined as an FEV1/FVC ratio <0.70 and secondarily as the ratio less than the lower limit of normal (LLN). Results: The prevalence of COPD in the 1656 never-smokers who completed the study was 10.5% (95% CI: 9.1–12.1%) [ratio<LLN 4.6%]. The likelihood of having COPD increased with advancing age [odds ratio (OR) 4.11 in those 60–69 years and OR 8.73 in those 70 years and older], having attained up to 12 years of education (OR 1.75) compared to those with more than 12 years, having a history of asthma (OR 2.30), childhood hospitalization due to breathing problems before age 10 years (OR 2.50), or having a family history of respiratory diseases (OR 2.70). Being overweight or obese was associated with reduced prevalence of COPD compared with being normal weight. In males and females, advanced age, a history of asthma, and childhood breathing problems before age 10 were factors that elevated the likelihood of COPD. However, in males, additional factors such as a higher body mass index and a family history of respiratory diseases also contributed to increased odds of COPD. Conclusion: COPD was prevalent in this population of never-smokers aged 40 years and over. This finding highlights the significance of risk factors other than smoking in the development of COPD
Differences in rates of severe perineal trauma between midwife-led and obstetrician-led care in the Netherlands : a nationwide cohort study
No full textObjective: To investigate trends and rates of severe perineal trauma (SPT), also known as obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI), between midwife-led and obstetrician-led care in the Netherlands, and factors associated with SPT. Methods: This nationwide cohort study included registry data from 2000 to 2019 (n = 2,169,950) of spontaneous vaginal births of term, live, cephalic, single infants, without a (previous) caesarean section or assisted vaginal birth. First, trends of SPT and episiotomy were shown. Second, differences in SPT rates between midwife- and obstetrician-led care were assessed. Third, associations of care factors with SPT were examined. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine which factors were important in the associations. All outcomes were stratified for parity. Results: Over time, the SPT incidence increased mainly in midwife-led care and episiotomy rates decreased. Compared to midwife-led care, SPT rates were lower in obstetrician-led care among primiparous women (aOR 0.78; 99 % CI 0.74–0.81) and comparable among multiparous women (aOR 1.04; 99 % CI 0.99–1.10). Among women without epidural analgesia, these differences were smaller for primiparous women (aOR 0.88; 99 % CI 0.84–0.92), but the SPT rate was higher in obstetrician-led care among multiparous women (aOR 1.09; 99 % CI 1.03–1.15). Among women without shoulder dystocia, induction, augmentation, and pain medication, SPT rates were comparable among primiparous women, but higher among multiparous women in obstetrician-led care. In midwife-led care, SPT occurred more often among hospital versus home births. In obstetrician-led care, lower SPT incidences were found among births with epidural analgesia and for multiparous women with induction or augmentation. Conclusions: I induction, augmentation, and epidural analgesia in obstetrician-led care may be an explanatory factor for the higher incidence of SPT among primiparous women in midwife-led care. More research is needed to explain differences in SPT rates and to understand how SPT can be prevented, while maintaining a high intact perineum rate
Economic determinants of child marriage : evidence from the Iranian provinces
No full textThis study investigates the economic determinants of early marriage among girls under 19, using panel data from thirty Iranian provinces between 2007 and 2015. The panel fixed effects and generalized method of moments (GMM) estimations, which control for province fixed effects such as local cultural norms or geographical conditions, show that the level of income per capita (with a negative effect), inflation, and income inequality (both with a positive effect) are significant determinants of early marriage