Anonymous Reviewers Research Articles

COMONOTONICITY AND PARETO OPTIMALITY, WITH APPLICATION TO COLLABORATIVE INSURANCE

Two by-now folkloric results in the theory of risk sharing are that (i) any feasible allocation is convex-order-dominated by a comonotonic allocation; and (ii) an allocation is Pareto optimal for the convex order if and only if it is comonotonic. Here, comonotonicity corresponds to the so-called no-sabotage condition, which aligns the interests of all parties involved. Several proofs of these two results have been provided in the literature, all based on a version of the comonotonic improvement algorithm of Landsberger and Meilijson (1994) and a limit argument based on the Martingale Convergence Theorem. However, no proof of (i) is explicit enough to allow for an easy algorithmic implementation in practice; and no proof of (ii) provides a closed-form characterization of Pareto optima. In addition, while all of the existing proofs of (i) are provided only for the case of a two-agent economy with the observation that they can be easily extended beyond two agents, such an extension is far from being trivial in the context of the algorithm of Landsberger and Meilijson (1994) and it has never been explicitly implemented. In this paper, we provide novel proofs of these foundational results. Our proof of (i) is based on the theory of majorization and an extension of a result of Lorentz and Shimogaki (1968), which allows us to provide an explicit algorithmic construction that can be easily implemented beyond the case of two agents. In addition, our proof of (ii) leads to a crisp closed-form characterization of Pareto-optimal allocations in terms of α-quantiles (mixed quantiles). An application to peer-to-peer insurance, or collaborative insurance, illustrates the relevance of these results.Acknowledgements: The authors thank the Editor and two anonymous Referees for numerous suggestions which helped to improve the text compared to its previous versions. We are grateful to K.C. Cheung for comments on an earlier version of this paper, and to Christopher Blier-Wong for his excellent research assistance in the numerical example. We thank the Associate Editor and two anonymous reviewers for comments and suggestions. Michel Denuit and Jan Dhaene gratefully acknowledge funding from the FWO and F.R.S.-FNRS under the Excellence of Science (EOS) programme, project ASTeRISK (40007517). Jan Dhaene acknowledges the financial support of BOF KU Leuven (project C14/21/089). Mario Ghossoub acknowledges financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada NSERC Grant No. 2018-03961 and 2024-03744).

Fundamental problems in the peer‐review process and stakeholders' perceptions of potential suggestions for improvement

AbstractAcademic papers are essential for researchers to communicate their work to their peers and industry experts. Quality research is published in prestigious scientific journals, and is considered as part of the hiring and promotion criteria at leading universities. Scientific journals conduct impartial and anonymous peer reviews of submitted manuscripts; however, individuals involved in this process may encounter issues related to the duration, impartiality, and transparency of these reviews. To explore these concerns, we created a questionnaire based on a comprehensive review of related literature and expert opinions, which was distributed to all stakeholders (authors, reviewers, and editors) who participated in the peer‐review process from a variety of countries and disciplines. Their opinions on the primary issues during the process and suggestions for improvement were collected. The data were then analysed based on various groups, such as gender, country of residence, and contribution type, using appropriate multivariate statistical techniques to determine the perceptions and experiences of participants in the peer‐review process. The results showed that unethical behaviour was not uncommon and that editors and experienced reviewers encountered it more frequently. Women and academics from Türkiye were more likely to experience ethical violations and perceived them as more ethically severe. Incentives and stakeholder involvement were seen as ways to enhance the quality and impartiality of peer review. The scale developed can serve as a useful tool for addressing difficulties in the peer‐review process and improving its effectiveness and performance.

Preface

Remote sensing technology and global positioning system (GPS), as the two pillars of modern space information technology, are changing the way we perceive and manage the Earth at an unprecedented speed. In order to promote academic exchanges and cooperation in this field, and to promote the transformation of scientific research and academic achievements, the 2024 International Conference on Remote Sensing and Global Positioning Algorithm (RSGPA 2024) was successfully held from June 28th to 30th, 2024 in Beijing, China via virtual form. The conference not only focused on the latest achievements of remote sensing mapping technology, but also discussed in depth the innovation and application of global positioning algorithms, aiming at promoting the transformation of scientific research and academic achievements through experience sharing and wisdom collision, promoting the gathering of talents, technology and capital, and injecting new kinetic energy into the development of related fields. It attracted a number of paper submissions related to remote sensing technology and global positioning system, and featured a variety of research directions, including Remote Sensing Mapping, Positioning Algorithms, AI-Assisted Localization, Hyperspectral Image Processing, Optical Remote Sensing, Microwave Remote Sensing, Remote Sensing Information Engineering, Image Processing Techniques, Geospatial Data Modeling and so on. The conference’s agenda covered a wide range of topics and presentations, mainly falling into keynote speeches, oral presentations, poster presentations, and academic discussion. Keynote speakers shared their latest research results and innovative ideas in the fields of remote sensing technology and global positioning system and their relevant domains, providing participants with valuable academic resources and inspiration. Professor Tao Chen (China University of Geosciences, Wuhan) talked about landslide recognition based on deep learning; Professor Muhammad Bilal (Henan Polytechnic University) presented a novel method for aerosol retrievals from multisensor remote sensing data over urban areas; Professor Kannimuthu Subramaniyam (Karpagam College of Engineering) illuminated the advancements and challenges in utilizing machine learning for cyber threat detection and mitigation. By fostering an environment of academic exchange and collaboration, RSGPA 2024 promoted the exploration of new ideas, the formation of partnerships, and the dissemination of research findings, ultimately contributing to the advancement of remote sensing and positioning technologies. All of the submissions received from the conference were exhaustively reviewed by the program committee members and peer-reviewers, who took into account the breadth and depth of the research topics that fall under the scope of RSGPA. The most promising contributions have been selected for inclusion in this Proceedings, which present innovative original ideas or results of general significance supported by clear and rigorous reasoning and compelling new evidence, as well as methods. This Proceedings not only provides participants with valuable academic resources, but also provides important references and insights for researchers in related fields. We would like to acknowledge all the speakers, authors, supporters, committee members and anonymous reviewers for their efforts in making RSGPA 2024 a complete success. We’d also appreciate the support from the staff of Journal of Physics: Conference Series for making this Proceedings published. The Committee of RSGPA 2024 List of Committee Member is available in this pdf.

Read and resonate: Welcome to this, the inaugural issue of Currere and Praxis

My thanks to Professors Sümer Aktan and Ünal Deniz for inviting me to serve as Editor-in-Chief of Currere and Praxis. My thanks, too, to Teresa Strong-Wilson and Wanying Wang for consenting to serve as Associate Editor and Managing Editor, respectively. My thanks also to those who agreed to serve on the Editorial Board. Thanks as well to those who submitted their manuscripts and, especially, to those whose scholarship and art appear in this inaugural issue. Thanks, finally, to those anonymous reviewers whose invaluable critiques of submitted manuscripts ensure the academic quality of the essays we publish. Thanks all around.

There Is More to Life Than Walking: A Qualitative Study of Survivorship Among Peer Mentors in the Spinal Cord Injury Community.

Objective: To identify factors impacting survivorship among people living with spinal cord injury (SCI) and volunteering in a peer mentorship program. Research Method/Design: Semi-structured interviews were conducted by a leader of a non-profit organization designed to promote independent living after SCI. Questions explored intrinsic factors such as resilience and emotional coping as well extrinsic factors such as family support and accessibility challenges that impacted their SCI survivorship journey. Two independent anonymous reviewers conducted thematic analysis to identify these factors. Results: Twenty-eight members of the SCI peer mentorship program participated. Four themes affecting survivorship were identified: Sense of Achievement, Post-Injury Growth, Post-Injury Challenges, and Giving and Receiving Support. Nearly all participants focused their responses on Post-Injury Growth and Giving and Receiving Support as reasons for their interest in serving as peer mentors. Conclusions: This study highlights a need for peer community integration following SCI and underscores the importance of using a community-driven participatory model to inform and guide research. Peer mentorship programs can link SCI survivors to mentors and facilitate other sources of social fulfillment and thus can have a profound impact on individuals' survivorship post-SCI. This study identified a Sense of Achievement, Post-Injury Growth, Giving and Receiving Support, and Post-Injury Challenges as factors that most impact the SCI survivorship journey. This community leader's work underscores the importance of cognitive framing and social networks in post-injury rehabilitation in this population. Future directions include analyzing the longitudinal effects of peer mentorship participation on life satisfaction and community building in individuals living with SCI.

Abbreviated in-situ inter-professional debriefing simulation training in peri-operative care environments: Minimizing the impact on clinical care using standardized videos

IntroductionOur facility leadership posed questions to the perioperative leadership team regarding the presence of collaborative communication during the reconciliation of events occurring in several perioperative care areas (operating rooms {OR}, clinic procedure areas, Intensive Care Unit {ICU}). Our team* collaborated to pilot a rapid cycle performance improvement project focused on improving the effectiveness of debriefings and handoffs that could conceivably lead to more effective after-action reviews following events which were complicated by multiple simultaneous unexpected factors. We proposed we could implement standardized abbreviated low-fidelity point of care (in-situ) inter-professional simulation training across the healthcare system with minimal impact on clinical schedules. We believed this would improve the perception of teamwork and collaboration among surgical team members. MethodsInter-professional in-situ simulation training exercises were designed and performed in perioperative care areas systemwide at our three major facilities (Main hospital and two Healthcare Community Centers [HCC]). Multiple iterations of styles of training were conceived and trialed. In the end, preconstructed videos were used to standardize the processes that framed the simulation role-playing of a debriefing after a complex situation. These videos contain the pre-simulation pre-briefings, the clinical situation that preceded the clinical debriefing and the simulation debriefing. Successful reconciliation of the multiple events required team members to exercise closed-loop communication, mutual trust, reengagement, and de-escalation of disengaged team members. Anonymous institutional review board reviewed, and Association of Federal Government Employees (AFGE) approved retrospective pre/post implementation surveys were made available to participants immediately after and sixty to ninety days following simulation exercises. ResultsBetween July 2023 and March 2024, one hundred and six staff in the perioperative care areas participated in twenty-two inter-professional simulation trainings (eleven OR, eight clinic, and three ICU simulations). Fourteen simulation scenarios in seven surgical disciplines were created. Eleven videos were produced covering cases in the O.R., clinic and ICU. Ultimately, the simulations were completed within twenty minutes in the three perioperative care clinical areas. Seventy-nine staff responded to the initial surveys after the simulation training. Eighty percent of the respondents gave favorable assessments regarding the effectiveness of the training in improving components of teamwork and agreed this program should continue. ConclusionsThe pilot program affirmed that we could implement simulations across the healthcare system in a format that minimally impacted the staffs’ clinical schedule. The process was standardized through the creation of multiple specialty specific videos. We proposed that perioperative team leadership could utilize these videos in the future to conduct spontaneously arranged simulations when they identified the presence of members naïve to this training and opportunities in the clinical schedule.*Refer to the acknowledgments for construct of our perioperative leadership simulation advisory team

Target pressure and corporate scandals: a natural language processing investigation of how organizational culture underlies institutional failures

ABSTRACT An organizational culture of pressurizing employees to achieve unrealistic goals (“target pressure”) is often suggested to foster the misconduct and risk-taking that causes institutional failures (corporate scandals, accidents). To conceptualize and investigate this, we gathered anonymous employee online reviews about working in 218 companies (71,830 reviews, containing 4,356,105 words) and developed a natural language processing algorithm to measure the salience of norms for target pressure within the employee reviews. Using this measure, we surfaced and qualitatively analysed sentences in which employees discussed target pressure, and quantitatively tested whether companies with a high target pressure culture (in which target pressure was especially salient in collective thinking) were at greater risk of experiencing a corporate scandal. Our hypothesis was supported. Qualitative analysis found that high target pressure cultures are characterized by norms for three inter-linking elements: overly ambitious targets that are beyond the capability and control of employees, highly consequential targets that generate strain, and expediency in achieving targets, which encourages an “ends justify the means” mentality. Combined, these elements may increase the likelihood of institutional failures by promoting, incentivizing, and normalizing deviant or risky behaviour (i.e. to achieve targets), and implicitly de-prioritizing the importance of safe and ethical conduct.

Can corporate social performance mitigate the risk of extreme stock returns?

It is commonly believed that there exists a strong negative association between corporate social performance (CSP) and firm risk.11The authors would like to thank an anonymous reviewer for his careful reading of our manuscript and his many insightful comments and suggestions which have substantially improved the initial paper. The authors would alsolike to thank Lionel Tangy Malca and Alexandre Coureaud from HOMA Capital for fruitful and constructive discussions around the link between ESG and extremes stocks returns. To investigate the structure of this relationship, we decompose the dynamics of large U.S. company stock returns into two components: Gaussian and non-Gaussian innovations. Our findings indicate that CSP affects firm risk mainly through the non-Gaussian risk channel. In particular, it significantly reduces the magnitude of extreme returns. We find no consistent nor robust effect of CSP on the frequency of price boom and crash probability as it varies widely across industries. Last, we find no statistically significant impact of CSP on standard Gaussian volatility risk.

RevGNN: Negative Sampling Enhanced Contrastive Graph Learning for Academic Reviewer Recommendation

Acquiring reviewers for academic submissions is a challenging recommendation scenario. Recent graph learning-driven models have made remarkable progress in the field of recommendation, but their performance in the academic reviewer recommendation task may suffer from a significant false negative issue. This arises from the assumption that unobserved edges represent negative samples. In fact, the mechanism of anonymous review results in inadequate exposure of interactions between reviewers and submissions, leading to a higher number of unobserved interactions compared to those caused by reviewers declining to participate. Therefore, investigating how to better comprehend the negative labeling of unobserved interactions in academic reviewer recommendations is a significant challenge. This study aims to tackle the ambiguous nature of unobserved interactions in academic reviewer recommendations. Specifically, we propose an unsupervised Pseudo Neg-Label strategy to enhance graph contrastive learning (GCL) for recommending reviewers for academic submissions, which we call RevGNN. RevGNN utilizes a two-stage encoder structure that encodes both scientific knowledge and behavior using Pseudo Neg-Label to approximate review preference. Extensive experiments on three real-world datasets demonstrate that RevGNN outperforms all baselines across four metrics. Additionally, detailed further analyses confirm the effectiveness of each component in RevGNN.

Each One, Teach One

Fully anonymous peer review enhances students’ writing and feedback abilities, encourages professionalism and kindness, and transforms the teaching dynamic. This essay describes the use of the Peerceptiv platform for fully anonymous peer review assignments in law school courses. This platform is uniquely helpful in fostering professional identity formation while helping students improve their analytical writing skills. However, implementing this peer review platform comes with challenges such as student reluctance and discomfort. With strategic communication and investment of time, these challenges can be overcome to realize the potential of this innovative approach and provide formative assessment, regardless of class size. Ultimately, scalable peer review helps students strengthen skills while developing collaborative professional identities throughout the law school curriculum.

Development of an online tool to support financial and legal planning in dementia

ObjectiveTo develop, assess, and refine an online educational tool, Plan for Clarity, to support financial and legal planning in dementia. MethodsA Delphi mixed-method study with three rounds of anonymous review by lay and professional stakeholders was designed to reach consensus about the content of the online tool and explore the socio-cultural and behavioral factors that could affect access and use. ResultsConsensus showed that the online tool covered key information, knowledge, and communication skills for financial and legal planning. Study themes: 1) the online tool had to be easy to navigate with relevant, easily understood information; 2) people with early signs of memory difficulties would be able to use the tool; 3) a referral from a trusted source is a primary way to facilitate access and use of the tool; and 4) discussions about financial and legal issues should be held early, ahead of barriers that can block discussion. ConclusionThese data suggest this online tool is relevant and feasible for dementia care and support as well as aging more generally. InnovationPlan for Clarity is innovative as an evidence and theory-driven online education tool to address financial and legal planning for dementia care, particularly among underserved older adults.

Did Pushkin write a review of Baumeister’s <i>Metaphysics</i>?

The article deals with the problem of the authorship attribution of the anonymous review published in Literaturnaya Gazeta on 2 March 1830 in response to a revised edition of the Russian translation of F. C. Baumeister’s Metaphysics [Institutiones Metaphysicae]. The hypothesis that names the author as A. Delvig (V. Vinogradov, S. Kibalnik) is criticized for its lack of proof. The scholar argues in favour of Pushkin’s authorship. The review is considered in the context of Pushkin’s ‘indirect polemic’ with the book’s translator Y. Tolmachev, a prominent figure of the Russian national education system in the 1810s–1820s. Pushkin’s possible authorship is revealed in the stylistic features of the review as well as parallels between the poet’s own works (A Scene from ‘Faust’ [Stsena iz Fausta], Mozart and Salieri [Motsart i Salieri], and the so-called ‘Objections to Küchelbecker’s articles published in Mnemozina’ [‘Vozrazheniya na statyi Kyukhelbekera v Mnemozine’]) and selected paragraphs from Baumeister’s Metaphysics. Nearly all those texts relate to the period of Pushkin’s exile to his Mikhaylovskoe estate, when the poet had the opportunity to familiarize himself with Baumeister’s book.

Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in research and funding: reflections from a digital manufacturing research network

BackgroundEqual, diverse, and inclusive teams lead to higher productivity, creativity, and greater problem-solving ability resulting in more impactful research. However, there is a gap between equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) research and practices to create an inclusive research culture. Research networks are vital to the research ecosystem, creating valuable opportunities for researchers to develop their partnerships with both academics and industrialists, progress their careers, and enable new areas of scientific discovery. A feature of a network is the provision of funding to support feasibility studies – an opportunity to develop new concepts or ideas, as well as to ‘fail fast’ in a supportive environment. The work of networks can address inequalities through equitable allocation of funding and proactive consideration of inclusion in all of their activities.MethodsThis study proposes a strategy to embed EDI within research network activities and funding review processes. This paper evaluates 21 planned mitigations introduced to address known inequalities within research events and how funding is awarded. EDI data were collected from researchers engaging in a digital manufacturing network activities and funding calls to measure the impact of the proposed method.ResultsQuantitative analysis indicates that the network’s approach was successful in creating a more ethnically diverse network, engaging with early career researchers, and supporting researchers with care responsibilities. However, more work is required to create a gender balance across the network activities and ensure the representation of academics who declare a disability. Preliminary findings suggest the network’s anonymous funding review process has helped address inequalities in funding award rates for women and those with care responsibilities, more data are required to validate these observations and understand the impact of different interventions individually and in combination.ConclusionsIn summary, this study offers compelling evidence regarding the efficacy of a research network's approach in advancing EDI within research and funding. The network hopes that these findings will inform broader efforts to promote EDI in research and funding and that researchers, funders, and other stakeholders will be encouraged to adopt evidence-based strategies for advancing this important goal.

Preface

Hosted by Nanjing Tech University, China, the 2023 2nd International Conference on Aerospace and Control Engineering (ICoACE 2023) was held from 15th to 17th December 2023 in Nanjing, China. With ICoACE 2023, the conference series International Conference on Aerospace and Control Engineering (ICoACE) completed its second edition.The general topics of ICoACE 2023 fall into mainly four categories: 1) Aerospace Materials; 2) Aerospace Science and Technology; 3) Control Engineering; 4) Aerospace and Mechanics. Apart from the general topics, ICoACE 2023 attracted a number of papers related to aerospace and control engineering. Topics at the Conference include but are not limited to: Materials Failure Analysis and Prediction Prevention, Spacecraft Thermal Control Technology, Aerospace Computing, Combustion and Energy Conversion, Electric Automation, Drive Motor and Control Technology, etc.All papers were exhaustively reviewed by program committee members and peer-reviewers, who took into account the breadth and depth of the research topics that fall under the scope of ICoACE. The most promising and ICoACE mainstream-relevant contributions were selected from all the submissions for presentation and inclusion in this volume, which presents innovative original ideas or results of general significance supported by clear and rigorous reasoning and compelling new evidence, as well as methods.The Conference included three days of technical parts consisting mainly of keynote speeches, oral presentations, poster presentations and academic discussion. We were delighted and honored to invite Prof. Yan Wang (Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China), Prof. Mouquan Shen (Nanjing Tech University, China), and Prof. Wenfeng Hu (Central South University, China) to share their insightful ideas and mind-blowing researches as keynote speakers. Based on the research The Cooperative Control of Multi-Agent Systems with High Comprehensive Performance, Prof. Wenfeng Hu first introduced the event-triggered control strategies for multi-agent systems to reduce the communication burden among agents and talked about the brought challenging issues. Then, he addressed the consensus of homogeneous multi-agent systems and cooperative output regulation of heterogeneous multi-agent systems with event-triggering communication. Moreover, he presented the developed reset control strategies for multi-agent systems with second-order dynamics. Finally, an outlook on the new topics and trend for the cooperative control of networked control systems theory and techniques were given.We would like to thank all the keynote speakers, authors, program committee members and anonymous reviewers for their efforts in making ICoACE 2023 a Conference of the highest standard. We are also grateful to Journal of Physics: Conference Series, for its help in publishing this Proceedings of the Conference.The Committee of ICoACE 2023List of Committee Member is available in this pdf.

From the Journal Editor

Haere mai! Welcome to volume 1, edition 1 of the New Zealand Journal of Health and Safety Practice! The Journal is open access and online and subscriptions are free. Although published in New Zealand we hope it will be read by workers everywhere who work in the field of health, safety and wellbeing. This edition is published at the time of International Workers' Memorial Day and the 29th anniversary of the New Zealand Cave Creek tragedy. I hope the Journal will grow to share practical, research-based knowledge that will help every worker (and visitors to workplaces) to go home physically and mentally unharmed. Much work went into the development of the Journal and I thank: the authors who spent time writing and revising the articles our anonymous reviewers who spent their time reading the submissions and making comments: you have helped set the standard for the Journal. Nik Crombie and Max Sullivan in the Victoria University of Wellington Library who helped with the backroom work and technology making the Journal free to publish. The editorial team also thanks HASANZ, Engineering New Zealand, Faculty of Asbestos Management of Australia & New Zealand, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of New Zealand, Institute of Organisational Psychology, New Zealand Institute of Safety Management, New Zealand Occupational Health Nurses Association, New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society, New Zealand Safety Council, AVID Plus Limited and Risk Management Ltd for financial and other support to help establish the Journal. Terje Aven, a Norwegian academic, wrote that “safety science is multidisciplinary. Its contributors and its audience range from psychologists to chemical engineers”; that safety science “covers the physics and engineering of safety; its social, policy and organisational aspects; the management of risks; the effectiveness of control techniques for safety; standardization, legislation, inspection, insurance, costing aspects, human behaviour and safety and the like.” The founding organisations of NZJHSP are similarly drawn from those disciplines. A call for papers for the July 2024 edition will go out shortly. I look forward to submissions for future editions of this Journal those focused on the practice of workplace health and safety through implementing the broad subject area of safety science to help protect workers and others and achieve good work conditions. References Aven, T. (2014). What is safety science? Safety Science, 67, 15-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2013.07.026

Darwin and the White Shipwrecked Sailor: Beyond Blending Inheritance and the Jenkin Myth.

This paper revisits Fleeming Jenkin's anonymous review of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species, published in the North British Review in June 1867. This review is usually revered for its impact on Darwin's theory of descent with modification. Its classical interpretation states that Jenkin, a Professor of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, made a compelling case against natural selection based on the fact of "blending inheritance" and the "swamping" of advantageous variations. Those themes, however, are strikingly absent from Jenkin's text. They were later read into Jenkin's text by scholars trying to explain how Darwinian selection was reconciled with Mendelian genes and the birth of the Modern Synthesis. While many scholars have tried to measure Jenkin's effect on Darwin, the value of the 1867 review remains unclear. This paper re-examines its content and concludes that Jenkin's "able review" was in fact written by an engineer whose competencies in biology were very low. Focusing on the figure of the shipwrecked white sailor isolated on an island inhabited by Black people, this paper also underlines the racial assumptions behind Jenkin's review. "Blending inheritance" is thus a theme linked to theoretical reworkings on the question of race and skin colors, taking its root in Galton's typology of heredity. Darwin was probably mostly unimpressed by Jenkin's review. The problems raised by the review were not so much "blending inheritance" and "swamping" but a conundrum of problems related to the effects of intercrossing on variation and reversion.

Multiplicities and Contingency: Rethinking ‘Popular Buddhism’, Religious Practices and Ontologies in Thailand

AbstractThis paper reconsiders explanations of ‘popular’ Buddhism in Thailand initiated in mid-twentieth century anthropological definitions of vernacular articulations of religiosity in village settings. Buddhist localism, in its various manifestations, is seen to contrast with a doctrinal or literate ‘great’ monastic tradition. In this persisting ethnographic argument, an actor may draw randomly on various syncretic elements of their religiosity according to circumstances (an historical complexity which is sourced in a mix of Sinhalese-sourced Buddhism, animism including magic, and folk Brahmanism). It is therefore not wholly or consistently one, but substantively divided into several strands. This long-standing position is problematic as the paper shows. There are multiple coextensive Buddhism/s (plural) within the Greater Theravada tradition, which emerge from an identification of the actors themselves with the one, not the many, as one-unitary-Buddhists. I theorise using a general framework of Meillassoux’s discussion on contingency and, by way of contrast, taking Deleuzian ideas on multiplicity. It is grounded on an understanding of popular or organic lived religion sourced in the early counter-enlightenment or radical enlightenment thinking of Giambattista Vico. Here, it is argued that in Thailand villagers would identify cosmologically as the one, not as the many (in a sense as in the assemblages or varieties of religious practices detached from the totality of the cosmological unitary one). Understanding the creative processes behind cosmological multiplicities is a starting point, with the notion that within specific cultural forms we are faced with a multiplicity of definitions and things to observe, as in an understanding of the varieties of lived Buddhism. The essay is based on an ethnographic assessment from over three decades of field research among ethnic Thai Buddhists at various modalities and settings, and in framing these vernacular religious practices and their ontologies. My gratitude to two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. The essay does not deal directly with specific ethnographic case studies; instead, it is intended as retheorising representations of ‘Popular Buddhism’ in Thailand as based on early scholarship since the 1960s (where Buddhism is constituted as three or more distinctive but intertwined religious strands).

The fading of status bias during the open peer review process

The growing number of preprints allows reviewers to identify the authors’ identities prior to the peer review process. Yet, it remains unclear whether the preprint exposure of prestigious authors to reviewers is correlated with review features. Here, we employed the linear regression model to examine this relationship. By collecting open peer review reports of 2,059 papers published in Nature Communications in 2019 within the fields of biological and health sciences, we found no obvious difference in review features when the identities of authors with different academic prestige are potentially exposed to reviewers. Specifically, no significant effect was observed on the number of questions raised and the sentiments of the review reports (positivity and subjectivity) in the first round of the peer review process. Moreover, we found no evidence that review features from anonymous reviewers were more positively or subjectively expressed than those with reviewers’ names publicly available. The results persisted even when assuming all papers were under single-blind peer review, which were validated by using the eLife data. This study indicates that papers with both prestigious and less well-known authors are treated equally during the open peer review process, which contributes to the ongoing discourse on the fairness of peer review within the scientific community.

Can ChatGPT exceed humans in construction project risk management?

PurposeThe objective of this research is to investigate the capabilities of the ChatGPT GPT-4 model, a form of artificial intelligence (AI), in comparison to human experts in the context of construction project risk management.Design/methodology/approachEmploying a mixed-methods approach, the study draws a qualitative and quantitative comparison between 16 human risk management experts from Finnish construction companies and the ChatGPT AI model utilizing anonymous peer reviews. It focuses primarily on the areas of risk identification, analysis, and control.FindingsChatGPT has demonstrated a superior ability to generate comprehensive risk management plans, with its quantitative scores significantly surpassing the human average. Nonetheless, the AI model's strategies are found to lack practicality and specificity, areas where human expertise excels.Originality/valueThis study marks a significant advancement in construction project risk management research by conducting a pioneering blind-review study that assesses the capabilities of the advanced AI model, GPT-4, against those of human experts. Emphasizing the evolution from earlier GPT models, this research not only underscores the innovative application of ChatGPT-4 but also the critical role of anonymized peer evaluations in enhancing the objectivity of findings. It illuminates the synergistic potential of AI and human expertise, advocating for a collaborative model where AI serves as an augmentative tool, thereby optimizing human performance in identifying and managing risks.

Les poussées et les tractions de la technologie et ses impacts sur l’aménagement des villes canadiennes

This article serves as an introduction to the 2024 Special Issue of Canadian Planning and Policy: Technology and the City. Dr. Robinson is the Guest Editor of this issue. We would like to thank our anonymous reviews for their time.