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Circular ecosystems:past, present, and future research directions
No full textCircular ecosystems have become a buzz concept in the circular economy, but differing meanings and theoretical foundations limit knowledge consolidation. To address this gap, we undertook a systematic literature review of the circular ecosystems literature published from 2004 to 2025. We analyzed the state-of-the-art using content analysis and science mapping techniques based on articles from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Prominent research trends include: (i) conceptualization of circular ecosystems, (ii) circular ecosystems and sustainability, (iii) roles and agency of actors, (iv) alignment in circular ecosystems, (v) value co-creation in ecosystems, (vi) governance of ecosystems, (vii) theoretical roots, and (viii) enablers of circular ecosystems. Furthermore, we present the etymology and evolution of circular ecosystems and present a comprehensive definition of the concept. Finally, we propose future research directions on circular ecosystems.</p
The association of retinal age gap with schizophrenia:a cross-sectional analysis
No full textSchizophrenia, a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder increasingly recognized as a multisystemic disease, is associated with accelerated brain ageing. Using deep learning, we investigated the retina, as a window into the central nervous system, as a surrogate of biological ageing in individuals with schizophrenia. This cross-sectional study was nested within Alz Eye, a retrospective cohort of individuals aged ≥40 years attending Moorfields Eye Hospital (2008–2018). Retinal age was predicted from color retinal photographs using a convolutional neural network. The difference between predicted retinal age and chronological age, termed the retinal age gap, was estimated in all individuals. Associations between schizophrenia and retinal age gap were assessed using adjusted linear mixed-effects models. From a cohort of 98,629, 214 individuals had schizophrenia. They were slightly younger than unaffected (61.6 +/- 12.1 vs 64.5 +/- 13.5 years) and more likely to have hypertension (82% vs47%) and diabetes mellitus (72% vs 27%). Individuals with schizophrenia had a significantly greater retinal age gap (0.76 years, 95% CI: 0.03, 1.49, p=0.04) when adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. When adjusting for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, there was no significant difference in retinal age gap between groups (0.20, 95% CI: -0.53, 0.93). In this ethnically and socioeconomically diverse urban population, individuals with schizophrenia had an increased retinal age gap. This was attributable to the increased prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus implicating medical comorbidity, which is modifiable, as the driver of accelerated central nervous system ageing
A systematic literature review of student, parent and teacher experiences of mathematics education in multicultural classrooms
No full textThis systematic literature review analysed 40 studies published between January 2002 and April 2025, focusing on the mathematics experiences of students, parents, and teachers in multicultural classrooms. Using Bourdieu's concepts of field, habitus, and cultural capital, the review identified five key themes: relationships, parental involvement, racial narratives, culturally responsive pedagogy, and teacher diversity. These themes highlighted challenges that impeded student achievement and shaped stakeholder experiences. The findings emphasised that the social field of school mathematics has the potential to leverage the cultural capital of students and parents to improve outcomes. This is best achieved through culturally responsive pedagogy that fosters strong student-teacher relationships and meaningful parental involvement. Such inclusive approaches also combat racial narratives perpetuating deficit views of multicultural students and families. The review also underscores the importance of developing teachers' cultural competence through targeted pre-service and in-service training, as well as recruiting and retaining diverse educators. Implications for teacher education, institutional practices, and future research are also discussed. Context and implications Rationale for this study: This study addresses the urgent need to improve mathematics outcomes for culturally diverse students by examining student, parent, and teacher experiences through a Bourdieuian lens. Why the new findings matter: Findings reveal how overlooked cultural capital, teacher bias, and power imbalances sustain inequities, emphasising the need for cultural competence and responsive pedagogy in mathematics education. Implications for educators, institutions and researchers: This review underscores the importance of embedding culturally responsive pedagogy in teacher education. Teachers must recognise students' cultural capital, challenge deficit narratives, and build equitable relationships, particularly with minoritised families. Training should include field experiences in multicultural communities and promote parent partnerships. Institutions must prioritise diverse teacher recruitment, ongoing professional development promoting cultural competency, and identity-affirming practices. Researchers should promote community-based collaborations that engage families and address structural barriers such as racial narratives. Collectively, these efforts aim to reshape teacher habitus and institutional norms to foster inclusive, culturally responsive mathematics classrooms that affirm student identities and advance educational equity.</p
Small-scale fishing community's information needs and access in Bangladesh:An information ecosystem perspective
No full textDisadvantaged communities often face compounded infrastructural, social, and economic barriers to accessing and utilizing information. This study investigates the information ecosystem of small-scale fishing communities in climate-vulnerable regions of Bangladesh, examining their information needs, access practices, and systemic constraints. Using a mixed-methods design, we collected survey data from 520 fishing households across three districts, alongside 16 focus group discussions and 10 stakeholder interviews. Findings show that fishers primarily rely on informal networks and word-of-mouth, with limited use of digital tools due to affordability, low literacy, and weak infrastructure. Key information needs include fishing regulations, disaster alerts, market prices, and government assistance. However, fragmented communication channels, a lack of trust in public sources, and non-transparent dissemination practices hinder effective access. Applying the Information Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) framework, the study identifies gaps across content delivery and governance processes. Rather than proposing a prescriptive solution, we outline an inclusive, community-informed approach that emphasizes local influencers, improved communication practices, and trust-building as entry points for intervention. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the information ecosystem in marginalized settings and offer practical insights for policymakers and development practitioners working to strengthen information equity and resilience in contexts marked by digital and infrastructural exclusion.</p
Using Trace Data of Secondary Students to Understand Metacognitive Processes in Writing From Multiple Sources
No full textBackground: Integrating information from multiple sources is a common yet challenging learning task for secondary school students. Many underuse metacognitive skills, such as monitoring and control, which are essential for promoting engagement and effective learning outcomes. Objective: This study aims to examine the relationship between metacognitive processes and the quality of writing from multiple sources with diverse language backgrounds. Methods: To understand these processes, we conducted a laboratory study with 162 secondary students from diverse language backgrounds (English, German and Finnish). We collected trace data about metacognition while students were reading and writing in a digital learning platform. These data, along with the language used by students to produce their writing, were analysed to determine the association of metacognition with essay scores obtained using both automated and human evaluations. Result and Conclusion: Our findings indicate that students from different language backgrounds exhibit varying performance levels detectable by automated scoring. Secondary school students showed limited metacognitive processes in multi-source writing; this contrasts with findings from previous studies conducted in higher education. These findings can inform the development of analytics-based tools to support secondary students' writing through trace data and automated essay scoring, and provide evidence of the need for targeted interventions to assist and support secondary school students in improving their writing from multiple sources.</p
Maintaining momentum:teacher-leaders’ identity narratives about transforming school mathematics practice
No full textRecent research efforts have focussed on if/how teacher-leaders might stimulate improvements in their school's teaching practice through leading professional learning. This article draws on narrative-defined identity theory to investigate eight Australian teacher-leaders’ initiative to engage their mathematics students in conceptually-demanding problem-solving. The leaders narrated individual and collective efforts to address students' and colleagues' positive and negative reactions to the teaching-through-problem-solving approach. Their envisioning of future leading was found to focus on ways to sustain/improve the engagement of both students and teachers, evidenced across their individual and communal pedagogical discourses. Suggested implications for teacher-leaders and teacher educators are shared
Sustainability transitions in corporations:the influence of the sustainable development goals on corporate financial performance
No full textScholarly, there is growing interest in corporations transitioning towards adopting SDGs. However, there is still a gap in understanding how the SDGs influence business performance and operations. Identifying various conditions under which governance through goal setting might have been effective and accelerating the transition to sustainability is essential. This study explores these questions through a case study of how Malaysian corporations’ financial performance has been connected with SDG 13. The study examines whether and in what ways implementing and voluntarily disclosing SDG 13 related information is associated with corporate financial performance. The findings suggest that adopting and disclosing SDG 13 is linked to improved corporate financial performance. Voluntary disclosure of sustainable-related information allows shareholders and the public to gain insight into corporate sustainability transitions. This reduces the information asymmetry gap between businesses and potential investors, which may increase investors' confidence. The positive correlation could encourage corporations to adopt more SDG goals. Investors who perceive improvement in firm performance may in turn call for deeper engagement with additionals. The paper concludes that conditions such as voluntary disclosure appear to support the sustainability transition of corporate actors by being associated with better performance outcomes.</p
The effect of customers’ unethical practices on suppliers’ intention to continue their relationships
No full textThis study examines inter-firm buyer–supplier relationships through an ethical lens. Drawing on the concept of reciprocity in social exchange theory as well as resource dependence theory, we examine the effect of customers’ unethical practices on their suppliers’ intention to continue their business relationships with their customers. Specifically, we distinguish two types of unethical practices: unfair business practices, which directly target suppliers and socially irresponsible practices, which have an impact on wider society. Integrating social exchange theory and resource dependence theory, we investigate the effects of two moderating factors: suppliers’ dependence on their customers and the benefits derived from the supplier–customer relationship. Using data obtained from 506 managers from small-to-medium-sized firms, our findings show that both customers’ unfair business practices and socially irresponsible practices have negative relationships with their suppliers’ intention to continue the relationships. These effects are moderated by supplier dependence and benefits derived from their customers. Overall, our study shows that intention to continue in these relationships, in response to unethical practices by customers, is bounded by supplier self-interest and resource dependence. Our study is one of the few to examine suppliers’ responses to unethical practices and our findings are consistent with the notion of weak reciprocity, rather than strong reciprocity that predominates in the literature.</p
On the Morality of Enjoying Simulated Rape with Robots and by Other Fictional Means
No full textI argue that there is no morally relevant difference, based solely on motivation for enjoyment, between enjoying simulated rape with a sexbot compared to other media. In defence of this claim, I distinguish between two types of enjoyment – enjoyment qua simulation and enjoyment qua substitution – and further claim that each type of enjoyment shares corresponding similarities with either idle or surrogate fantasies. Given this, the enjoyment of one's rape fantasy is, I contend, immoral if one enjoys qua substitution one's surrogate fantasy about (for example) sexualized enslavement and rape, but not if one enjoys qua simulation one's idle fantasy about the same sexualized enslavement and rape. I therefore conclude that whether one's enjoyment is immoral depends on the motivation for the enjoyment and the type of fantasy one creates to procure it (where the motivation for enjoyment and fantasy share the same desire), and not the media used to facilitate one's fantasy and subsequent enjoyment.</p