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This paper examines the work of Michael Novak, a prominent American philosopher and theologian with roots in Central Europe. The study focuses on Novak's understanding of democratic capitalism and its role in promoting economic growth and human flourishing. Novak argues that when properly understood and practiced, capitalism can lead to a more just and prosperous society, as it is based on the human desire for freedom, creativity, and self-expression. However, he emphasizes that the success of capitalism depends on the presence of moral and spiritual values, which he believes are necessary for it to function properly. This paper explores Novak's arguments and evaluates them in the light of current knowledge. It also examines which values Novak deems important and why. The paper concludes that while Novak's understanding of capitalism has some limitations, it offers valuable insights into the relationship between economics and morality. Novak's framework provides a starting point for future discussions on how to ensure that capitalism operates ethically and promotes the common good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, numerous herbal products have been shown to have antihyperglycemic and beta cell-regenerative effects in animal studies. However, there is no clinical evidence that those products completely cure patients with type-1 diabetes (T1D). Therefore, it seems that most of the phytochemicals do not have a significant impact on human beta cells, and the results of experimental studies conducted on them may not be generalizable to the clinic. The present work aims to review extensively the methods and results of preclinical studies on phytotherapy of T1D published in the last 10 years. This paper critically analyzes the designs of studies, treatment protocols, methods of diabetes induction, characteristics of the studied animals, clinical relevance, reproducibility of research, and other aspects related to conducting preclinical studies on T1D. We discussed limitations that make many of the results of these studies not generalizable to the clinic. Finally, some recommendations were given to improve studies on the phytotherapy of T1D to avoid misleading interpretations about the antidiabetic effect of herbal compounds. This paper can be considered a practical guide for researchers interested in the field of phytotherapy of T1D to increase the reliability, reproducibility, and validity of their preclinical studies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qualitative research in psychology can often maintain standards and assumptions from positivistic and experimental methodologies. Sometimes these issues are well argued against or around logically in literature, often abstractly, but cases of methodological consideration with real cases are rarer. This discussion aims to help methodological reflection and learning by presenting a case of multiple intersecting methodological considerations. The methods included a content analysis completed on interviews with women related to men participating in a violence and intervention trial. This paper presents the limitations and methodological considerations during analysis as a detailed discussion. Considerations arose from assumptions in the research design, interpreter use and leading questions. The discussion describes considerations and solutions depending on the scope required – here working with women in or near contexts of violence. Hopefully, a demonstration of full considerations within such a project encourages similar case-based examinations of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dye-sensitized solar cells have been under development for the last three decades but are yet to see the market. This has been attributed to stability issues of the electrolyte in the cell. Electrolytes can be liquid, quasi-solid, or solid. Liquid electrolytes were the first to be developed and, therefore, have been subject to radical revisions in both composition and applicability. They have shown the best power conversion efficiencies but have poor thermal stability. Although quasi-solid and solid-state electrolytes were developed to overcome these stability issues, they too have their limits. The aim of this paper is to explore the development of liquid electrolytes, outlining the current state of the technology and considering their potential in the photovoltaic market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Any drug can potentially induce a hypersensitivity reaction. If after the allergological work‐up the drug hypersensitivity reaction is confirmed, in most cases, the simple avoidance of the culprit drug and a suggestion of an unrelated alternative is enough. However, there are circumstances where the choice to stop the treatment affects the survival, the safety and/or the quality of life of the patient and the global outcome of the disease in question. When this occurs, drug desensitization can be the answer and should not be viewed as an extravagance, nor the pediatric age should be considered a contraindication. Drug desensitization in children can be safely and successfully performed, having a positive impact on the survival and overall prognosis. In general, the indications for DDS are the same in adults as in children. However, in this age group there are specificities that this paper aimed to describe, reviewing the mechanisms behind drug hypersensitivity and rapid drug desensitization, types of protocols, indications, and contraindications, as well as several technical aspects that are specific to the pediatric age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyze the potentials and limitations offered by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the educational field, specifically in the context of the pandemic caused by the SARS-COV2 virus. A qualitative research methodology with a documentary approach was employed to gather and analyze a series of relevant documents regarding the use of technology in contingency scenarios as substitutes for traditional learning environments. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that the pandemic has created an opportunity to rethink educational systems, 1mphasizeng the importance of ICT in the educational field. The need to design and redesign strategies that effectively integrate the use of ICT in classrooms, restructuring teaching and learning processes to ensure quality education, becomes evident. It is worth highlighting that ICT has demonstrated its ability to provide innovative solutions in the educational domain, enabling the continuity of the teaching and learning process during emergency situations such as the current pandemic. However, certain limitations and challenges must be addressed, such as the digital divide and the need for teacher training in the use of these technological tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for materials with better performance, longer service life, lower environmental impact, and lower overall cost is at the forefront of polymer science and material engineering. This has led to the development of self‐healing polymers with a range of healing mechanisms including capsular‐based, vascular, and intrinsic self‐healing polymers. The development of self‐healable systems has been inspired by the healing of biological systems such as skin wound healing and broken bone reconstruction. The goal of using self‐healing polymers in various applications is to extend the service life of polymers without the need for replacement or human intervention especially in restricted access areas such as underwater/underground piping where inspection, intervention, and maintenance are very difficult. Through an industrial and scholarly lens, this paper provides: a) an overview of self‐healing polymers; b) classification of different self‐healing polymers and polymer‐based composites; c) mechanical, thermal, and electrical analysis characterization; d) applications in coating, composites, and electronics; e) modeling and simulation; and f) recent development in the past 20 years. This review highlights the importance of healable polymers for an economically and environmentally sustainable future, the most recent advances in the field, and current limitations in fabrication, manufacturing, and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roads are the main transportation system in any country and, therefore, must be maintained in good physical condition to provide a safe and seamless flow to transport people and goods. However, road pavements are subjected to various defects because of construction errors, aging, environmental conditions, changing traffic load, and poor maintenance. Regular inspections are therefore recommended to ensure serviceability and minimize maintenance costs. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a non-destructive testing (NDT) technique widely used to inspect the subsurface condition of road pavements. Furthermore, the integral use of NDTs has received more attention in recent years since it provides a more comprehensive and reliable assessment of the road network. Accordingly, GPR has been integrated with complementary NDTs to extend its capabilities and to detect potential pavement surface and subsurface distresses and features. In this paper, the non-destructive methods commonly combined with GPR to monitor both flexible and rigid pavements are briefly described. In addition, published work combining GPR with other NDT methods is reviewed, emphasizing the main findings and limitations of the most practical combination methods. Further, challenges, trends, and future perspectives of the reviewed combination works are highlighted, including the use of intelligent data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of human rights can be restricted in certain situations, despite their significance for every democratic society. That means that those rights are not absolute. Such situations represent, for example, war and states of emergency, according to the European Convention on Human Rights. Then, in order to protect the interest of the state and national security, human rights, that means the interests of individuals, come second. In that case, it is necessary to achieve a balance between the necessary restrictions and the preservation of the state’s interests. One of the best examples of the restrictions of human rights during a state of emergency is the period of Covid-19. Many rights, such as the right to respect for private and family life, were restricted during Covid-19 in a number of countries in Europe, but each country established its own measures according to its own situation. The cases regarding these restrictions and violations will be submitted to the European Court of Human Rights in the years to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]