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Understanding the functioning of urban climate finance through topologies of reach
Get PDFUrban climate action is increasingly understood through the lens of finance: through financial agendas, interests, and practical tools which enable ‘bankable’ or profitable interventions. While the literature is rife with criticism of the normative foundations and exploitative effects of this approach, it fails to capture the variegated ways in which finance configures, and is configured by, particular urban sites and spaces of power. This contribution extends our cartography of urban climate finance by bringing to light the relational dynamics of financial practices and the ways in which they span across diverse urban sites in topological ways. It has now become a common refrain among development and finance institutions that urban climate finance is, in fact, difficult to realize. A central reason for this is the perceived lack of possibilities to generate returns for investors. A topological perspective offers a relational view on the spatial practices through which new places are to be enrolled into the use of climate finance with the aim of stabilizing financial investment. Concentrating on the notion of ‘topological reach’, we show how climate finance, through its particular demands for bankability, creates new urban presences through spatial mechanisms of stretches, folds and distortions. By examining these topological mechanisms across a breadth of empirical material sourced from the individual research of the coauthors, we unpack the ways in which climate finance strategies are extended by a limited set of actors across space, often dominating and instrumentalizing urban climate action imaginaries and practices, while also failing to address a wide range of concerns and communities which fall outside of the operational parameters and speculative horizons of finance. The topological perspective provides us with the tools to make these struggles visible and opens up avenues to contest contemporary climate finance practices on the ground and to decenter the overarching narratives that drive contemporary climate finance
Searching for the “politics of the possible” in flexitarianism
Get PDFThe paper builds on recent flexitarianism scholarship by approaching this heterogeneous dietary category as a socio-cultural and political economic, rather than just a psychological phenomenon. It does this by drawing on Edmund Harris’s conceptualization of alternative food provisioning activities and subject-making as a “politics of the possible.” The paper addresses the following questions: does flexitarianism and the making of flexitarian subjectivities represent a “politics of the possible” and if so how; what are the limits of these politics and how might these limits be overcome? Empirically, the paper undertakes a qualitative analysis of UK national print news media coverage of flexitarianism and semi-structured interviews with self-identified flexitarians. Data from these two sources are interwoven in the discussion of themes that provide some evidence in support of flexitarianism as a politics of the possible, but which also draw attention to the limits of these politics. The paper concludes that only by addressing these limits can a full and critical assessment be made of flexitarianism’s contribution to a food system less dependent on animal-based foods
Cross Ownership Under Strategic Tax Policy
Get PDFWe provide a new reason for the consumer surplus and welfare raising cross ownership. We show that cross ownership reduces the tax rate, and increases consumer surplus and welfare under Cournot and Bertrand competition when the marginal social cost/benefit of public funds is less than unity. We further show that Cournot competition creates higher consumer surplus and welfare compared to Bertrand competition if the marginal social cost/benefit of public funds is less than unity, thus providing a new reason for the Cournot-Bertrand welfare reversal
AFPM Machines Equipped with Multilayer Magnets
Get PDFThis article investigates the manufacturability and applicability of unified multilayer magnets, comprising two different magnetic materials with distinct characteristics, for use in electrical machines. In particular, the self-produced multilayer magnets are made of compressed NdFeB bonded powders for the ‘strong’ magnet layer and hybrid composite materials for the ‘weak’ magnet layer. Various combinations of material for the self-produced permanent magnets are experimentally investigated. Also, the suitability of resultant multilayer bonded magnets to electrical machines is articulated on the basis of finite element simulations. To assess their performance, three axial-flux surface-mounted permanent magnet machines are constructed: one conventional machine with single-layer bonded magnets as the reference, and two machines equipped with multilayer magnets with series and parallel configurations. The performance of the machines are evaluated in terms of the back-EMF, output torque, torque ripple, losses, efficiency, and cost. The findings indicate an appreciable enhancement in flux-weakening operation for the machine equipped with multilayer magnets, but at the expense of lower flux linkage values and nominal torque. Further analyses of the multilayer magnet's trade-offs and potential applications in electrical machines are presented
Digitalising Specialist Smoking Cessation Support in Pregnancy: Views of Pregnant Smokers
Get PDFIntroductionUnsupported attempts to quit smoking during pregnancy have a low success rate. Chances of quitting successfully are higher with an interpersonal treatment programme but there is low uptake of this in the United Kingdom (UK). Delivering a pregnancy-specific treatment programme digitally may provide an alternative treatment route. This study explored pregnant smokers’ perceptions of barriers and facilitators to using digital cessation support, along with identifying modes of delivery and engagement enhancers.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were carried out with an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample of 25 participants with recent experience of attempting to quit smoking in pregnancy, aged 20 – 40, from the UK. An inductive thematic analysis approach was used.ResultsDigital smoking cessation support, particularly a smartphone app, for pregnancy was felt to overcome many barriers to engaging with interpersonal support, being viewed as more convenient and non-judgemental, providing better consistency of advice, and enhancing privacy and autonomy. However, some participants felt that removing access to a human could undermine a digital support package and reduce engagement. Popular engagement enhancers included self-monitoring (e.g. digital recording of smoking; smartphone-linked carbon monoxide monitoring), online communities, and remote access to nicotine substitution options. Digital support was viewed as having potential as a stand-alone intervention or working in conjunction with standard interpersonal treatment.ConclusionsThe findings support the investigation of a digital support package as both a stand-alone and adjunct to standard interpersonal cessation support in pregnancy to increase the proportion of pregnant smokers who make a supported quit attempt.ImplicationsIn many countries like the United Kingdom, there are few smoking cessation options routinely available that provide effective support for smoking cessation in pregnancy. To maximize impact, health services need an effective range of strategies to engage with and support quit attempts made by all pregnant smokers, particularly as interpersonal support options are not often well used. Development of a pregnancy-specific digital support package for smoking cessation in pregnancy may represent a means to help address this gap
Cybersecurity behavior change: A conceptualization of ethical principles for behavioral interventions
No full textThe importance of changing behaviors is gradually being acknowledged in cybersecurity, and the reason is the realization that a notable portion of security incidents have a human-related component. Thus, enhancing behaviors at individual level, can bring a significant reduction in security breaches overall. Behavior change refers to any modification of human behavior through some type of intervention. Interventions from behavioral economics and psychology are being increasingly introduced in the field, however, the ethics surrounding such interventions are largely neglected. In this paper, we raise the ethical issues associated with behavioral intervention approaches. We draw on the traditionally more mature field of biomedical ethics and propose six clusters of ethical principles suitable for cybersecurity behavior change. We conducted a survey (N = 141) to identify individuals’ perceptions on the proposed ethical principles and validate their perceived usefulness. We analyze an existing intervention in the light of our six-principle conceptualization to showcase how it can be used as a practical apparatus. Our set of ethical principles are aimed for cybersecurity professionals, policy makers, and behavioral intervention designers, and can serve as a starting point for best-practice development in cybersecurity behavior change ethics
Slavery on the Northern Frontier: A Stylus Tablet from Vindolanda
Get PDFA Roman stylus tablet discovered at Vindolanda in 2014 preserves the partial text of a deed-of-sale for an enslaved person, only the second such document from Britain. This article presents the results of multiple techniques used to reveal the almost illegible text and proposes a restoration of the format of the document and its lost content, based on more complete examples from Italy and around the Empire. We examine the late first-century archaeological and historical context and suggest that the purchaser is probably the prefect Iulius Verecundus. We consider other possible evidence for the servi of the commanders at Vindolanda, for example in another hard-to-decipher stylus tablet which may be related to their travel. The deed-of-sale provides a new type of testimony for slavery at Vindolanda and adds to knowledge of enslavement in the Roman military
Assessing the Impact of Board Sustainability Committees on Greenhouse Gas Performance: Evidence From Industrialised European Countries
Get PDFThis study examines the impact of executive compensation (EC) and board sustainability integration index (BSII) on both greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and greenhouse gas management processes (GGMP). Additionally, it investigates the relationship between GGMP and GHGE to assess the effectiveness of process-oriented measures in reducing actual emissions. Through the lens of legitimacy theory and incentive alignment theory, we harness an extensive dataset encompassing 15,876 firm-year observations across 22 industrialised European countries from 2002 to 2022. First, the findings show that although EC positively correlates with enhanced GGMP, it has an insignificant effect on GHGE reduction. Second, the results suggest that although BSII independently bolster sustainability initiatives, the moderating effect of BSII on EC (EC*BSII) may lead to a legitimacy gap. This gap emerges when the relationship of EC and BSII falls short of societal expectations regarding environmental performance, potentially eroding organisational legitimacy. Third, the findings indicate that firms that engage in GGMP also tend to have higher levels of GHGE, pointing to the use of GGMP by firms as a means of symbolic legitimation
Universality versus culturality in early childhood education (ECE): what are they and where are they located in the everyday practice of Chinese and English ECE? / Universalidad frente a culturalidad en Educación Preescolar (EP): ¿qué son y dónde se encuentran en las prácticas cotidianas de China y Reino Unido?
Get PDFCriticisms on the dominance of ‘Western’ mores and values in shaping early childhood education (ECE) curriculum frameworks in Asian contexts have led to arguments for culturally appropriate pedagogy that addresses conflict and fusion of Western and non-Western cultures. However, whether concerns about quality of practice in ECE relate to cultural differences or structural limitations is not empirically established in existing literature. There is ongoing debate on whether international quality standards are possible/necessary. Our paper responds to the research gap and adds insight into universality and culturality of quality ECE from cross-cultural perspectives. Taking interpretative approach, four scholars from China and England seek to make sense of observed differences across English and Chinese practices in ECE. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) informed our data analysis, and a three-stage inter-researcher and cross-cultural analyses were followed. Our reflections challenge the deficit model often associated with Chinese ECE practices in international literature. Findings suggest full contextualisation and cultural understanding are essential in interpreting different practices; whereby cross-cultural reflections among researchers and practitioners offer learning opportunities for such understanding
Efficacy and safety of statins, ezetimibe and statins-ezetimibe therapies for children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia: Systematic review, pairwise and network meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials
Get PDFBackground and aims: Statins, ezetimibe and statins-ezetimibe combination therapy are recommended lipid-lowering therapies (LLTs) in children with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH). However, their relative effectiveness is not well understood. We aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of these therapies using direct and indirect comparisons. Methods: We conducted systematic review, pairwise and network meta-analyses (NMAs) of randomised-controlled trials (RCTs) of statins, ezetimibe and statins-ezetimibe combination therapy in people <18 years with HeFH. Comprehensive bibliographic searches were conducted in December 2022, and a Medline update in January 2024. NMA models accounted for drug class, statin type and dosage. Results: Thirteen RCTs were included (n = 1649, median age 13 years, follow-up 6 weeks-2 years). All LLTs reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol; statins led to increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and reductions in triglycerides. Statins reduced LDL-C by 33.61 % against placebo (95 % CI 27.58 to 39.63, I2 = 83 %). Adding ezetimibe to statins reduced LDL-C by an additional 15.85 % (95 % CI 11.91 to 19.79). NMAs showed intermediate-dose statins reduced LDL-C by an additional 4.77 % compared with lower-doses statins (95 % CrI −11.22 to 1.05); higher-dose statins and intermediate-dose statins + ezetimibe may be similarly effective and are probably superior to ezetimibe, intermediate-and lower-dose statins. There was no evidence of differences in maturation, safety or tolerability between LLTs and placebo. Conclusions: Statins, ezetimibe and statins-ezetimibe are all effective treatments for children with HeFH, but the magnitude of LDL-C reductions varies and may depend on treatment dosage and combination. No safety or tolerability issues were found. Longer-term safety and effectiveness are uncertain
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