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Conclusion: Globalisation Disrupted or Re-made?
No full textThe conclusion summarises the book’s diverse themes. We argue that disruption in globalisation is best understood as “re-made” or “re-globalisation” rather than “de-globalisation” or a permanent fracture. We briefly discuss the drivers of change: from increasing geo-economic rivalry to the US’s gradual retreat from global leadership. We refer to China’s commercial primacy, pandemic-induced supply-chain fragility, institutional paralysis at the WTO, and discuss how middle powers, mega-regionals, and plurilateral initiatives (MPIA, RCEP, CPTPP) are re-making global governance. While de-globalising tendencies create overlapping spheres of influence and strategic decoupling, enduring factor endowments and commercial incentives keep states economically entangled. The chapter concludes that the “Re-made” global future will be pluralistic with multiple contested spheres of power and influence. The “Re-made” globalisation will be contingent on whether emergent institutions can reconcile legitimacy, openness, and resilience
Direct Selling Versus Pyramid Selling in China: Consumer Protection & Crime Prevention
Get PDFUpon its accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, China made the commitment that it would progressively liberalize the availability and scope of the right to trade so that, within three years, all enterprises in China would be able to trade in all goods. Since then, China has opened its market to firms engaged in the direct, person-to-person sale of goods to consumers without the involvement of wholesalers and retailers who have a fixed place of business. Although direct sellers in China have gradually increased, the organizers of pyramid schemes have also multiplied. To regulate the direct selling industry and prohibit pyramid selling activities, China has established a regulatory framework composed of administrative regulations, criminal provisions, ministerial rules, and judicial and procuratorial interpretations. From the perspectives of consumer protection and crime prevention, this study outlines how China regulates its direct selling industry, ascertains why pyramid selling in China has not subsided, and explores what legislative reforms may be warranted
Critically appraised papers: The Sustainable Model of Early Intervention and Telerehabilitation for Children with Cerebral Palsy (SMART-CP) results in earlier diagnosis and access to treatment compared with usual care [synopsis]
No full textSummary of: Al Imam MH, Jahan I, Khan N, Akbar D, Islam S, Muhit M, et al. Sustainable model of early intervention and telerehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy in rural Bangladesh: The SMART-CP Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2025;179:621–629
Emotion recognition technologies and dignity in AI-based surveillance capitalism
Get PDFBusinesses, governments and other entities are increasingly presented with AI-based ‘emotion recognition’ biometric systems, promoted as tools offering robust insights into the honesty, comprehension or health support needs of individuals, particularly students and employees. Australian universities may consider adopting this technology as they expand their AI engagement in learning/assessment platforms and student support systems. Automated emotion recognition systems pose legal and human rights challenges arising from their potential to be used deterministically; their potential lack of reproducibility, replicability and validity; and their susceptibility to bias, notwithstanding their possible utility. Further, they rely on non-consensual or co-opted participation of individuals whose dignity is eroded by consequent reduction from persons to data subjects. This article evaluates such systems through a dignitarian human rights lens, highlighting the need for a precautionary approach
Early Intervention: A Practice Setting for Early Childhood Mental Health
No full textHere’s practical information on the theories, evidence, assessments, and interventions that are crucial to effective occupational therapy mental health practice. Students will gain an understanding of the lived experience and an evidence-based, recovery-oriented perspective with guidance on how to be a psychosocial practitioner in any setting. They’ll understand the recovery process for all areas of an individual’s life—physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental—and know how to manage co-occurring conditions
New Zealand Army: A Comparison of Different Soldier Load Carriage Systems
No full textThis project, ‘New Zealand Army: A comparison of different solider load carriage systems’ Pack Trials Report’, was initiated at the request of Major Jacques Rousseau, PhD (Officer-In-Charge, Human Performance Cell, Joint Support Group). The premise of the project was to compare three different pack systems (Variants A-C) worn by members of the New Zealand Army as part of their load carriage ensemble. Drawn from several New Zealand Army units, 12 soldiers (♂ n=6; ♀ n=6) agreed to complete a 5 km pack march (5.5 km/h; total load = 30 kg) and a short tactical mobility exercise on three occasions wearing one of three randomly allocated pack variants. Objective performance measures (i.e., postural sway, countermovement jump, grip strength) were taken pre and post march. In addition, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA TLX) and subjective mannequin sketch data were taken immediately following the march and mobility exercise. On the final day subjective rankings and scoring of all packs occurred. Anthropometric data were also captured on a separate day.THE REMAINDER OF THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IS CURRENTLY RESTRICTE
Comparisons of urinary bladder responses to common antimuscarinics reveals unique effects of darifenacin
Get PDFIntroduction: Antimuscarinics are the first-line pharmaceutical treatment for overactive bladder (OAB). However, some literature suggests that responses to these antimuscarinics can influence a variety of non-muscarinic receptors. This study aimed to identify any non-muscarinic influences on contraction from commonly prescribed clinical antimuscarinics using porcine detrusor or urothelium with lamina propria (U&LP) tissues.Methods: Porcine bladders were dissected into strips of juvenile or adult detrusor or U&LP. Carbachol concentration-response curves were performed on paired tissues in the absence or presence of commonly prescribed antimuscarinics: darifenacin, fesoterodine, oxybutynin, solifenacin, trospium, and tolterodine. Estimated affinities for each antimuscarinic were calculated, and maximum contraction values from control and intervention curves were compared. Experiments in the presence of darifenacin (100 nM) were completed with serotonin (100 µM), prostaglandin E2 (10 µM), histamine (100 µM), αβ-methylene-ATP (10 µM), angiotensin II (100 nM), neurokinin A (300 nM), and carbachol (10 µM).Results: Darifenacin significantly reduced maximum contraction responses to carbachol in adult detrusor preparations by 46%, αβ-methylene-ATP by 50%, prostaglandin E2 by 73%, histamine by 64%, and serotonin by 53%. Darifenacin reduced the maximum contraction in adult U&LP preparations to carbachol by 49% and to αβ-methylene-ATP by 35%.Discussion: Darifenacin presents as an antimuscarinic medication that influences non-muscarinic pathways in urinary bladder tissue, indicating its potential to assist OAB patients with non-muscarinic pathophysiology
Does resource scarcity promote selfish or selfless behaviours? A nuanced perspective through the lens of nostalgia
No full textIn the presence of nostalgia, the authors found that exposure to scarce (vs. non-scarce) resources encouraged higher intention to donate, promoted actual donations, motivated less stockpiling behaviour and adhered to purchase restrictions for a scarce commodity. This was reversed without nostalgia, and when subjects experienced scarce (vs. non-scarce) resources. The combined effect of nostalgia and scarcity was mediated through empathy
Magnitude and Characteristics of Adverse Drug Events in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review
No full textAims: We aimed to determine the prevalence, nature, and identification methods of the adverse drug events (ADEs) as well as explore if standard definitions were utilized while assessing ADEs in Saudi Arabia.Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE via PubMed and Embase from their inceptions to April 2022. We investigated experimental and observational studies conducted in Saudi Arabia.Results: We screened 14,398 records and included 12 studies. This review indicated that the incidence of ADEs ranged from 0.58% to 74.2%, while three cross-sectional study reports highlighted that the proportion of subjects experiencing ADEs ranged from 28% to 98.5%. This wide variation can be attributed to factors such as diverse study designs, measurement variability, and heterogeneous populations. ADR was the most frequently reported type of ADE in all studies. Chart review (58%) was the commonly utilized ADE detection method, followed by patient interviews (25%), and trigger tools (17%). Five studies (42%) used their own ADE definition, and only one study (8%) reported the standard ADE definition; however, half of the studies (n = 6) did not report any ADE definition.Conclusions: This systematic review suggests that ADE prevalence varied between studies, with chart review being the most used approach for ADE identification in Saudi Arabia, followed by patient interviews. ADR was the most common type of ADE among all studies. Further, most studies did not use the standard ADE definitions. To improve medication safety and patient care outcomes, our review highlights the crucial need for standardized ADE detection and reporting practices in Saudi Arabia. Future research should prioritize prospective studies with standardized methodologies to accurately assess ADE prevalence rates and evaluate the impact of interventions on reducing ADEs in Saudi Arabia