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The aim of this paper is to deepen understanding of the relationship between sustainable development, localisation and the purchase of goods and services from the informal economy. This has not before been investigated. To do so, it reports a survey of 1,209 respondents conducted during October-December 2021 in Romania, a country with one of the largest informal economies in the European Union. The findings reveal a link between consumers' motives to purchase informal goods and services and the pursuit of sustainable development through localisation. The analysis shows that there is no purely sustainability-driven consumer in the informal economy, but this rationale is prevalent as one of several motives for a large proportion of consumers purchasing goods and services from the informal economy, who do so explicitly for the purposes of environmental protection and localisation. The implications for theorising and tackling the informal economy are then discussed.

Modern public transportation in urban areas increasingly relies on high-capacity buses. At the same time, the share of electric vehicles is increasing to meet environmental standards. This introduces problems when charging these vehicles from chargers at bus stops, as untrained drivers often find it difficult to execute docking manoeuvres on the charger. A practical solution to this problem requires a suitable advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS), which is a system used to automatise and make safer some of the tasks involved in driving a vehicle. In the considered case, ADAS supports docking to the electric charging station, and thus, it must solve two issues: precise positioning of the bus relative to the charger and motion planning in a constrained space. This paper addresses these issues by employing GNSS-based positioning and optimisation-based planning, resulting in an affordable solution to the ADAS for the docking of electric buses while recharging. We focus on the practical side of the system, showing how the necessary features were attained at a limited hardware and installation cost, also demonstrating an extensive evaluation of the fielded ADAS for an operator of public transportation in the city of Poznań in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several methods to localise sources of vibrations have been established in the literature. A great amount of those methods are based on databases with features of known impact positions. Great effort needs to be put into highly expensive experiments that deliver those databases. In this paper, we propose several simulation techniques that may replace the expensive experiments for source localisation. The paper compares the localisation accuracy of simulated and experimental data for two different localisation approaches, the reference database method and neural networks. Both methods process signal arrival time differences from several positions on the structure. The methods are exemplarily applied to a complex small-scale structure from the automotive industry: The small dimensions of the brake disk hat and the inclusion of holes is a challenging task for the accuracy of the applied localisation techniques. Results show that simulated data can replace experimentally gained data well in case of the reference database method, whereas the neuronal networks approach should stick to experimentally gained data. The evaluations show that, despite the small dimension, the relative localisation accuracy is within accepted ranges of literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to report the surgical experience and outcomes with pre-operative localisation of non-palpable breast lesions using the RFID tag system. The cohort for this prospective study included patients over the age of 18 with biopsy proven, non-palpable indeterminate lesions, DCIS or breast cancer requiring pre-operative localisation before surgical excision between September 2020 and July 2022. A total of 312 RFID tags were placed in 299 consecutive patients. Indications for localisation included non-palpable invasive cancer in 255 (85.3%) patients, in situ disease in 38 (12.7%) and indeterminate lesions requiring surgical excision in 6 (2.0%). Both in situ and invasive lesions had a median size of 13 mm (range 4–100 mm) on pre-operative imaging. The RFID tags were in situ for a median time of 21 days before surgery (range 0–233 days). Of the 213 tags, 292 (93.6%) were introduced using ultrasound (USS) guidance and stereotactically in 20 (6.4%). In 3 (1.0%) cases the RFID tag was either not satisfactorily deployed at the intended target or retrieved intra-operatively. Following discussion of post-operative histology by the multi-disciplinary team, further surgery for close or involved margins was for 26 (8.7%) patients. The Hologic RFID tag system can be used for accurate pre-operative localisation of non-palpable masses as well as diffuse abnormalities such as mammographic distortions and calcifications. It has advantages of flexibility for scheduling image-guided insertion independently of scheduled operating lists and can be placed to localise lesions prior to initiating neoadjuvant systemic treatment. • RFID tag localisation of non-palpable malignant and indeterminate lesions is accurate and oncologically safe. • Insertion by ultrasound or sterotactic guidance uses visible tumour, calcification or a hydroclip as the target. • In 99% of cases the RFID tag was satisfactorily deployed at the intended target and retrieved intra-operatively. • The rate of re-operation for close or involved margins was 8.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a method for solving the localisation of a ground lidar using overhead imagery only. Public overhead imagery such as Google satellite images are readily available resources. They can be used as the map proxy for robot localisation, relaxing the requirement for a prior traversal for mapping as in traditional approaches. While prior approaches have focused on the metric localisation between range sensors and overhead imagery, our method is the first to learn both place recognition and metric localisation of a ground lidar using overhead imagery, and also outperforms prior methods on metric localisation with large initial pose offsets. To bridge the drastic domain gap between lidar data and overhead imagery, our method learns to transform an overhead image into a collection of 2D points, emulating the resulting point-cloud scanned by a lidar sensor situated near the centre of the overhead image. After both modalities are expressed as point sets, point-based machine learning methods for localisation are applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of RumeliDE Journal of Language & Literature Research / RumeliDE Dil ve Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi is the property of RumeliDE Uluslararasi Hakemli Dil & Edebiyat Arastirmalari Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Manual therapy (MT) techniques typically incorporate localised touch on the skin with the application of specific kinetic forces. The contribution of localised touch to the effectiveness of MT techniques has not been evaluated. This study investigated the immediate effects of MT versus localisation training (LT) on pain intensity and range of movement (ROM) for neck pain. In this single-blind randomised controlled trial thirty eligible neck pain volunteers (23 females and 7 males), aged 28.63 ± 12.49 years, were randomly allocated to MT or to a motionless (LT) group. A single three-minute treatment session was delivered to each group's cervico-thoracic area. The LT involved tactile sensory stimulation applied randomly to one out of a nine-block grid. Subjects were asked to identify the number of the square being touched, reflecting a different location on the region of skin. MT involved three-minute anteroposterior (AP) glides and sustained natural apophyseal glides (SNAG) techniques. Pre- and post-intervention pain intensity were assessed using a pressure pain threshold (PPT) algometer and the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS). Neck ROM was recorded with a bubble inclinometer. Improvements in ROM and self-reported pain were recorded in both groups (p < 0.001) without differences in NPRS, ROM or PPT scores between groups (p > 0.05). Tactile sensory training (localisation) was as effective as MT in reducing neck pain, suggesting a component of MT's analgesic effect to be related with the element of localised touch rather than the forces induced during passive movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, scholarly attention has turned to the fracturing of global supply chains and the costs and benefits of reorienting economies to the local scale. While its real extent is debated, the term 'deglobalisation' has been broadly used to refer to this break from the expansionist neoliberal common-sense of previous decades. This paper conducts narrative reviews of six approaches which have emerged in this context: Hyper-localism, Open Localism, Cosmo-localism, Foundational Economy, Developmental Nationalism and Strategic Autonomy. It examines these emerging proposals for more local production, consumption and trade, and hints at relevant research directions for the uncertain era ahead. Its conceptual contribution shows that we are now faced with complex and differing processes of (de)globalisation – sometimes overlapping and sometimes competing. Grounded in a post-growth perspective, the paper concludes with an invitation for dialogue and future research around local production where capitalist political economy and organisation are not taken for granted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Forced displacement is a crucial determinant of poor health. With 31 people displaced every minute worldwide, this is an important global issue. Addressing this, the Participation Revolution workstream from the World Humanitarian Summit's Localisation commitments has gained traction in attempting to improve the effectiveness of humanitarian aid. Simultaneously, digital health initiatives have become increasingly ubiquitous tools in crises to deliver humanitarian assistance and address health burdens. Objective: This scoping review explores how the localisation agenda's commitment to participation has been adopted within digital health interventions used by displaced people in low-and-middle-income countries. Methods: This review adopted the Arksey and O'Malley approach and searched five academic databases and three online literature repositories with a Population, Concept and Context inclusion criteria. Data were synthesised and analysed through a critical power lens from the perspective of displaced people in low-and-middle-income-countries. Results: 27 papers demonstrated that a heterogeneous group of health issues were addressed through various digital health initiatives, principally through the use of mobile phones. The focus of the literature lay largely within technical connectivity and feasibility assessments, leaving a gap in understanding potential health implications. The varied conceptualisation of the localisation phenomenon has implications for the future of participatory humanitarian action: Authorship of reviewed literature primarily descended from high-income countries exposing global power dynamics leading the narrative. However, power was not a central theme in the literature: Whilst authors acknowledged the benefit of local involvement, participatory activities were largely limited to informing content adaptations and functional modifications within pre-determined projects and objectives. Conclusion: With over 100 million people displaced globally, effective initiatives that meaningfully address health needs without perpetuating harmful inequalities are an essential contribution to the humanitarian arena. The gap in health outcomes evidence, the limited constructions of health, and the varying and nuanced digital divide factors are all indicators of unequal power in the digital health sphere. More needs to be done to address these gaps meaningfully, and more meaningful participation could be a crucial undertaking to achieve this. Registration The study protocol was registered before the study (10.17605/OSF.IO/9D25R) at https://osf.io/9d25r. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contributions on localisation often focus on interactions between local organisations and the international community, with limited attention paid to dynamics within the locally‐led part of the response. The humanitarian operation in non‐government‐held areas of Syria is considered a key example of localisation, in which the health sector has assumed a leading role. Drawing on fieldwork among Syrian medical‐humanitarian organisations conducted in southern Turkey in 2017, this paper offers a view from below on the localisation debate. It provides a nuanced perspective on 'the local', showcasing how localisation is interpreted and expressed among Syrian non‐governmental organisations (NGOs) themselves, and in their interaction with each other. The paper shows how most organisations have moved to a hybrid model that emphasises their local and international character, resisting simplistic classifications. However, despite the sometimes strategic nature of its invocation, localisation does not lose its relevance as a lived experience, especially for local field staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing literature studying the 'non-traditional' type of international schools. However, a less explored and under-theorised area is the changing dynamics of the global-local interactions in the way these international schools are being redefined and shaped by local processes, regimes of control, and mechanisms. Drawing on empirical evidence from sixteen 'non-traditional' international schools in urban China, our paper contributes to the literature in three ways. Theoretically, we developed the notion of 'reining in the international' to draw analytic attention to the state power and social agency in controlling and directing the global flows of international schooling. Empirically, our paper provides concrete evidence to show the disjuncture occurring when the global/international is interrupted and transformed by local/national conditions. Third, we argue that in the case of China, the local has taken charge as the 'content supplier and negotiator' in the global-local confluence of forms adopted by international schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local ensemble transform Kalman filters (LETKFs) allow explicit calculation of the Kalman gain, and by this the contribution of individual observations to the analysis field. Though this is a known feature, the information on the analysis contribution of individual observations (partial analysis increment) has not been used as systematic diagnostic up to now despite providing valuable information. In this study, we demonstrate three potential applications based on partial analysis increments in the regional modelling system of Deutscher Wetterdienst and propose their use for optimising LETKF data assimilation systems, in particular with respect to satellite data assimilation and localisation. While exact calculation of partial analysis increments would require saving the large, five‐dimensional ensemble weight matrix in the analysis step, it is possible to compute an approximation from standard LETKF output. We calculate the Kalman gain based on ensemble analysis perturbations, which is an approximation in the case of localisation. However, this only introduces minor errors, as the localisation function changes very gradually among nearby grid points. On the other hand, the influence of observations always depends on the presence of other observations and settings for the observation error and for localisation. However, the influence of observations behaves approximately linearly, meaning that the assimilation of other observations primarily decreases the magnitude of the influence, but it does not change the overall structure of the partial analysis increments. This means that the calculation of partial analysis increments can be used as an efficient diagnostic to investigate the three‐dimensional influence of observations in the assimilation system. Furthermore, the diagnostic can be used to detect whether the influence of additional experimental observations is in accordance with other observations without conducting computationally expensive single‐observation experiments. Last but not least, the calculation can be used to approximate the influence an observation would have when applying different assimilation settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health is an increasing concern around the world, but there is a substantial gap in terms of access to quality mental healthcare between Western and non-Western countries. To help close this gap and improve the delivery of mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS), the UN's 2016 Grand Bargain declared a new approach of prioritising the localisation of these services. This paper examines the effects of the Grand Bargain on the localisation of mental health and psychosocial support services in non-Western countries, as a means to decolonise mental health. An outcome evaluation to measure the amount of funding received by local and national agencies that provide MHPSS services in less economically developed countries was carried out. All data were gathered from the UN Financing Track System (FTS), and looked at financial contributions over time in six humanitarian sectors: health; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); gender-based violence; nutrition; protection and shelter. The results show that only 3% of international donors' MHPSS-related humanitarian funding is received by local and national agencies between 2017 and 2021. Most of the localised MHPSS-related funding is driven by country-based pooled funds, with Middle Eastern countries as the primary beneficiaries, and localised MHPSS funding predominantly went to the health, WASH and protection sectors. This study found that limited localisation of MHPSS services in less economically developed countries, and a limited focus on community capacity building through associated humanitarian sectors. Based on this study, it is recommended that humanitarians should advocate for increased localisation and culturally competent practices in the MHPSS space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2015, Plan International UK undertook a bold experiment: enabling children in participating in the multi-sectoral programme Building Skills for Life to evaluate the programme. Objectives: The primary objective of this experiment was to assess if a child-led evaluation is feasible, valuable and desirable. Feasible, in consideration of children’s abilities and the intricacies of a multisectoral evaluation; valuable in comparison with expert-led evaluations and desirable in relation to the evidence already available. Method: These experiments used a range of methodologies to facilitate children’s collecting and analysing data to return full evaluative judgements. While these experiments were deemed successful and credible on account of the reviews and support received by the monitoring and evaluation (ME) community and the donor, the years that followed did not see child-led monitoring and evaluation flourish across the international development sector, despite renewed interest and international commitments, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Results: This article explores the contribution these experiences can bring to today’s evaluation practice and argues that child participation in monitoring and evaluation is not simply desirable; it is a right and an opportunity to sharpen the objectives of programmes addressed to children. Conclusion: This article concludes that it is time to abandon ME practices carried out on children particularly in child-focused programmes and insist on ME to be, at the very least, carried out with children, if not, as is preferable, by children. Contribution: This article highlights that involving children in social development aimed at changing the societies in which they will grow up and live, is not a matter of good practice or inclusion, but a matter of justice.

This article explores localisation in humanitarian settings as an example of sustainability and inner development. Through a case study from Syria, we discuss how localisation and remote management can lead to the mutual flourishing of individuals, communities and planetary health in the most challenging settings. Through localisation, we can rethink and reframe humanitarianism and integrate sustainability and personal development. Learning from these collaborations that highlight the importance of trust and interpersonal relations, the humanitarian and global health communities can reflect on how local individuals and communities can be further supported in their personal development and the sustainability of interventions that promote planetary health.

The article discusses the importance of localisation in various applications such as healthcare, smart cities, and transportation. It highlights the challenges faced in achieving accurate and timely position data, particularly in indoor settings. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques is seen as a way to enhance indoor wireless localisation effectiveness. The article presents four papers that explore different methods and algorithms to improve localisation accuracy and efficiency in sensor networks. The authors encourage further research and contributions to address the evolving challenges in this field. [Extracted from the article]

Cells respond to inflammatory stimuli such as cytokines by activation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signalling pathway, resulting in oscillatory translocation of the transcription factor p65 between nucleus and cytoplasm in some cell types. We investigate the relationship between p65 and inhibitor-κB⍺ (IκBα) protein levels and dynamic properties of the system, and how this interaction impacts on the expression of key inflammatory genes. Using bacterial artificial chromosomes, we developed new cell models of IκB⍺-eGFP protein overexpression in a pseudo-native genomic context. We find that cells with high levels of the negative regulator IκBα remain responsive to inflammatory stimuli and maintain dynamics for both p65 and IκBα. In contrast, canonical target gene expression is dramatically reduced by overexpression of IκBα, but can be partially rescued by overexpression of p65. Treatment with leptomycin B to promote nuclear accumulation of IκB⍺ also suppresses canonical target gene expression, suggesting a mechanism in which nuclear IκB⍺ accumulation prevents productive p65 interaction with promoter binding sites. This causes reduced target promoter binding and gene transcription, which we validate by chromatin immunoprecipitation and in primary cells. Overall, we show how inflammatory gene transcription is modulated by the expression levels of both IκB⍺ and p65. This results in an anti-inflammatory effect on transcription, demonstrating a broad mechanism to modulate the strength of inflammatory response.

This study aims to understand students' knowledge of the use of political maps in flags. Students from a module at the National University of Singapore were provided a six-item questionnaire. The questions asked students to identify countries looking at a map, identify the Korean Unification Flag, identify the first flag of Bangladesh, identify flags with maps, and identify a theme in four different flags with maps. The results showed that Singapore was the most known country (92%), while Brunei was the least known (12%) based on the country's political boundary outline. Only 19% of students were able to identify the countries correctly in the Korean Unification Flag and 31% identified the historic flag of Bangladesh correctly. In the final questions only 13% identified the correct flags with maps, while 36% mentioned the theme of location as a common theme amongst the four flags provided. These results showed that more exposure to these maps and flags is needed. The use of maps in flags can provide a new perspective for cartographic approaches and expand knowledge of cartographic vexillology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender-based harms experienced in conflict constitute a threat to the right of women and girls to live with dignity. However, transitional justice processes to manage the delicate nexus between peace and justice often do not consider these harms, resulting in adverse outcomes for women and girls in post-conflict societies. At the frontlines of the fight to address gender-based harms through transitional justice, women's rights organisations (WROs) are uniquely placed to identify and advocate for the needs of women experiencing conflict and to provide integral services in conflict contexts. Despite this critical dual role, WROs in conflict settings are systematically excluded from transitional justice processes and chronically underfunded. Moreover, current literature lacks a nuanced understanding of how WROs work in transitional contexts and how international institutions can best foster their engagement and leadership. Expanding on the evidence base for the inclusion of WROs in transitional justice processes, this paper mobilises the concept of hybrid peace to analyse the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and understand the role of WROs in negotiating the interactions between internationalised peace-building processes and local realities. Research methods include a literature review and analysis of public statements from relevant WROs. This paper argues that WROs engaged with the ICTY played a critical role in building positive hybrid peace by: (1) advocating for and supporting the inclusion of gender-based harms in the internationalised transitional justice process; and (2) implementing localised peace formation and fostering positive gender relations at the community level. The research contributes to broader literature defining the role of WROs in the localisation of development and human rights norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to compare and contrast the websites of international non-government organizations (INGOs) that make their websites available in Jordan in both Arabic and English with the purpose of identifying the content that does or does not get localised. The researchers selected the website of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) as a case study. The English version of the IFRC website is meticulously set off against its Arabic counterpart. This study draws on Olvera-Lobo and Castillo-Rodríguez's (2019) suggested framework with regards to the linguistic and cultural aspects of localised websites. The study concludes that the recommendations related to linguistic and cultural aspects of website localisation presented by Olvera-Lobo and Castillo-Rodríguez (2019) have proven to be valuable in assessing the localised versions of INGOs as they cover a wide range of facets needed by the target readerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organ trafficking is widely recognised as a human rights concern. Medical professionals play a decisive role in bringing international norms regarding organ trafficking into the local context as translators and localisers. In Israel, this localisation reflects the tensions and gaps between global and local values, moralities and beliefs. Based on in-depth interviews with 92 stakeholders, this article examines the Israeli medical professionals' approach toward organ trafficking, the moral conflicts, challenges and dilemmas they faced given these tensions and gaps, and their attempts to address them in practice. The findings reveal that many Israeli healthcare professionals subscribed to an ambivalent stance on organ trafficking and a non-judgmental approach towards patients who engage in organ trafficking, preferring to turn a blind eye to this phenomenon. They internalised key aspects of the deeply rooted local ethical perceptions regarding organ trafficking. This internalisation points to the limitations of translators' freedom of operation between transnational and domestic languages. Localisation is not merely a result of pragmatic compromises but stems from the localisers' identification with local moralities. This study contributes to understanding the role of professionals in processes of societal change and the complex ramifications of this role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence suggests a vicious cycle between rice cultivation and malaria control in Rwanda. Rice fields offer an attractive breeding ground for malaria vectors, which increases the disease burden in rice farming communities, and, consequently, reduces productivity in the rice sector. Community-based larval source management in rice fields is propagated as a sustainable solution to break this cycle. A sense of agency and ownership of malaria control interventions, as well as the mobilization of resources at the local level, are often considered preconditions for success. However, an evidence gap exists regarding the interaction between the agentive and financial dimension of local sustainability. Methods: We conduct a larviciding pilot involving three groups; one group where rice farmers sprayed their fields under expert supervision, one group where rice farmers organised the larviciding campaign themselves, and a (non-sprayed) control group. We test whether the difference in agency between the intervention groups affects farmers' willingness-to-pay for a larviciding campaign. Willingness-to-pay is elicited in a contingent valuation exercise, more specifically a bidding game, and is assessed both before and after the pilot (n = 288). Difference-in-difference estimates are computed, using a propensity score matching technique. Supplementary data were collected in a survey and two focus group discussions for triangulation. Results: The high-agency (self-organised) group significantly outperforms the low-agency (expert-supervised) group in terms of maintaining its willingness to contribute financially. However, higher willingness-to-pay in the high-agency group does not appear to be driven by a stronger sense of ownership per se. The supplementary data indicate high levels of ownership in both treatment groups compared to the control group. A tentative explanation lies in diverging perceptions concerning the effectiveness of the pilot. Conclusions: The study supports the idea that community-led organization of larval source management can prove instrumental in mobilizing finance for malaria control in low-income settings where rice production interferes with the fight against malaria. However, the causality is complex. Feelings of ownership do not appear the main driver of willingness-to-pay, at least not directly, which opens up the possibility of initiating community-driven malaria control interventions that promote the agentive and financial dimension of local sustainability simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore support structures and mooring systems are predominantly subject to corrosion and fatigue. These structures are typically covered with marine growth of various types. Conventional inspection methods for assessment of the structural integrity require access to the cleaned surface of these structures; however, the cleaning process is highly undesirable from the technical, economical, and environmental points of view. This paper highlights research on feasibility assessment of detection and localization of corrosion damage under marine growth using acoustic emission (AE). Experiments were conducted on two carbon steel plates, one baseline sample and one covered with artificially fabricated marine growth. The results of accelerated corrosion experiments suggest that corrosion-induced ultrasound signals can be detected with satisfactory signal-to-noise ratio using non-contact AE sensors. Ultrasound waves passing through marine growth showed around 12 dB drop in amplitude when compared to the base plate. A localization algorithm for corrosion induced-ultrasound signals was successfully implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental and analytical/numerical study of the mechanics of cemented granular materials (CGMs). This study incorporates both in situ X-ray tomography and regularised finite element simulations, whose combination offers a unique, complementary insight into the multiscale processes that drive the mechanical response of CGMs. Being the second in a set of a two-part contribution, this paper takes advantage of the image analysis tools developed in Part I to quantitatively explore the effects of boundary conditions on grain-scale processes as well as material properties. We reveal, for example, the influence of the degree of cementation on the spatial distribution of damage and suggest the existence of a local ultimate cement size distribution that is independent from the initial cement content. This paper also validates the predictions of a micromechanically inspired constitutive model at three different scales: in terms of the macroscopic response, the mesoscopic emergence of localisation patterns and the evolution of microscale inelastic processes. A unique feature that sets our model apart from previous CGM models is the adoption of only measurable internal variables, capable of representing grain-scale processes such as the damage of cement bridges. Its statistically representative experimental quantification is found to be in good agreement with the model predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2015, Plan International UK undertook a bold experiment: enabling children in participating in the multi-sectoral programme Building Skills for Life to evaluate the programme. Objectives: The primary objective of this experiment was to assess if a child-led evaluation is feasible, valuable and desirable. Feasible, in consideration of children's abilities and the intricacies of a multisectoral evaluation; valuable in comparison with expert-led evaluations and desirable in relation to the evidence already available. Method: These experiments used a range of methodologies to facilitate children's collecting and analysing data to return full evaluative judgements. While these experiments were deemed successful and credible on account of the reviews and support received by the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) community and the donor, the years that followed did not see child-led monitoring and evaluation flourish across the international development sector, despite renewed interest and international commitments, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Results: This article explores the contribution these experiences can bring to today's evaluation practice and argues that child participation in monitoring and evaluation is not simply desirable; it is a right and an opportunity to sharpen the objectives of programmes addressed to children. Conclusion: This article concludes that it is time to abandon M&E practices carried out on children particularly in child-focused programmes and insist on M&E to be, at the very least, carried out with children, if not, as is preferable, by children. Contribution: This article highlights that involving children in social development aimed at changing the societies in which they will grow up and live, is not a matter of good practice or inclusion, but a matter of justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WHERE IS PORTUGAL? This article examines the various locations of Portugal on the World map. It then attempts to find coherence in the collection of sites that are summarized by a single toponym. At the same time, it illustrates the diversity of meanings of a place from my experience as an individual, both rational and emotional, esthetic or ethical, which are presented in boxes inserted in the text. For me as a person, the question "Where are my Portugals?" also arises, and the many answers I have given through my various geographical practices are not easily unified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cash and voucher assistance (CVA) has gained importance as a modality for humanitarian disaster response during the last decade. Research has documented its benefits and listed challenges for implementation. Simultaneously, humanitarian organisations have committed to the localisation agenda to better serve people affected by disasters through local actors. These two ongoing transformations in the humanitarian sector may support or challenge each other. The authors use Kenya as a case study to analyse how CVA influences the localisation agenda in the humanitarian sector. Semi-structured key informant interviews were conducted with national and international organisations to gain insights on how the international organisations and their local implementing partners view and experience the mutual support or potential tensions between CVA implementations and the localisation agenda. The analysis is based on seven dimensions of localisation applied to CVA in Kenya based on existing frameworks. The findings indicate that CVA can support the localisation agenda if properly managed. It provides smaller organisations an opportunity to get involved without expensive structures. International organisations need to redefine their role and withdraw from direct implementation and be willing to give up power. The local organisations benefit from forming national networks that give them a voice within the humanitarian system. These transformations rely on personal leadership and on capacity development focusing on coordination, collaboration and organisational strengthening beyond the technical skills needed for implementation. Contribution: This study identifies how CVA and the localisation agenda affect each other in Kenya. This contributes to the understanding of the future development of the humanitarian sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While literature abounds in studying the phenomenon of migrant workers in China and offering policy suggestions from a macro perspective, this article proposes an inspiration for clinical social workers by developing a comprehensive case management model which aims at improving the well-being of migrant workers' children. It is argued that lessons could be learned from theories, methods and strategies to address immigration-related issues in the USA, Canada and some European countries, because migration patterns of China's migrant workers and international immigrants are similar. An action research approach is adopted. Unstructured interviews are conducted with clinical social workers, heads of social work organisations and schoolteachers. Based on the findings, a draft version of the case management model is constructed by borrowing immigrant social work methods selectively. As licensed social workers, the authors offer case management services to migrant workers' children and families under a social work agency's supervision in two urban–suburban-integrated schools. In the service process, the model is finished by modifications and localisation. The revised version of the model is elaborated in four steps. In each step, specific methods for migrant workers' children and families are presented with related case examples attached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Quaderns: Revista de Traducció is the property of Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Our study was motivated to investigate reasons why the Spanish localisation of the video game Iron Man 2 (Sega 2010) attracted extensive criticism. Scholars and gamers alike labelled it "abysmal" (Mejías-Climent 2021b, 134) and among the worst dubbing in Spanish of all time in the video game history. This article provides a descriptive and empirical analysis of the Spanish dubbing of the cinematic scenes of the game. We have focused our analysis, firstly, on the synchrony of the 50 cinematic scenes following Mejías-Climent's (2021b) levels of restriction and types of dubbing synchronies, and, secondly, on the voice actors' performance (acting, pronunciation and diction) and voice quality (character coherence) for the most relevant game characters by applying the methodology for voice quality analysis, drawing on Bosseaux (2015, 2018) and Rodríguez Fernández-Peña (2020). The results show that there has been a chain of oversights in the dubbing process, involving dubbing directors, voice actors and testers, which likely contributed to the negative reviews of the localised version in Spanish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors Маша и Ю met in 2022 at the PostOst Kongress in Гёттинген, a small town in Germany. A series of workshops and discussions, the gathering brought a group of people with cultural connections to the former European East together — queer and non-queer — to discuss the narrative behind what was then a new term, „Post Ost”. Their intention was to find out what, if anything, connected them; what new solidarities and ways of being together, beyond conventional migrant identity concepts, might be imagined? Masha has cultural ties to Ukraine and lives in Berlin, Germany. Ju has cultural ties to Kazakhstan and Germany and lives in Sydney, Australia, on Gadigal land. Among the topics discussed at the gathering, queerness was secondary to conversations about intergenerational migrant trauma and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Nonetheless, the authors are interested in exactly this queerness, which they explore here in an experimental text, В этом смысле да. An intersectional Play. The text developed from 1368 text messages, 56 photos, 6 videos, 8 voice messages, 30 links and one gif that the authors sent to each other in the months after the PostOst Kongress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background and Objectives: This review paper highlights the key alternatives to the blue dye/radioisotope method of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). It analyses the research available on these alternative methods and their outcomes compared to the traditional techniques. Materials and Methods: This review focused on fifteen articles, of which five used indocyanine green (ICG) as a tracer, four used magnetic tracers, one used one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) and Metasin (quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction), one used the photosensitiser talaporfin sodium, one used sulphur hexafluoride gas microbubbles, one used CT-guided lymphography and two focused on general SLNB technique reviews. Results: Of the 15 papers analysed, the sentinel node detection rates were 69–100% for indocyanine green, 91.67–100% for magnetic tracers, 81% for talaporfin sodium, 9.3–55.2% for sulphur hexafluoride gas microbubbles, 90.5% for CTLG and 82.7–100% for one-step nucleic acid amplification. Conclusions: Indocyanine green fluorescence (ICG) and magnetic tracers have been proven non-inferior to traditional blue dye and isotope regarding SLNB localisation. Further studies are needed to investigate the use of these techniques in conjunction with each other and the possible use of language learning models. Dedicated studies are required to assess cost efficacy and longer-term outcomes.

Over the past two decades, in response to a growing awareness of the impacts of humanitarian crises on mental health and psychosocial well-being, leading UN agencies and international aid organisations have developed a comprehensive framework for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). In more recent years, aid workers have further begun to consider religious life as a central factor in mental health and psychosocial well-being, viewing “faith” as an important, but often neglected, component of empowering and “locally appropriate” MHPSS. However, the attempt to deliver “faith-sensitive” MHPSS across the highly pluralistic settings of international humanitarian intervention has entailed protracted ethical and practical challenges. In this article, we argue that these challenges may be usefully understood in terms of three areas of concern: the lack of evidence on effective interventions; the risk of reproducing problematic power dynamics between MHPSS providers and receivers; and the challenge of articulating a cross-culturally relevant paradigm of “faith-sensitivity” comprehensible across a wide range of religiously diverse settings. This article contributes to these challenges by drawing on the field of professional spiritual care to suggest areas of potential contribution and interdisciplinary dialogue.