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This book review discusses "Donald Horne: A Life in the Lucky Country" by Ryan Cropp. The book explores the life and work of Donald Horne, a prolific writer and thinker in Australia. It covers his early years as a student and journalist, his time in England, and his influential role in Australian media. The review praises the book for its thorough research and well-written narrative, highlighting Horne's intellectual journey from conservatism to liberalism. Overall, it is described as a high-quality biography of an important figure in Australian history. [Extracted from the article]

The book "Histories of Fascism and Anti-Fascism in Australia" edited by Evan Smith, Jayne Persian, and Vashti Jane Fox sheds light on the often overlooked topic of Australian right-wing radicalism. The book explores the historical context and various individuals, groups, and movements within the radical right in Australia. It also examines the relationship between the political mainstream and the radical right, as well as the opposition faced by anti-fascists. While the book has some imbalances and omissions, it offers important observations that can contribute to future research and debate on the subject. The book also addresses the tension between scholarship and activism, and the question of whether the Australian radical right is endogenous or influenced by international factors. Overall, the book provides valuable insights and should be read to stimulate further discussion and research. [Extracted from the article]

"A History of Crime in Australia: Australian Underworlds" by Nancy Cushing is an introductory text for students of crime history and criminology. The book explores the impact of English law on transported convicts and First Nations peoples in Australia, and how their own systems of law were disregarded by colonists. It is organized into twelve chapters, each focusing on a specific aspect of crime history in Australia. The book includes essays by historians in each chapter, providing examples of scholarly writing. While the book primarily focuses on the legal history of New South Wales and Victoria, it offers thought-provoking case studies and is accessible to both students and general readers interested in crime history. [Extracted from the article]

The book "British India, White Australia: Overseas Indians, Intercolonial Relations and the Empire" by Kama Maclean explores the historical relationship between Australia, India, and Britain in the post-Federation era. The author examines how the White Australia Policy influenced and was influenced by racial constructs, Australian self-interest, and British pragmatism. Drawing on archival resources from India, Australia, and the UK, the book provides a pre-history of the current bilateral relationship between Australia and India. It also highlights alternative viewpoints and counter-narratives of agency and equality, shedding light on the experiences of the Indian diaspora in Australia. [Extracted from the article]

"The Holocaust and Australia: Refugees, Rejection, and Memory" by Paul Bartrop is a book that explores Australia's relationship to the Holocaust. The author discusses Australian governmental policy, the influence of Britain, and the public's view of Jewry during the war years. While the book provides valuable insights, the reviewer notes that it is largely a revised edition of Bartrop's previous work from 1994, with some new material added. The reviewer suggests that the book could have delved deeper into the coverage of the Holocaust by other Australian newspapers and analyzed the attitudes of different states and territories. The final chapters cover the post-1945 period but are considered brief and lacking in depth. The reviewer also questions the book's omission of the Helen Demidenko scandal and the fabrication of Holocaust-related testimony in other Australian works, and raises important questions about Australia's refugee acceptance policies in the face of genocidal horror. Overall, the book is praised for its readability and as a valuable resource for students. [Extracted from the article]

Analytical studies of ancient Chinese handmade papers and paper-based materials have long faced challenges, due to the need for high-quality, scientifically sound data that can lead to suitable diagnostic criteria. This study applies Herzberg staining, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), Raman spectroscopy, pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) to five Hetian Administration Banknotes (HABs), a particular type of regional banknotes issued by Ma Hu-shan (1910–1954), a Hui warlord, in southern Xinjiang between 1933 and 1937. The results shed important insights into the use of fiber and dyes on HABs, revealing how locally handmade Sangpi (bark of the mulberry tree, Morus alba L.) papers and imported synthetic dyes (Rhodamine B, Methyl Violet 2B, Direct Black 38, and presumably Sudan II) were combined to serve the needs of the regional economy in southern Xinjiang during the 1930s. We conclude the paper by tentatively proposing guidelines for applying low- and high-resolution analytical methods to understand the manufacture and use of ancient Chinese handmade papers and paper-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Wayfaring Strangers: The Musical Voyage from Scotland and Ulster to Appalachia" is a book by Fiona Ritchie and Doug Orr that explores the cultural pathways of traditional Scottish and Irish folk music as it traveled to Appalachia. The book examines the influences of Welsh, English, German, Dutch, French, African American, and Cherokee cultures on these songs. It is structured into three main sections and includes photographs, maps, and sidebars covering various topics related to folk music. The authors also exchange letters discussing their perspectives on Old and New World music. The book sheds light on the history of American folk music and its connection to immigrant experiences. It includes a contextual timeline, resource centers, a discography, and a bibliography for further exploration. Scholars and music enthusiasts will find this book to be a valuable resource. [Extracted from the article]

In this paper, I propose a new way of defining sport that I call a 'core-periphery' model. According to a core-periphery model, sport comes in degrees – what I refer to as 'sport-likeness' – and the aim of the philosopher of sport is to chart those dimensions along which an activity can be more or less a sport. By introducing the concept of sport-likeness, the core-periphery model complicates the picture of what is or is not a sport and encourages philosophers interested in defining sport to engage with the social sciences in exploring the extension of the term sport in common usage. In this paper I present the results of a small survey about attitudes to sport, and use it to illustrate how a core-periphery definition of sport would proceed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term ‘nature sports’ can be understood in different ways, depending on how the words ‘sport’ and ‘nature’ are explained. Since ‘nature’ is usually understood as ‘ungroomed’, ‘nature sports’ may be interpreted either as non-competitive practices in ungroomed nature (as discussed by Krein), with examples such as backcountry skiing, climbing or surfing; or as competitive sports in ungroomed nature. This paper argues that those ultra sports that take place in ungroomed nature, such as ultra swimming and ultra running, are better candidates for being called ‘nature sports’ than those non-competitive ones suggested by Krein; and that this is also more in line with the contemporary common use of the term ‘sport’. This paper discusses these ‘ultra/nature’ sports, mainly from the point of view of their relationship to nature, the values that they offer to athletes, and their specific temporality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigated the usage of mobile technology in marketing academic libraries in developing countries. The main purpose, apart from awareness, is to look at how researchers are studying mobile technology in marketing academic libraries, what are the current issues investigated and what has to be the direction of the topic globally. The paper employed 23 research papers for systematic review. The findings reveal that academic libraries are aware of mobile technology and use it at various levels for academic library promotion, visibility, and teaching and learning. Factors influencing the use of mobile technology in marketing academic libraries were identified and further noted that little has been studied regarding mobile technology in marketing academic libraries and its performance in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editors are pleased to announce that the winner of the best paper prize for 2023 is Addis Yimer for his paper titled, 'The effects of FDI on economic growth in Africa', published in volume 32, issue 1, pages 2–36. We congratulate Dr. Yımer, who will receive a prize of 500 pounds. [Extracted from the article]

The 14th International Conference on Radiation Shielding and 21st Topical Meeting of the Radiation Protection and Shielding Division (ICRS 14/RPSD 2022) was successfully held in Seattle, Washington. The conference featured 123 presented papers and had attendees from Japan, Korea, and several European countries in addition to North America. The conference included plenary talks on various topics related to nuclear reactor concepts, shielding and radiation protection, and the situation at Fukushima Daiichi. The conference also recognized individuals with awards and included workshops on computer codes used for radiation shielding applications. A special issue of Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE) contains a selection of papers from the conference. [Extracted from the article]

The document is a thank you message from the editor of the journal Critical Reviews in Toxicology (CRT) to the authors and reviewers of papers published in 2023. The editor expresses appreciation for the effort and high standards of the authors in preparing scientific review papers. The role of the anonymous external reviewers is also highlighted, as their voluntary service is crucial in maintaining the journal's quality. The document mentions that CRT is ranked 15th out of 128 toxicology journals and has a global presence in terms of readership and authorship. The editor encourages authors to continue submitting high-quality manuscripts and invites them to track their peer review contributions through the Web of Science platform. [Extracted from the article]

"English Renaissance Manuscript Culture: the paper revolution" by Steven W. May is a book that explores the paper revolution and its impact on manuscript culture during the English Renaissance. May argues that the transition from script to print was not as simple as previously believed and offers correctives to earlier accounts. He also challenges the notion of exclusive coteries and highlights the open and freely circulating nature of texts during this period. May reconstructs the network of manuscript culture through compilers' testimony, textual criticism, biographical research, and handwriting analysis. The book invites further research and emphasizes the importance of understanding the circulation of manuscripts during the English Renaissance. [Extracted from the article]

In Bernard Suits’ The Grasshopper and Return of the Grasshopper, game-play is claimed to be the ‘ideal of existence’ and the only activity that could sustain us through the ‘endless and endlessly boring summer’ of utopia. Christopher Yorke has challenged these claims by way of a constructive dilemma. If these games are sufficiently akin to the games we play, then they are not adequate to the task of rendering immortality tolerable. If these games are importantly different than the games we play, then, in being ‘unknown and unknowable’, they would characterize a form of life that is importantly different from our own and, so, would be inappropriate objects of social and political aspiration. Against Yorke’s skepticism, I argue that the games that constitute the ideal of existence are intelligible to us because we already play what the Grasshopper calls ‘open games’. Steffen Borge concedes that utopian games are intelligible, but argues that such games would fail to ‘grab our minds and imagination’. In the second half of the paper, I contend, against Borge, that such open games are adequate to the task of sustaining the interest of an immortal community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the question of whether nature sports are to be counted among the (traditional) sports and Kevin Krein’s recent argument, based on sporting excellence, as to why they should. Krein argues that sports as such are ultimately about sporting excellence and because both so-called traditional sports and nature sports fulfil that criterion, nature sports belong in the sport domain. Here, I show that Krein’s argument rests on an equivocation between two concepts of sporting excellence. Sporting excellence in traditional sports is connected to sporting success. Here agon (contest or competition) dictates or frames areté (striving for excellence). This is not the case for sporting excellence in nature sports, as these are not competitions. We are dealing with two different concepts of sporting excellence and Krein’s argument, based on sporting excellence, must be rejected. It gives no basis for including nature sports in the sport domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Where sporting games may be said to epitomize our species’ unique agential capacity for playful movement, sports played in nature differ from their equivalent played indoors in that they envelop the human agent within the living physical environment from which our agency originates. In this paper, we draw attention to how sporting sites differ according to origin by pursuing a biosemiotic line of reasoning. Here, the story of a meaningful human life begins with the eukaryotic cell, even though the human subject itself arises much later. As such, the story of nature in relation to our agency, here, in sports, changes too. We present key concepts from biosemiotics, including its continuum life-as-semiotic-agency view, Umwelt, metasemiosis, and semiotic scaffolding to advance our argument that naturogenic sporting sites provide continuity to the macro processes that have generated our semiotic ability to play. Meanwhile, secluded anthropogenic environments constitute yet another discontinuity for the modern sportsperson where the moving body steps into an anthroposemiotic loop and its restricted signscapes from centralized agency. We conclude on the primacy of naturogenic sporting sites as they preserve the quality and complexity of animal ludens’ constitutive relations and therefrom semiotic freedom, on which current and future gameplaying depends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport categorization is often justified by benefits such as increased fairness or inclusion. Taking inspiration from John Rawls, Sigmund Loland’s fair equality of opportunity principle in sport (FEOPs) is a tool for determining whether the existence of an inequality ethically justifies the institution of a new category in any given sport. It is an elegant ethical normative framework, but since FEOPs does not account explicitly for athlete safety (i.e. athlete physical and mental wellbeing), we are left in an ethically dubious situation where the risk of harm associated with a categorization regime might in fact prove to be greater than the risk of harm present within the sport before its introduction. To address this critical gap, I propose the ‘scales of ignorance’ ethical normative framework to weigh the relative risk of harm within a sport, crucially inserting athlete safety into the discourse surrounding ethical justification for categorization in sport. The current paper is the first explicit formulation of assessment and ethical justification of risk of harm in the familiar logic of FEOPs. The scales of ignorance framework can also be used independently of Loland’s approach. Two new concepts are also proposed: ‘insidious risk of harm’ and ‘pernicious risk of harm’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 6th International Workshop on Heat/Mass Transfer Advances for Energy Conservation and Pollution Control (IWHT2021) was successfully held online from August 13 to 16, 2021, in Harbin, China. The workshop aimed to provide a global platform for the exchange of cutting-edge technological knowledge and research on heat and mass transfer issues related to energy conservation and pollution management. The event featured plenary lectures, keynote lectures, oral presentations, and posters covering various topics such as nuclear energy, advanced energy systems, heat exchangers, and heat/mass transfer enhancement techniques. Nine research papers from the workshop were selected for inclusion in a special issue of Heat Transfer Engineering. The 7th IWHT conference is scheduled to take place in Tokushima, Japan in 2023. [Extracted from the article]

With the advancement of technology, different approaches to make teachers' tasks more interactive and improve teacher teaching methodologies are becoming more and more common. Additionally, students must feel motivated and positively interact with these new methodologies. To understand these new initiatives, this paper aims to identify the adoption model of a game-focused student response system. To do so, the theoretical framework of the hedonic-motivation system adoption model was applied to Kahoot! which turns the classroom into a game show. For this purpose, a survey was designed, supported by a questionnaire administered to 214 students, applying a non-probabilistic convenience sampling to the students who decided to be evaluated by this method, together with the classic paper tests and the electronic tests on an e-learning platform. The results showed that the application of the hedonic motivation system adoption model is adequate for the adoption of a game-based student response system tool, and all relationships were significant except those related to the Temporal Dissociation variable. The results of this research can help the education sector to have a better acceptance of these kinds of tools in the classroom, and a better understanding of their functionalities. In general, the results of the present study contributed to the literature by identifying the important role of a game-based student response system tool in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nguyen Minh Khoa has responded to the editor's letter regarding their article titled "On the polyconvolution operator with a trigonometric weight function for Hartley integral transforms and applications." They express gratitude for the feedback and address specific points raised by the anonymous reviewer. They confirm the accuracy of the factorization equality and Placherel's type theorem. However, they point out an error in the condition of Watson's type theorem and provide the corrected version. Nguyen Minh Khoa appreciates the comments and aims to improve the quality of their article. [Extracted from the article]

The 14th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Applications of Accelerators (AccApp'21) was held in 2021 as an embedded topical meeting during the ANS Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. The conference aimed to promote accelerator-based research and development and covered various research topics, including accelerator facilities, nuclear data, medical applications, and industrial applications. A total of 120 abstracts were submitted, and 105 presentations were given. The conference faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic but was successful with the support of participants and sponsors. The conference proceedings were published in Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE). [Extracted from the article]

"Schools and Screens: A Watchful History" by Victoria Cain explores the use of screens and their content in American classrooms from the New Deal Era to Y2K. The book examines the historical and cultural significance of screens in education, focusing on four core issues: citizenship, race, private money, and teachers. Cain discusses the challenges and successes of incorporating film, television, and computers into the education system, highlighting the impact of private funding and the commercialization of educational technology. The book emphasizes the complex and nuanced role of screens in shaping and being shaped by the American education system. [Extracted from the article]

"Elizabeth and John: The Macarthurs of Elizabeth Farm" by Alan Atkinson explores the dynamic partnership between Elizabeth and John Macarthur, challenging the traditional narrative that focuses solely on John's public role in Australian settler colonial history. Atkinson examines how Elizabeth's education and intellectual curiosity contributed to their success as a couple, allowing John to establish new relationships and networks in the colony. The book delves into their emotional bonds and the complexities of their interactions with indigenous peoples. Atkinson's work is a comprehensive and engaging account that offers new insights into the lives of the Macarthurs and their place in Australian history. [Extracted from the article]

"Reaching Through Time: Finding My Family's Stories" by Shauna Bostock is a highly acclaimed book that aims to educate non-Aboriginal Australians about the historical injustices faced by Aboriginal Australians. Bostock, a Bundjalung historian, writes as an academically trained historian with a strong connection to her family and community. The book tells the compelling stories of her ancestors, connecting them to broader events in Australian history. It also serves as a guide for Indigenous Australians researching their own family histories and advocates for truth-telling and understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. [Extracted from the article]

In 2016 WHO launched the priority assistive products list (APL) consisting of 50 products and recommended that using this as a reference, countries should develop their own contextually relevant national APLs. This paper describes the development of Malawi's APL. Two hundred and ninety-six persons with disabilities participated in a rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) survey. Six focus group discussions (FGDs) with people with various types of disabilities were conducted. The rATA questionnaire and FGDs collected data on assistive products (APs) participants used, APs they needed and the challenges they experienced. Data collection was done in six districts spread across the three regions in Malawi. All age groups were included in the survey. Persons with disabilities aged less than 18 participated but went with their guardians. All persons who participated in this study provided consent. Survey and FGDs results were presented at an APL consensus meeting with policymakers, service providers, disabled peoples' organizations and development partners in the disability sector. Based on the results and further discussions, a consensus was reached on the priority APs for Malawi. More than a third of respondents used wheelchairs (32%), followed by auxiliary crutches (25%), walking sticks (13%), reading glasses (11%), prosthesis (10%), elbow crutches (9%) and orthosis (8%). There is also a high demand for products such as pull-up underwear (incontinence products) (79%), hearing aids (70%), reading glasses (59%) and diapers (63%). After intensive discussions during a consensus meeting, an agreement was reached on the 22 priority APs for Malawi. There is a wide range of APs being used by people with different functional limitations in Malawi. There is also a demand for APs that are not readily available. When developing an APL, the list should include products in use, those in demand, and those recommended by service providers. Following the development of the priority assistive products list (APL) by WHO, member states should develop their own contextually based APL. The development of the APL should be based on research evidence. All key stakeholders including persons with disabilities and other functional limitations, government, and development partners should participate in this process. The APL should be part of the national health system or community services. The Department of Disability and Elderly Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development, being the Government of Malawi line ministry coordinating disability issues participated actively in this study including inviting participants in the stakeholders' validation workshop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on research conducted within the frame of an international online cooperation between Germany and Israel (CoGI). Diverse, multilingual student groups co-construct multilingual websites on educational initiatives. The aim is to raise prospective teachers' language awareness (LA) and cultural awareness (CA) for cooperation in international contexts. 75 students and five instructors from four different campuses in Germany and Israel took part in the project in 2019. Individual and cooperative learning was combined with online and face-to-face as well as student conference learning. A mixed-method approach was used to investigate the effects of the 10-week cooperation with respect to the emergence of LA and CA as well as perceived language proficiency. The results show a significant increase in participants' perceived English language proficiency and CA. The qualitative analyses give evidence of co-constructive group cooperation which revealed LA and CA in the process of negotiating shared understanding. The study highlights the importance of international online cooperation in teacher education. Dieser Beitrag berichtet über ein Forschungsprojekt, das im Rahmen einer internationalen Online-Kooperation zwischen Universitäten in Deutschland und Israel (Cooperation Germany Israel: CoGI) durchgeführt wurde. Kulturell und sprachlich diversifiziert zusammengesetzte Studierendengruppen ko-konstruieren mehrsprachige Websites zu einem von ihnen selbst gewählten Thema im Rahmen einer zwingend notwendigen Bildungsinitiative. Ziel ist es, Language Awareness, LA, und Cultural Awareness, CA, bei den zukünftigen Lehrkräften im Rahmen einer internationalen Kooperation zu fördern. 75 Studierende und fünf Lehrende von vier verschiedenen Hochschulen in Deutschland und Israel nahmen 2019 an dem Projekt teil. Individuelles und kooperatives Lernen wurde mit Online- und Face-to-Face-Lernen sowie mit Studierendenkonferenzen kombiniert. Mit einem Mixed-Method-Ansatz wurden quantitative und qualitative Daten erhoben, um mögliche Wirkungen der zehnwöchigen Zusammenarbeit in Bezug auf die Entstehung von Language Awareness und Cultural Awareness sowie eine mögliche Änderung der subjektiv wahrgenommenen Sprachkompetenz zu untersuchen. Die Ergebnisse belegen einen signifikanten Anstieg der von den Teilnehmenden subjektiv wahrgenommenen englischen Sprachkenntnisse und von Cultural Awareness. Die qualitativen Analysen belegen die Entstehung ko-konstruktiver Gruppenkooperation, in welcher bei der Aushandlung eines gemeinsamen Verständnisses Language Awareness und Cultural Awareness eine tragende Rolle zukommt. Die Studie unterstreicht die Bedeutung internationaler Online-Kooperationen in der Lehrkräfteausbildung. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARYThis paper discusses three large, almost identical oval breverls from the eighteenth century burial contexts in present-day Republic of Croatia. Two of them were discovered during archaeological excavations in Žuberak and Prozorje, while the third one from Ližnjan had not been defined as breverl until now. Breverls are the rarest and most enigmatic devotional objects but the three analysed in this paper have a common link other than their appearance. They all contained religious medals from pilgrim sites and papers with the prayer against all evils and demonic attacks on one side and the blessings of saints, the prayer for the identification of those tortured by evil spirits, and the Prologue to John’s Gospel on the other. This article compares the papers discovered in them, studies the motifs from the mentioned breverls and analyses other finds from them to provide answers to the questions of their place of production, the identity of the people who wore them and why. Tentative correlation of different bioarchaeological factors, such as age, sex, and health condition of the deceased can give us much information on who breverl bearers were. Apparently, they were the vulnerable members of society, such as pregnant women, people suffering from poor health, or, as prayers from the breverls suggest, individuals believed to be tortured by demons or evil spirits. Taking that into account, breverls were devotional objects believed to provide universal protection, a sort of medicine case for both physical and spiritual problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the Berlin Abitur examination in the twentieth century and its written documentation in files. By the late nineteenth century, the Abitur examination was fully established in Prussia and with it a graduation certificate that was obligatory for university entrance. Thus, the Abitur examination was part of the modern state entitlement system and an instrument to establish the state education monopoly. Thereafter, in every secondary school a new file was compiled for each class that took the exam every year. The resulting records provide a unique insight into the history of examination procedures. This article seeks to discuss the question of the Abitur files being simply products of bureaucratisation and rationalisation of examination practices at secondary schools, and the extent to which there was a ritualisation of the examination on paper. The building processes of the Abitur examination files in the twentieth century are reconstructed on the basis of a representative school archive located in Berlin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An epiretinal membrane (ERM) is a fibrocellular proliferation on the inner surface of the retina causing blurred and distorted central vision. Surgery is the only effective method for ERM removal. This paper investigated the mechanical properties of ERM peeling using the finite element (FE) method. A FE model of ERM formation on the retina surface was constructed. The failure criterion was applied to the attachment pegs to represent the adhesive force between the ERM and retina. The simulation results were consistent with the experimental data in published research. The maximum peeling force was 4.1 mN at a peeling velocity of 2 mm/s and an angle of 30°. The peeling force was minimum at the peeling angle of 45° and increased with the increase in peeling velocity and Young's modulus of the membrane. The outcome of this paper can improve the safety and efficiency of ERM removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the "signs and tokens" described in alchemical texts relate to colour, from the Crow's Bill signifying putrefaction to the philosophical solvents disguised as Green Lions, Red Dragons, and Grey Wolves. While the process of yellowing, or citrination, often appears in medieval recipes, it seems to have interested commentators less than the more familiar processes of blackening, whitening, or reddening. Yet beyond these canonical colours, yellowness turns out to be ubiquitous in alchemy and its associated craft practices, both in Latin texts and vernacular translations. This paper uses source criticism and experimental reconstruction to interrogate the role of yellowness at the beginning, middle, and end of practice, focusing on fifteenth- and sixteenth-century England. As starting ingredients, yellow vitriol and litharge offered the potential for transmutation but also posed problems for identification and preparation. As an intermediate stage, yellowness offered promising signs of future success, in the form of dramatic colour changes and unexpected products. But yellowness also offered an end in itself, as appears from the many citrination processes attested in recipe collections which aimed to imitate the properties of gold – suggesting that yellowing was prized as a significant indicator of chemical change across diverse areas of craft practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical adhesion of pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) is strongly dependent on their viscoelastic properties. The use of biobased materials emerged as an effective approach to modify the rheological, mechanical, and adhesive properties of PSAs. The biopolymer kraft lignin (KL), a by-product of pulp and paper manufacturing, appeared as a potential candidate for modifying the adhesive behavior of PSAs. In this study, we developed a block copolymer-based PSA by incorporating a hydrocarbon resin (HCR) and kraft lignin into the block copolymer polystyreneb-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-polystyrene (SEBS). "Viscoelastic windows", which describe the potential application of a PSA based on its viscoelastic behavior, were constructed for PSAs with the addition of KL. These results demonstrate the potential for application as a high-shear PSA due to the increased energy dissipation of the samples. Practical adhesion was evaluated using probe tack tests and lap shear strength measurements, which effectively demonstrated an increase in the cohesive strength of the PSA with an optimized concentration of 5 wt% KL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a special issue of the Heat Transfer Engineering Journal, dedicated to the research studies presented at the International Conference on Thermal Analysis of Energy Systems. The conference, organized by the Heat Pump Research Institute in India and the Department of Mechanics at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Kazakhstan, took place virtually in December 2021. Out of over 100 papers presented, eight were selected for this special issue, covering topics such as thermodynamic analysis of thermal systems, heat exchangers, and heat transfer enhancement studies. The papers were reviewed by experts in the field and revised accordingly. The document expresses gratitude to the editor, authors, and conference co-organizers, and announces that the next conference is planned for June 2024. The author of the document, Murugesan Mohanraj, is a professor in Mechanical Engineering and has extensive experience in renewable energy and heat transfer research. [Extracted from the article]

Nature sports have been touted for their value “as ways of pursuing excellence and relating to the environment” (Krein 2014, 207). This value, however, is not widely available, in large part due to structural features that create barriers to access for all but able-bodied white men possessing substantial disposable income. In this paper, we will analyse four ‘isms’ that are prominent in nature sport: ableism, classism/elitism, racism, and sexism/heterosexism. Through an examination of nature sports like surfing, skiing, snowboarding, and climbing, we argue that the current culture of nature sports contains institutionalized isms. If we are to create spaces for inclusion and authentic participation and experiences in nature sports, then change needs to occur. To that end, we will address counterculture(s) and programs that challenge the ism-saturated established norms of nature sports, removing barriers to access and opening value-laden opportunities for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each nuclear weapon test contributes to a global burden of released radioactivity. Between 1945 and 1996, more than 2,000 nuclear tests were conducted, three-quarters of which were underground. Underground nuclear tests involved placing the nuclear device in a cavity drilled or excavated beneath the surface. The goal was to contain the explosion and its effects to the immediate vicinity of the detonation point, ultimately minimizing the release of radioactive materials into the atmosphere. While these tests successfully curtailed the atmospheric release and radioactive fallout, they created dynamic responses within crustal formations caused by local shock waves from the explosion. This paper discusses the legacy of underground nuclear testing, addressing issues from containment failure to the phenomenological effects after underground detonations and the pathways of subsequent dispersal of radionuclides to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of Philosophy of Sport has been developing in Anglo-Saxon scholarship since the 1960s and since then has achieved considerable consolidation. However, this is a progressing field in Latin American countries like Brazil. This paper aims to analyse the trajectory of the Philosophy of Sport in Brazil, presenting an overview of its development since the 1980s and some prospects that have been generated since the turn of the century. In conclusion, the article points out that the field of Philosophy of Sport in Brazil is in the process of disciplinary consolidation, presenting a plurality of agents, institutions and theoretical approaches in its structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The designation of Diego Maradona's 'handball' goal, that it was an intervention by God himself, brings the phenomena of sport and religion into an interrelationship. The basic thesis of this paper is that, despite many of their phenomenal similarities, explicit religion is not, and cannot be, substantially related to sport, as the two manifest themselves in different ways of being. This thesis is supported by arguments from three philosophical areas: 1. The ontological dimension of the manifestation of the sacred in the profane through the process of hierophany in sport does not refer to a specific deity or God, and is therefore not a presentation but an indirect representation of the sacred; 2. The epistemological perspective of the intentional relation of consciousness to religious ritual justifies the necessity of situating them in an overall horizon of references and meanings to the horizon of the lifeworld; 3. The existential and experiential aspects of transformative sport experiences transform the horizon of meanings of empirical reality, but lack the sacramental perspective. Implicit religion as a possibility of transition on a continuum of complementary existential states is a suitable explicative framework for analyzing the phenomenal similarities and essential differences of religion and sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethical questions normally arise in sport because its participants are human moral agents and because its practice community entails the observance of rules and responsibilities that humans generally owe one another in a social practice of voluntary competition. Since nature sports are not defined by this kind of inter-agential activity, it would appear that there are no comparable ethical constraints on their pursuit. This paper considers conflicts of preference versus right between humans, how these are resolved, and whether these rights are relevant in assessment of nature sport activity vis-à-vis nonhuman creatures. Relying on a goods perspective instead of a rights framework, via Korsgaard, I argue against an assumption that human preference is sufficient to override consideration of nonhuman animals’ functional goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a study on delinquent acts in three academic libraries in northern Ghana. A survey method was used for the study and a questionnaire was used to collect data. The study population consisted of staff in the Reader Service Sections of the three libraries. The study found that failure to observe library regulations, keeping overdue materials, eating in the library, littering, reserving seats unjustifiably, and hiding of books for the purpose of monopoly are examples of delinquent acts practiced by library users. According to the participants, the main reasons for delinquent acts are inadequate orientation to users, insufficient copies of books, and indiscipline among library users. The respondents further reported that these actions led to a reduction in library resources and low patronage. To curb deviant behaviors in libraries, the study recommends the adoption of pragmatic approaches including massive orientation for users, imbibing positive library culture that fosters respect, bolstering commitment and cooperation among library users and the staff, increasing library budgets as well as finding more creative ways of acquiring more copies of books, such as using Open Educational Resources (OERs), belonging to consortia and building and/or enhancing existing Institutional Repositories (IR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridget Griffen-Foley's book, "Australian Radio Listeners and Television Viewers: Historical Perspectives," explores the experiences of Australian radio and television audiences throughout the twentieth century. Through six historical case studies, Griffen-Foley examines how radio and television stations engaged their audiences through promotions and initiatives, and how listeners and viewers responded. The book draws on primary sources such as fan letters and regulatory records to provide detailed insights into the lives of Australian media consumers. While the book raises many questions, it serves as a valuable resource for future researchers interested in exploring the relationship between Australian society, media consumption, and cultural identities. [Extracted from the article]

"The Art of the Observer: A Personal View of Documentary" by David MacDougall is a book that offers insights into the role of an anthropological director in documentary filmmaking. MacDougall emphasizes the importance of selective observation and the connection between shots in a film. The book also provides a personal account of MacDougall's fifty-year journey as a filmmaker and world traveler. However, some critics argue that MacDougall's perspective may have a colonialist aspect and that his own story restricts his recognition of the significance of his documentary subjects. Overall, the book offers valuable insights into the filmmaking process but may leave readers with feelings of confusion and awkwardness due to unconscious bias in the author's wording. [Extracted from the article]

"Hollis Frampton: Navigating the Infinite Cinema" is a book that focuses on the work of experimental filmmaker Hollis Frampton. The author, Michael Zryd, draws from his own previous scholarship, existing literature on Frampton, Frampton's own writings, and archival materials to explore Frampton's Magellan series. The book examines Frampton's notion of "infinite cinema" and pays attention to the treatment of colonialism in his work. It also discusses themes such as linearity, encyclopedic impulse, and metahistory in Frampton's films. Overall, the book is a valuable resource for understanding Frampton's theories and cinematic goals in the digital age. [Extracted from the article]