Off-sited, on research and geopolitical uncertainty

In recent years there has been considerable public debate and moral panic about what is widely perceived as the changing nature of childhood (Kehily, 2010; Moran-Ellis, 2010). Within these debates, actual, potential and imagined risks of physical and psychosocial harm pertaining to individual children are often amplified and held up as examples of broader social deterioration. Society thus represented is seen as no longer constituting a safe space for childhood, and childhood is, in turn, constituted as posing social risks of its own. As Mary Jane Kehily observes, a perceived crisis of childhood ‘exists as a reflection of adult anxiety and insecurity in “new times”’ (2010, p. 183). This is not to deny that many children do, indeed, live in situations where risks associated with violence, abuse, neglect, poverty, discrimination and social exclusion are part of everyday lifeworlds, nor is it to minimise the effects of such situations on children’s lives and futures. Rather, it is to suggest that dominant discourses about childhood are heavily predicated on normative assumptions and collective fantasies about how childhood ‘should’ be experienced, and to argue that these norms, anxieties and cultural imaginings are implicated in producing the very risks about which they voice concern (Payne, 2008; Khan, 2009). Scholars over the past decade have identified a number of key issues seen as impacting on the lives and well-being of contemporary children, with debates often polarised around questions of children’s perceived vulnerability and exposure to various risks associated with a range of social, cultural and geopolitical uncertainties. Key issues identified in the research literature over the past decade include: the pressures of globalisation and global corporate culture on children and families (Giroux, 2000; Steinberg & Kincheloe, 2004, Trask, 2010); the sexualisation and commercial exploitation of childhood (Fass, 2003; Piachaud, 2008); changing gender relations, family structures and patterns of intimate social relations (Rasmussen, 2006; Ferfolja, 2007; Skattebol & Ferfolja, 2007; Kehily, 2010); the perceived loss of connectedness (de Souza, 2005; Hyde, 2008) to family and community that accompanies changing patterns of social interaction and restrictions on children’s time and activities (Wyver et al, this issue); the intensification of diagnoses of emotional, behavioural and anxiety disorders in increasing numbers of young children (Andrews, Van Vliet & Wuthridge, 2006; Graham, 2007, 2008); the complex range of images, information and activities to which children now have access via the Internet, mobile phones and other new technologies (Goldstein et al, 2004; O’Rourke & Harrison, 2004; Plowman et al, 2010); and the role of popular and visual culture on children’s identities, learning and social relations (Arthur, 2001; Mitchell & Reid-Walsh, 2002; Baker, 2004; Magno & Kirk, 2008; Saltmarsh, 2009). Many of these issues have been popularly understood as presenting significant risks to children, and challenges for parents (Kenway & Bullen, 2001; Vincent & Ball, 2007). Yet, as has been argued by Foucauldian scholars in the field of early childhood, risk needs to be understood ‘not as “truth”, but as a social construction’ (Fenech et al, 2008, p. 38). As such, we are interested in the ways that certain risks are discursively

This paper uses time-varying Bayesian models to assess the impact of the shifting, and progressively more volatile (especially since the EU Referendum vote in 2016) macroeconomic landscape on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows to the UK. FDI inflows are depressed in response to higher UK-specific economic and geopolitical uncertainty. A stronger real exchange rate and a higher interest rate also have a negative effect. It benefits from lower UK corporate tax rates and higher US uncertainty, the latter creating investment opportunities in the UK. Rising economic policy uncertainty since the EU Referendum, has led to FDI losses of up to 0.5% of GDP.

This paper presents the findings of a multi-case study evaluation of megaproject decision making as it relates to the analysis of strategic risk in the planning and appraisal of mega transport infrastructure projects. The paper reviews literature on risk planning and management from a set of papers commissioned by the OMEGA Centre at University College London (UCL) focusing on the treatment of risk and uncertainty in professions and disciplines where these phenomena have long been at the milieu of their planning and management responses. The findings of the literature review are combined to construct an evaluative framework with specific application to mega transport projects. This framework encompasses aspects of strategic planning, contextual awareness and stakeholder management. It is then applied via a qualitative analysis to aspects of the decision-making processes of 27 megaprojects in nine advanced economies of the world. The key findings of this evaluation suggest that past megaproject decision making is excessively focused on short-term outcomes, with little evidence of the rigorous or systematic analysis of risk and uncertainties that befalls such projects outside of project management and delivery concerns. Drawing from the lessons of past research and practice, the paper concludes by suggesting the essential ingredients of an approach that more explicitly incorporates risks and uncertainties that arise from outside the project portfolio. The author advocates a more ‘open-systems’ approach to megaproject planning and appraisal for infrastructure development that is much more sensitive to changing challenges and uncertainties of new contexts, and how these can affect project outcomes and impacts over the longer term. Whilst the paper draws upon research undertaken between 2005 and 2012, the findings are deemed of continued relevance today in such uncertain times, given the global geopolitical and economic uncertainties and multiple challenges of climate change, pandemics and inequalities which underline the precarious nature of risk management and decision making which prioritises short term project outputs over long term project outcomes and impacts.

No doubt, this COVID-19 is drastic changes worldwide, which were led to unpredictable economic impact, public health concerns, which depended upon the transformation of how business was regulated and sustain for the long term. In this way, Market research plays a significant role in the pandemic situation where the consumer market rapidly evolved in the crisis. Taking the right decision in uncertain times is difficult, and in terms of market research, it faced various aspects in the uncertainty. It found the correct meaning in the recent outbreak of COVID-19. In fact, during this uncertain time, market research was necessary for regulating the business. Therefore, the study reveals the research, including consumer behavior, Diversified marketing strategies, and brand preferences as dependent variables. Whereas, independent variables are research and development by the marketers and business resilience. Marketer analyzed that short term action should be long term benefits for marketing strategies in the epidemic condition. The study was consisting of the data collection conduct from questionnaires. It analyzed through the SPSS from the different age group people belongs to different fields and draws the results from the collecting of data. The first section demonstrates the introduction. The second part provides the literature review. While the third part comprised the method section, the fourth was the result, the fifth was discussion based upon the result, and the final was a conclusion, which describes the outcome and future research development.

Sinhalese Buddhist people have been living in the United Kingdom for a period spanning over three generations. They have grown in number rapidly over the last five decades and have organized themselves as a distinctive community. This community has never been subjected to a formal study with regard to their diasporic experience, identity negotiations, Buddhist orientation and homeland relations. This research is aimed at filling this gap of knowledge about the Sinhalese Buddhist diaspora in the United Kingdom and their homeland relations. Firstly, this research is underpinned by a literature review of sources on Sinhala Buddhist history and civilization in Sri Lanka and the Sinhalese presence in the United Kingdom in order to set the background for this research. The review of literature revealed a rich history of Sinhalese Buddhist civilization in Sri Lanka. The written history of the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka and the mythology provide a perspective of the importance given by the Lord Buddha to the Sinhalese nation and Sri Lanka as the guardian of his pure Theravada Buddhist doctrine. The research also includes a review of discourses on diasporic theory to identify attributes or common features of diaspora in order to fully appreciate the diasporic qualities of the Sinhalese community in the UK. This has formed the basis of the empirical research in the UK, which considered Sinhala Buddhist mythology and heritage in Sri Lanka as a variable in their diasporic identity and homeland relations whilst residing in the UK. The researcher himself is a member of the Sinhala Buddhist diasporic community in the United Kingdom. Therefore, this research has utilised ethnographically-informed qualitative research methods to provide a descriptive analysis of the lived experience, identity negotiations and homeland relations of the Sinhala Buddhist community in the United Kingdom. The findings are presented via grounded thematic analysis and represent several facets of the Sinhala Buddhist lifestyle. They support the existence of a well-established, functional first generation of Sinhala Buddhist diasporic community in the United Kingdom, whose members are dynamically involved in their identity maintenance in the host land while developing relentless relationships with their homeland.

The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists' FOCUS Initiative: Locating Errors Through Networked Surveillance (LENS) Project Vision

Reviewed by: Affective Geographies and Narratives of Chinese Diaspora ed. by Melody Yunzi Li and Robert T. Tally Jr. Tingting Hu Melody Yunzi Li and Robert T. Tally Jr., editors. Affective Geographies and Narratives of Chinese Diaspora. Palgrave Macmillan, 2022. 171 p. Affective Geographies and Narratives of Chinese Diaspora examines the Chinese diaspora, one of the world's largest migration phenomena. Bringing in the perspective of affect to probe the problem, it offers diverse ways of interpreting or complicating "Chineseness" as mainly entangled with "homeness" and illuminates "the affective geographies implicit in diasporic identity and community" and aims to "explore the intricate ways in which diaspora interacts with space, place, and emotional attachment in various cultural forms" (2). Its examination of literature, film, and visual culture texts that "seek to connect and reconnect with their 'homelands,'" strikes a needed discussion about the contemporary tide of precarious migration (2). Affective Geographies understands "diaspora" as a displaced experience of being "far away from 'home'" while at the same time being "homed" in another place (1). Geographically, it covers movements from the Chinese mainland to Hong Kong, Taiwan, France, the UK, the US, and more. It expands the notion of diaspora, commonly understood as a geographically "transnational" movement of people, and demonstrates the specificity of the Chinese diaspora. The idea of diaspora reveals not only a geographically transnational movement but also a dialogue between the affective, imaginary, and disputed realm. For instance, Kenny K.K. Ng's chapter "Borderscape, Exile, Trafficking: The Geopolitics of Ying Liang's A Family Tour and Bai Xue's The Crossing" discusses the cinematic expression of "intranational migration" that is "occurring within the borders of one country" (5). Huanyu Yue's "Displaced Nostalgia and Literary Déjà vu: On the Quasi-Archaic Style of Li Yongping's Retribution: The Jiling Chronicles" observes the relationship between a Malaysian writer's lived experience as "an overseas wanderer" and his literary construct of a "fantasized motherland of China" (71). Both cases envision "diaspora" as more porous than has been commonly perceived. Underlying the idea of diaspora to understand the flow of people from mainland China to other places including Hong Kong [End Page 336] and Taiwan can be indicative of political controversy due to the "transnational" implication of a "diaspora." Though this problem remains intractable, this book expands the scope of "diaspora" and renders it more flexible in the case of the Chinese diaspora, claiming that it happens "both in and out, both of and off, China" (7). Sheng-mei Ma's "The Holy Hole in Chinese Patriarchal Culture: Going Pop and South" reminds us that rather than be limited to the realm of "China studies" "Sinophone studies" or "diaspora studies," academic research can benefit more from emphasizing a diasporic perspective that looks at the intersection of the homeland with other spatial cultures. In this sense, the keyword "remapping the homeland" highlighted in the introduction serves as an accurate supporting pillar to the study of "Chinese diaspora." The phrase "remapping the homeland" also helps complicate the idea of "homeland" as not purely a space or a place, but a concept immersed in affect. Relying on "China" as the origin of "homeness," it also tries to critique the China-centered perspective, referencing "contact zone" theories and analyzing how "homelands" are reimagined and recreated in diasporic spaces. Chapters include various diasporic experiences, especially those that remain marginalized or understudied. Elizabeth Ho's "'The Geography Helps': Affective Geographies and Maps in Xiaolu Guo's A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers" investigates the linguistic dilemma of immigrants from developing countries. Dorothee Xiaolong Hou's "From Rust Belt to Belleville: Two Recent Films on Chinese Migrant Sex workers in Paris" exposes the hyper-exploitation of women sex workers in the global chain of consumption. Ping Qiu's "Literary Exile in the Third Space: Ha Jin's Critique of Nation-States in A Free Life" and Melody Yunzi Li's "Remapping New York's Chinatowns in the Works of Eric Liu and Ha Jin," both rely on texts by the Chinese immigrant writer Ha Jin. The first examines the relationship between the writer's transnational movement and his literary creation to...

The thesis is in two parts. The first part is a collection of short stories on Irish Diaspora − The Mad Road. There is, I believe, a distinct lack of short fiction about Irish lives lived in England, and I felt this gap needed addressing. These stories engage with the Irish community and the nullifying grind of work. They examine the social pressures of diasporic existence experienced in England and Ireland. The collection is written from a second generational Irish working-class perspective and the stories tackle urban realties in a dark-realist way. The stories deal with issues including emigration, derelict life-style, alcoholism, loneliness and corruption. Because of my lifelong immersion in Irish culture, both in Ireland and Leicester, I feel uniquely placed to capture hidden aspects of Irish expatriate experience. The Mad Road is accompanied by an extended reflective analysis where I argue that critical theory and creative writing can inform each other. My dual perspective as both a writer and volunteer with The Emerald Centre has been of fundamental importance to my creative process. I discuss some of the interactions that I have experienced volunteering at the Centre, and their effects on my writing. I argue that my inside/outside-writer/researcher perspective has furthered understanding and helped shape my stories. Each chapter of the commentary examines one aspect of diasporic experience, and how it has influenced and inspired my creative practice. Writing from inside Leicester’s Irish community has offered me a unique insight into diasporic life, which triggered story ideas and offered other useful lines of research. It also became clear, once I started absorbing primary and theoretical texts relating to Irish Diaspora and post-colonial theory, that there were visible and invisible forces at play behind individual experiences. These forces have impacted on the first, second and third generation Irish emigrants. My thesis attempts to come to terms with these cultural, social and economic forces through creative practice.

Most books about corporate governance are written for a Western audience. The Boardroom , however, takes a different approach to leadership development by emphasizing the unique socio-cultural and judicial features as well as idiosyncratic board structures in Asia, particularly in an Indonesian context. The principles of good corporate governance are accepted across borders, but the implementation and translation of transparency, fairness, accountability, and responsibility can differ quite distinctly from one country to another. Amidst global competitive turbulence, socio-economic volatility, and geopolitical uncertainty , The Boardroom analyses how Asian boardroom leaders steer organizations and how boards can be more effective. Boardmembers - appointed and entrusted by their owners - are guardians with a fiduciary duty to safeguard an organization and prepare it for a viable and sustainable future. Business managers, investors, academics, students and those interested in doing business in Asia will benefit from The Boardroom ’s practical insights and recommendations to improve corporate governance and strengthen competitive advantage. "The Boardroom" - a book written by my predecessor Dr Tanri Abeng and his co-author Prof. Dr. Peter Verhezen who both combine practical experience and academic in-depth research - gives a good overview of what can and should be expected from a board. The authors describe the generic accepted governance principles, but rightfully claim the need to translate them into specific rules and regulations that make sense for Indonesian and other Asian companies. Erick Thohir, The Minister of State-Owned Enterprises of the Republic of Indonesia Understanding the dynamics of successful organizations is like being on a quest. It probably never ends. Organizations are open and social systems that cannot be managed or governed using simple theories and recipes. Hence, this book invites you to start your own leadership journey and become more mindful of your role in the functioning of a company. Prof. Dr. Koen Vandenbempt, Dean of the Faculty of Business & Economics at the University of Antwerp , Belgium

The article examines the scientific and methodological foundations for modeling the impact of uncertainty on the agricultural sector, particularly in the context of growing global challenges and instability. Uncertainty in the agricultural sector is often a consequence of economic, climatic, political, and social factors, which complicates the forecasting of industry development and strategic decision-making. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the main types of uncertainty, with particular attention paid to economic and geopolitical uncertainty, climate change, fluctuations in input and output prices, as well as socio-demographic factors such as labor migration. A methodological approach is proposed for modeling the impact of these factors on the development of the agricultural sector, based on the use of multifactor analysis, scenario planning, and sensitivity analysis. The focus is on the development of scenarios for the agricultural sector under different conditions of uncertainty, which allows for the assessment of possible consequences for key economic activity indicators, such as yields, production volumes, exports, and investments. It is determined that the application of scenario analysis provides more accurate risk forecasting and allows agricultural enterprises and policymakers to better prepare for potential challenges. The article also contains recommendations on adaptation strategies aimed at reducing the impact of uncertainty on the agricultural sector. In particular, the possibilities of diversifying agricultural production, introducing innovative technologies, as well as risk insurance and the creation of stabilization funds, are explored. The importance of developing state support and investment in sustainable agricultural production to minimize the negative impact of external shocks is considered. The study emphasizes the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to analyzing uncertainty and its impact on the agricultural sector. The results of the study are of great significance for practitioners in agribusiness, policymakers, and researchers engaged in the sustainable development of agriculture. The use of the proposed methodological tools will help improve risk management efficiency and ensure the sustainable development of the agricultural sector in the face of current challenges.

The article examines the scientific and methodological foundations for modeling the impact of uncertainty on the agricultural sector, particularly in the context of growing global challenges and instability. Uncertainty in the agricultural sector is often a consequence of economic, climatic, political, and social factors, which complicates the forecasting of industry development and strategic decision-making. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the main types of uncertainty, with particular attention paid to economic and geopolitical uncertainty, climate change, fluctuations in input and output prices, as well as socio-demographic factors such as labor migration. A methodological approach is proposed for modeling the impact of these factors on the development of the agricultural sector, based on the use of multifactor analysis, scenario planning, and sensitivity analysis. The focus is on the development of scenarios for the agricultural sector under different conditions of uncertainty, which allows for the assessment of possible consequences for key economic activity indicators, such as yields, production volumes, exports, and investments. It is determined that the application of scenario analysis provides more accurate risk forecasting and allows agricultural enterprises and policymakers to better prepare for potential challenges. The article also contains recommendations on adaptation strategies aimed at reducing the impact of uncertainty on the agricultural sector. In particular, the possibilities of diversifying agricultural production, introducing innovative technologies, as well as risk insurance and the creation of stabilization funds, are explored. The importance of developing state support and investment in sustainable agricultural production to minimize the negative impact of external shocks is considered. The study emphasizes the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to analyzing uncertainty and its impact on the agricultural sector. The results of the study are of great significance for practitioners in agribusiness, policymakers, and researchers engaged in the sustainable development of agriculture. The use of the proposed methodological tools will help improve risk management efficiency and ensure the sustainable development of the agricultural sector in the face of current challenges.

Chinese Pangolins are least studied burrowing mammals. There is great role of this species in nature to maintain ecological balance. Due to illegal trade and habitat destruction, Chinese Pangolins are in great risk of extinction although being protected by national as well as international laws. This research was carried out to find out the distribution, habitat utilization, social belief and conservation status of Chinese Pangolins in Nangkholyang VDC of Taplejung district, Eastern Nepal. This study was done with direct field observation followed by direct observation along the tracks and random search, group discussion, key informant survey and questionnaire survey. This study showed the presence of indirect signs of Chinese Pangolins such as 211 burrows (including 16 new and 195 old), scats, foot prints and trace of tail in Nangkholyang VDC, Taplejung. The distribution of Pangolins was found in all wards (political unit of village) with highest number of burrows in southwest aspect and least in north. The burrows were found in the elevation from 1126 m to 2406 m. The habitat utilized by Chinese Pangolins was found to be forest and agricultural land. In the forest, the maximum numbers of burrows were located at the crown cover of 0-25%. Pangolins were taken as the sign of bad luck but due to profit motive people were hunting this mammal. The Conservation status of Pangolins in the study area was found to be worse. Hunting for illegal trade was the major threat and the current price of Pangolin scales in village level was found to be Rs. 26,000 per kg.

Comprehending the dynamics of the stock market is pivotal for investors, policymakers, and economists in the USA. The United States stock market being one of the most influential financial markets in the world, contributes significantly to shaping the world economy. This research project aimed to bridge the important gaps in understanding the interrelationship between economic indicators and geopolitical events concerning the performance of the US stock market and commodities. The prime objective was to assess how different economic indicators have an impact on stock market performance over a specific period. In this regard, the development of machine learning models facilitated the ability to forecast stock market and commodities trends. These models utilized economic indicators and geopolitical events from historical data to predict future movements in the market with higher accuracy than the traditional forecasting technique followed. The study considered several different datasets to comprehensively analyze the effects that economic indicators and geopolitical events have on the stock market and commodity performances. The key datasets used in this analysis involve historical stock market indices such as the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and NASDAQ, as well as commodity prices for gold, oil, and silver. These datasets were collected from reputed financial databases such as Bloomberg and Federal Reserve Economic Data-FRED, for metrics including GDP growth rates, unemployment rates, inflation figures, and interest rates. The researchers also gathered data on geopolitical events: elections, trade wars, and military conflicts, using usually reliable news archives like Reuters, Bloomberg News, and The New York Times. Linear Regression, Random Forest, and XG-Boost algorithms were selected to capture various facets of the data. The performance metrics used to evaluate the models in this study included Mean Absolute Error, Root Mean Squared Error, and R-squared. Random Forest Regressor outperformed the other models with the lowest RMSE, showcasing its ability to model complex relationships. XG-Boost Regressor equally delivered a strong balance between performance and computational efficiency, achieving similar accuracy to Random Forest. Results from this study therefore can inform policy makers, especially in regards to stabilizing the financial markets during periods of heightened economic or geopolitical uncertainty. Key recommendations include developing proactive policy measures that could dampen the effect of adverse economic indicators and geopolitical events on market stability.

Uncertain (manual) activity times impact a number of manufacturing system modules: plant and layout design, capacity analysis, operator assignment, process planning, scheduling and simulation. Direct observation cannot be used for non-existent production lines. A hybrid direct observation/synthetic method derived from Method Time Measurement available in industry is proposed. To determine accurate activity times required by heuristics and metaheuristics optimisation, manufacturing system modules are modelled by MILP and operator efficiency parameters are used for time standardisation. Among human factors considered are skill and ergonomics. Application to the sterilisation of reusable medical devices is extensively described. Experimental data taken from observation on the field and a worst-case date have shown the model direct applicability for professionals also to non-manufacturing cases.

Learning is evolving, just as the world and society are. In this context, teachers are also experiencing new ways for updating their professional development. The metamorphosis of learning is currently being pushed by four main catalysts: the connectivity of networks, the empowerment of the students, the overcoming of space and time barriers, and the assumption of the existence of silent, unnoticed learning. But these uncertain times have added a new, recent catalyst for change in learning and education: the COVID-19 pandemic. In the framework of the ECO4LEARN research project, a study was designed and carried out to check to what extent the learning ecologies approach could provide information on how primary school teachers organise their learning and how they make decisions about it. A survey was sent to the entire population of primary school teachers in Catalonia, getting 1,253 answers. The calculated margin of error was ±3.14%. Data analysis was conducted along three steps: a) Descriptive statistics; b) Principal Component Analysis (PCA); and c) Multiple Regression. Results show that the learning ecologies approach proves to be useful for analysing the actual means teachers use for their professional development and updating. Although some teachers are more advanced, practices do not respond to what could be expected regarding the use of less formal training for teachers and its mediation through the use of technologies. Regarding the sample analysed, the digital dimension of teacher professional development practices is still in its inception. Some recommendations are provided.