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A forward-looking approach to climate change and the risk of societal collapse
No full textThis article proposes a forward-looking approach to studying societal collapse risks related to climate change. Such an approach should indicate how to study emerging collapse risks and suggest strategies for adapting to them. Our approach is based on three postulates that facilitate a forward-looking approach: (1) collapse, if it occurred, would be a lengthy process rather than an abrupt event; (2) significant collapse risks already exist in some places; and (3) diminishing returns on adaptation to intensifying climate impacts are a key driver of collapse risks. The first two postulates suggests that collapse risks can be studied in process, while the third points to strategies for adaptation pathways that avoid unsustainable diminishing returns. Applying diminishing returns to climate change adaptation, rather than sociopolitical complexity or resource extraction, is also a novel theoretical contribution to collapse literature
Anionic liposome formulation for oral delivery of thuricin CD, a potential antimicrobial peptide therapeutic
No full textThuricin CD is a two-peptide antimicrobial produced by Bacillus thuringiensis. Unlike previous antibiotics, it has shown narrow spectrum activity against Clostridioides difficile, a bacterium capable of causing infectious disease in the colon. However, peptide antibiotics have stability, solubility, and permeability problems that can affect their performance in vivo. This work focuses on the bioactivity and bioavailability of thuricin CD with a view to developing a formulation for delivery of active thuricin CD peptides through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) for local delivery in the colon. The results indicate that thuricin CD is active at low concentrations only when both peptides are present. While thuricin CD was degraded by proteases and was unstable and poorly soluble in gastric fluid, it showed increased solubility in intestinal fluid, probably due to micelle encapsulation. Based on this, thuricin CD was encapsulated in anionic liposomes, which showed increased activity compared to the free peptide, maintained activity after exposure to pepsin in gastric fluid and intestinal fluid, was stable in suspension for over 21 days at room temperature and for 60 days at 4 °C, and exhibited no toxicity to epithelial intestinal cells. These findings suggest that an anionic lipid-based nano formulation may be a promising approach for local oral delivery of thuricin CD
US efficient factors in a Bayesian model scan framework
No full textPurpose: The author examines the impact these efficient factors have on factor model comparison tests in US returns using the Bayesian model scan approach of Chib et al. (2020), and Chib et al.(2022). Design/methodology/approach: Ehsani and Linnainmaa (2022) show that time-series efficient investment factors in US stock returns span and earn 40% higher Sharpe ratios than the original factors. Findings: The author shows that the optimal asset pricing model is an eight-factor model which contains efficient versions of the market factor, value factor (HML) and long-horizon behavioral factor (FIN). The findings show that efficient factors enhance the performance of US factor model performance. The top performing asset pricing model does not change in recent data. Originality/value: The author is the only one to examine if the efficient factors developed by Ehsani and Linnainmaa (2022) have an impact on model comparison tests in US stock returns
Joan Maragall in English: Afterlives, "sur-vival" and retranslation
No full textThis article traces and analyses Joan Maragall's poetic legacy in English via a consideration of the ways in which his works have been translated and retranslated (with certain poems, such as the "Cant espiritual" and "La vaca cega" having merited multiple versions) over the past hundred years. Through a chronological survey of translations from the 1920s up to the most recent anthologies by Michael Odon (Count Arnau & Other Poems, 2017) and Ronald Puppo (One Day of Life is Life, 2020), I set out to uncover the version of Maragall that was able to travel in each period, as well as establishing and elucidating the particular interpretations of his work found in each of the nineteen different translators, reading each of the different versions as events in translation history. This is followed by closer theoretical analysis from the perspective of recent debates in retranslation history, drawing in particular on deconstructive readings of Walter Benjamin's "Task of the Translator" that posit the need to go beyond narratives of teleological progress to consider the relationship between the original and subsequent translations in terms of afterlives, sur-vival, differance and textuality. The article ends by placing translations of "L'oda infinita", El Comte Arnau and the "Cant Espiritual" in dialogue as retranslation constellations that provide multiple insights into the Maragallian text.
Aquest article ressegueix i analitza el llegat poètic de Joan Maragall en llengua anglesa mitjançant consideració de la manera en què la seva obra ha estat traduïda i retraduïda (perquè d’alguns poemes, com el «Cant espiritual» i «La vaca cega», existeixen múltiples versions) al llarg del darrer segle. Començant amb una revisió cronològica de les traduccions produïdes entre els 1920s i les antologies més recents de Michael Odon (Count Arnau & Other Poems, 2017) i Ronald Puppo (One Day of Life is Life, 2020), s’intenta esbrinar la versió del poeta català que va conseguir mobilitzar-se en cada període, a més d’establir i elucidar les interpretacions particulars que en fan els 19 traductors tractats. En aquesta primera part, cada una de les versions és llegida com a esdeveniment singular en la història de la traducció. La segona part de l’article se centra en l’anàlisi dels textos des de la perspectiva de la retraducció, entrant en diàleg amb aproximacions recents que parteixen de lectures deconstructives del famós article de Walter Benjamin, «La tasca del traductor», per proposar la necessitat d’anar més enllà dels relats historiogràfics de progrés teleològic per llegir la relació entre original i traduccions subsegüents en termes de vides pòstumes (afterlives en anglès), sobre-vivència, diferència i textualitat. Centrant-nos en les diferents versions angleses de «L’oda infinita», El Comte Arnau i el «Cant espiritual», en proposem una lectura que les posa en relació, com a constel·lacions de re-traducció que ens ofereixen una multiplicitat de perspectives sobre el corpus maragallià
Remote learning of mathematics for visually impaired students during COVID-19: Exploring online intervention, resources, challenges and issues
No full textDue to COVID-19, several dramatic changes have appeared all over the world i.e., travel restrictions, healthcare shortages, self-isolation, economic crises, social distancing, increases in food demand, job losses and closure of educational institutions. This led to a rapid transition from face-to-face to remote teaching. Most remote learning platforms are designed primarily for sighted students and are less useful for visually-impaired students. Especially in mathematics, it's quite difficult for visually-impaired students to access rich visual information, such as graphs, algebraic notations, geometric shapes and statistical formulas. This article provides an overview of mathematics learning resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores assistive technology-based interventions which enable visually-impaired and blind students to actively participate in remote teaching and enhance their learning skills. It was noted that solutions are available for various platforms (i.e., smartphones, tablets, laptops & desktop PCs) to support visually-impaired students. Assistive Technology in remote learning also plays a key role in enhancing the mathematical skills of visually-impaired students. Furthermore, we have investigated the important COVID-19-related resources of different institutes which are very beneficial for the online education of visually-impaired students. Moreover, some challenges and issues are discovered such as internet connectivity, lack of interaction, inadequate support, one-way communication and less effective learning. Finally, some future directions are suggested for research i.e., parents should be a part of remote learning
Sustaining energetic communities: energy citizenship and participation in an age of upheaval and transition
No full textThe human use of energy is inherently understood and experienced through socially constructed frameworks. However, the degree of engagement with this topic on the part of humanities and the social sciences has until recently been uneven at best. This seems strange given current upheavals experienced in Europe and across the globe as the climate and biodiversity crises deepen. At the centre of all these crises is the energy system. Energy flows through various forms of natural and social circuitry (from production, to distribution and consumption) and these energyscapes are sited at the local, national, and transnational scales. The correlation between the (meta)physical flows taken by the various forms of energy we depend on-and the transitory social, cultural, economic, and political relationships that frame them-require much deeper study if we are to achieve the types of sustainable communities envisaged by the United Nations as part of its sustainable development goals (SDGs) for 2030. Arising from a review of current literature, this article presents recent research into the forming of citizen energy communities in Europe and the governance structures designed to facilitate their development. It also highlights the key drivers and barriers to citizen engagement with emergent, novel energetic communities
Freedom of association doctrine in Finland
No full textFinland has been called the promised land of associations. There are numerous associations in Finland in proportion to the population, and almost every Finn belongs to one or more. Despite or because of the number of associations, research on the legal status of associations has been focused on technical details and on the activities of associations. There is neither a contemporary nor a particularly developed doctrine of freedom of association. The most important distinction is between registered associations and non-registered associations. A registered association is a legal entity. Freedom of association is guaranteed in the Constitution of Finland. Finland is committed to international treaties of the United Nations and to the European Convention on Human Rights. It is also a member of European Union. In Finland, freedom of association means the right to form an association without a permit and the right to be a member of one or more associations. Freedom of association also means the right not to join any association and the right to resign, whenever one wishes, from an association that one has joined. Associations enjoy internal freedom of activity, which means that they have the right to independently draft their rules, within the framework of law, and decide on their internal operations. The most important norm regulating association activities is the Association Act (503/1989). Associations can be of all kinds in Finland. All trade unions and other interest organisations are associations. It is noteworthy that the Finnish word for trade union is ammattiyhdistys.4 Therefore, the Finnish word for an association, yhdistys, is part of the definition. An association is the natural way to organise activities in Finland. In this paper, freedom of association is analysed as part of Finnish constitutional doctrine. In Finnish constitutional law, the monitoring of the constitutionality of legislation differs from many other countries. Similarly, in Finland, the fundamental rights doctrine has developed in a peculiar way. In section 2 of this paper, freedom of association is combined as part of the Finnish Constitution and fundamental rights. The nature of the fundamental right of freedom of association and the Finnish doctrine of fundamental rights explains the regulation of associations and the possibilities for changes. The Finnish Associations Act and the practical regulation of associations are discussed in section 3. The regulation of political parties and religious associations is brought up for special consideration. Regarding the latter, there are problems with such regulation from the religious freedom viewpoint. Section 4 focuses on compulsory membership of university student unions. This is a significant exception to the principles of freedom of association and probably a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights. Chapter five reviews the changes in Finland's freedom of association that have resulted from legal practice
The Green Tree, ‘dryhtnes word’, and a page (282v) in the Book of Kells
No full textA lecture by Éamonn Ó Carragáin, presented in memory of Terence and Jennifer O'Reilly, under the original title ‘The Green Tree, ‘dryhtnes word’, and a page (282v) in the Book of Kells’. The Seminar for Medieval Studies (SAMS), University College, 31 January 2024
Freedom of association at the European Court of Human Rights: A right in service of democracy
No full textThis article explores how freedom of association is protected by the European Court of Human Rights. The European Convention on Human Rights affirms, in Article 11.1, that everyone has the right ‘to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association’, and specifically recognises the right to form and to join trade unions. The right is expressly qualified in Article 11.2, which provides (using language that is broadly similar to that found in the neighbouring provisions) that the exercise of the right may be justifiably restricted if the restrictions are ‘prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others’. It concludes with the statement that ‘[t]his article shall not prevent the imposition of lawful restrictions on the exercise of these rights by members of the armed forces, of the police or of the administration of the State’.The European Convention on Human Rights is a product of the Council of Europe: an international organisation that is independent of the European Union and now comprises forty-six member states. Its origins date back to the aftermath of the Second World War. The Congress of Europe, held at The Hague between 7th and 11th May 1948, and attended by prominent politicians, philosophers, lawyers, academics, historians, journalists, entrepreneurs, civil society leaders and religious leaders from the nations of Europe, concluded with a Political Resolution calling for a Charter of Human Rights.2 The Council of Europe was thereafter established in 1949 and the draft Convention opened for signature in 1950. Having attracted the support of the then 12 Council of Europe Member States, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, commonly known as the European Convention on Human Rights (and hereinafter referred to as the Convention), was ratified and entered into force on 3rd September 1953. The Convention is interpreted by the European Court of Human Rights (hereinafter referred to as the Court), which hears cases brought by individual applicants against Member States claiming a violation of Convention provisions. The Court exercises a supervisory human rights jurisdiction, in line with the Preamble to the Convention, which affirms that Member States, ‘in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, have the primary responsibility to secure the rights and freedoms defined in this Convention and the Protocols thereto, and that in doing so they enjoy a margin of appreciation, subject to the supervisory jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights established by this Convention’.4 Article 35 of the Convention provides that a case may only be brought ‘after all domestic remedies have been exhausted, according to the generally recognised rules of international law’5 and Article 46 provides that in the event of a finding by the Court that a Member State is in violation of the Convention, the Member States ‘undertake to abide by [the decision] and the judgment is conveyed to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe which works with the government of the Member State to try to secure the execution of the judgment’. In other words, Member States have the first responsibility and the ultimate responsibility for the vindication of human rights in their nation states, but between those two points the Court has the final authority on how the Convention is interpreted. Part I considers how the Court defines “associations” and how it has developed three component aspects of the right: the right to form associations, the right not to be forced to join an association, and the right of the association to organisational autonomy. Part II explores the types of disputes that arise, and ways in which the Court articulates the relationship between freedom of association and freedom of expression. Part III reflects on the rationales that the European Court of Human Rights offers for why the right to freedom of association is important, and its particular focus on the idea that freedom of association is essential to the proper functioning of democracy
Ireland's Climate Change Assessment Synthesis Report
No full textThis is the first Ireland’s Climate Change Assessment (ICCA) and is a major contribution to the national dialogue and engagement on climate change. It tells us what is known about climate change and Ireland. It also provides key insights on gaps in our knowledge. The development of ICCA was modelled on the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Sixth Assessment Cycle, completed in 2023, with the use of and localisation of its information for Ireland. ICCA will support the national response to climate change, ensuring that it is informed by the best available science. It also points to how and where that science can be improved through further investments in innovation, in research and in systematic observations. These collectively form the essential backbone of the science and data required to understand how Ireland is being impacted by and responding to the climate change challenge.The full Assessment has been developed through a co-creation process between leading academics in Ireland and officials from across state agencies and government departments. Funding was provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and Department of Transport. The process was collaborative, involving mutual development and agreement of the scope, preparation and review of drafts, wider stakeholder consultation through a series of workshops and meetings, and a detailed sign-off process. We see the publication of ICCA as a real innovation for Ireland and as a resource for understanding climate change in an Irish context across the underlying science, mitigation and adaptation measures, and opportunities. It is a starting point for further dialogue on the findings and their utility for policymakers, practitioners, researchers, research funders and people. This engagement phase should continue far beyond the publication of this Assessment and support climate action in Ireland