Broad Objectives Research Articles

The language of manipulation: A multimodal discourse analysis of mainstream news media and fake news websites

In the contemporary digital media landscape marked by the presence of disinformation and fake news, the aim of this study is to perform a comparative analysis of mainstream news media and fake news websites, and to identify the multimodal resources characteristic of them. In particular, the study focuses on newsbits and newsbites, which comprise clusters of headlines, leads, hyperlinks, and images (Knox 2007), because they arguably represent the most salient features of any news websites. A representative corpus of newsbits and newsbites was compiled from mainstream news media and fake news websites that meet the criteria of such websites defined in the study. In total, 8 newsbites and newsbits were collected from 2 mainstream news media and 2 fake news websites. The study primarily draws on Bednarek and Caple’s (2012) approach to news discourse, which affords ways to perform a complex multimodal analysis of text and image, as well as explores the concepts of news values, parameters of evaluation, text-image relations, and communicative functions of images. As the primary objective of newsbits and newsbites is to entice readers to read the full article, the creation of compelling newsbits and newsbites is the shared goal of both mainstream news media and fake news websites, even though their broader objectives or ethical standards may not align. The manipulative impact of linguistic modes is more pronounced in the case of fake news websites because they rely on attracting clicks through controversial evaluations or alternate perspectives of some existing news. On the other hand, mainstream news media create more engaging and clickable newsbits and newsbites with higher emotional pull via the interplay of text and real-life images.

Current status, performance characteristics and future perspective of electric tractor

<p align="justify">Electric tractors with its cutting-edge technological improvements represent a transformative shift in agricultural technology for achieving the broad objectives of sustainable and environment friendly farming practices. This review examines the current status, performance characteristics, and future perspectives of electric tractors, focusing on their potential to replace traditional diesel models. The analysis highlights the advantages of electric tractors, including lower operational costs, reduced maintenance, and zero emissions, which contribute to quieter and cleaner agricultural operations. This transformation is witnessing several challenges in terms of high initial costs, limited battery life and the need for extensive charging infrastructure. The performance of electric tractors, particularly in extreme climates, is also a significant concern, with battery efficiency and power output varying under different environmental conditions. Despite these challenges, advancements in battery technology and propulsion systems, along with supportive government policies, are paving the way for greater adoption of electric tractors. The review also discusses the variability in regional adoption rates, with Europe leading due to strong regulatory support, while other regions like North America and Asia-Pacific are witnessing sluggish growth. The integration of electric tractors into precision agriculture and smart farming systems presents exciting opportunities for the future, boosting both productivity and sustainability. The investment in innovations and infrastructure related to electric tractor and renewed supportive policies from the governmental sector can usher a revolution in agricultural production system with lower environmental impact.</p>

Etiology of Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease, Biomarker Efficacy, and the Role of Machine Learning in Stage Diagnosis.

Late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) is a subtype of dementia that manifests after the age of 65. It is characterized by progressive impairments in cognitive functions, behavioral changes, and learning difficulties. Given the progressive nature of the disease, early diagnosis is crucial. Early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) is solely attributable to genetic factors, whereas LOAD has multiple contributing factors. A complex pathway mechanism involving multiple factors contributes to LOAD progression. Employing a systems biology approach, our analysis encompassed the genetic, epigenetic, metabolic, and environmental factors that modulate the molecular networks and pathways. These factors affect the brain's structural integrity, functional capacity, and connectivity, ultimately leading to the manifestation of the disease. This study has aggregated diverse biomarkers associated with factors capable of altering the molecular networks and pathways that influence brain structure, functionality, and connectivity. These biomarkers serve as potential early indicators for AD diagnosis and are designated as early biomarkers. The other biomarker datasets associated with the brain structure, functionality, connectivity, and related parameters of an individual are broadly categorized as clinical-stage biomarkers. This study has compiled research papers on Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis utilizing machine learning (ML) methodologies from both categories of biomarker data, including the applications of ML techniques for AD diagnosis. The broad objectives of our study are research gap identification, assessment of biomarker efficacy, and the most effective or prevalent ML technology used in AD diagnosis. This paper examines the predominant use of deep learning (DL) and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis utilizing various types of biomarker data. Furthermore, this study has addressed the potential scope of using generative AI and the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) for data augmentation.

Gender and Political Compliance Under Authoritarian Rule

When autocrats do not impose explicit rules of behavior on their subjects, what does political compliance look like? Existing research suggests that such conditions generate uncertainty, leading risk-adverse individuals to self-censor in an effort to minimize the risk of punishment. In this paper, we find that women and men differ in how they express political compliance under conditions of uncertainty. Focusing on Confucius Institute teachers who are given broad objectives but no specific rules of political behavior, we use interviews, a global survey, and an experiment to show that women express compliance by increasing uncensored discussions to persuade host country students toward the Chinese regime’s point of view. In contrast, men comply by vociferously defending the party line and censoring further discussions. These gendered strategies of political compliance are rooted in the differing gender socialization experiences of men and women, who face divergent expectations on how they should interact with others.

Amazon/iRobot: harbinger of legal dissonance, or lesson in unintended consequences?

This article examines the process that resulted in the abandonment of Amazon’s proposed acquisition of iRobot in light of the Statement of Objections issued by the European Commission and the substantive provisions of the newly enacted Digital Markets Act. It questions whether the Commission could have credibly challenged the deal on the basis of concerns that Amazon may have had the ability and incentive to engage in certain potentially harmful conduct that would already, to a not insignificant extent, have been prohibited ex ante under the Digital Markets Act. While a more vigilant approach to merger control may be warranted in response to perceived historical underenforcement, intervention motivated by the increasingly popular sentiment that competition in digital markets is suffering a ‘death by a thousand cuts’ should be underpinned by a cogent theory of harm. Insights may be drawn from an emergent ecosystem theory, which seeks to refocus the lens of competition law from narrow market definition to capture a broader network of complementors. However, it is suggested that the decimation of iRobot precipitated by regulatory over-reach stands in diametric opposition to the broad objectives espoused, in particular, by a new generation of competition officials. Ultimately, this article questions whether the outcome of the Commission’s investigation in Amazon/iRobot stands as a harbinger of legal dissonance, or a lesson in unintended consequences.

A Corpus-based Transitivity Analysis of the Corporate Image Constructed in CEO Statements from the CSR Reports of China Mobile and Vodafone

This Corporate image plays a crucial role in how a company presents itself to the public, and this study explores its construction through the CEO statements in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports of China Mobile and Vodafone. By applying Transitivity analysis from Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) and examining high-frequency nouns, verbs, and keywords, the research compares the similarities and differences in the corporate images of both companies. As leading players in the telecommunications industry, China Mobile and Vodafone provide a compelling context for this comparison. The findings indicate that both companies tend to use positive terms such as "improve," "support," and "service" to convey responsible and approachable corporate images, focusing on environmental sustainability and societal well-being. However, China Mobile’s CEO statements prominently feature keywords such as "poverty," "alleviation," and "China," signaling the company’s focus on social responsibility and active collaboration. On the other hand, Vodafone’s CEO statements emphasize keywords like "climate," "women," "global," and various country names, highlighting the company's commitment to globalization and the welfare of women and the environment. These discursive strategies likely play a significant role in shaping the companies' corporate images and supporting their broader objectives. This study offers valuable insights into the function of CEO statements in CSR reports and contributes to further research on corporate image.

The seven ‘C’s of strategic pricing in international markets

This paper introduces a conceptual framework addressing the complexities of pricing strategies in international markets, focusing on pivotal elements such as customer value, the impact of technological advancements, and the harmonisation of global and local strategies. An examination of existing literature and diverse pricing models reveals how the interplay between digitisation and global market dynamics necessitates innovative pricing approaches. These approaches must navigate specific challenges, including the accessibility of digital goods and the intricacies of information preservation costs. Emphasising the importance of distinguishing a company’s offerings from its competitors, the framework advocates for tailored distribution strategies that meet local market needs while maintaining global standards, alongside compliance with international legal pricing frameworks. The framework elaborates on the critical role of deep customer understanding and strategic branding in significantly boosting a company’s profitability and enhancing customer satisfaction across various geographical markets. It further integrates contemporary insights on the agility and adaptability required in pricing strategies amid market fluctuations, the application of behavioural economics principles in pricing, and the strategic employment of analytics to refine pricing decisions. Highlighting the dynamic nature of pricing that accommodates cultural sensitivities, the framework encourages innovation and a careful balance between widespread market reach and localised relevance. Offering strategic insights, this conceptual exploration aids businesses in navigating the intricacies of pricing within the digital era and the expanding global marketplace. It underscores the substantial benefits for business practitioners, including enhanced clarity in pricing decisions, facilitation of competitive differentiation, and alignment with broad business objectives. For marketers aiming to engage with the multicultural consumer markets of the 21st century, this framework serves as a crucial tool, elevating cultural comprehension and promoting product innovation tailored to diverse consumer groups. The paper concludes by emphasising the broader implications for international business practices, advocating for a strategic blend of scalability and customisation to achieve sustainable growth in the global economy.

Cracking the Code: Enhancing Molecular Tools for Progress in Nanobiotechnology.

Nature continually refines its processes for optimal efficiency, especially within biological systems. This article explores the collaborative efforts of researchers worldwide, aiming to mimic nature's efficiency by developing smarter and more effective nanoscale technologies and biomaterials. Recent advancements highlight progress and prospects in leveraging engineered nucleic acids and proteins for specific tasks, drawing inspiration from natural functions. The focus is developing improved methods for characterizing, understanding, and reprogramming these materials to perform user-defined functions, including personalized therapeutics, targeted drug delivery approaches, engineered scaffolds, and reconfigurable nanodevices. Contributions from academia, government agencies, biotech, and medical settings offer diverse perspectives, promising a comprehensive approach to broad nanobiotechnology objectives. Encompassing topics from mRNA vaccine design to programmable protein-based nanocomputing agents, this work provides insightful perspectives on the trajectory of nanobiotechnology toward a future of enhanced biomimicry and technological innovation.

A Thorough Analysis of the Address Corrector: Improving Validity of Data and Reliability

Abstract : This paper explores the creation of the Shatam Address Corrector, a complex system based on contemporary technologies like Java, Jetty, AWT, and Docker for robust backend development, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for smooth frontend implementation, and Lucene for effective data indexing and searching. Fundamentally, the system is built to parse more than 10,000 addresses in ten seconds or less, demonstrating its fast processing power. The main goal of this project is to provide an intuitive user interface that will enable users to accurately and systematically arrange their address data in an easy-to-use manner. This system seeks to optimize address rectification by utilizing state-of-the-art technology design concepts. It focuses on improving accuracy and efficiency for addresses in the United States and Canada. This paper explains the broad objectives of the project, goes into great detail on the complex technological architecture of the Shatam Address Corrector, and emphasizes how crucial this system is to transforming the address correction industry. This research clarifies the critical role that the Shatam Address Corrector plays in developing address correction techniques for the present day by thoroughly examining its goals, design, and relevance.

Mainstreaming Slow Pace Learners Through Mobile Assisted Language Learning: A Case of Bengali Primary Level Students with Dyslexia

Every child has the right of taking education. The rights of having education of the children who have learning disabilities come forward in recent decades. The main aim of this thesis was to explore how Mobile assisted language learning tools can help the dyslexic children in mainstreaming education. Towards attaining the broad objectives, the study has also focused on some relevant objectives such as, to assist students with dyslexia in mainstreaming by focusing on phonological, morphological, and syntactical awareness, introducing dyslexic students to a multi-sensory learning system, to propose a focused device to assist dyslexic students in dealing with phoneme-grapheme harmonization, which are crucial in reading, to identify the perceptions about dyslexia among parents and teachers. Qualitative study was applied for this study where five dyslexic students were played main role as sample. Moreover, four teachers and five parents have also a role of assisting sample. The study was conducted from a Government Primary School in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study showed that children having dyslexia have more difficulties in reading the voiced sounds, multisyllabic words, rhyming sentences. Furthermore, they have problems of sentence repetition, naming and timing knowledge. The study also demonstrated that parents and teachers play very negative role with these children that causes them to demotivate in terms of going school regularly. The major findings of the study showed that mobile assisted language learning tools help these dyslexic students to develop their skills in a tremendous way. The main reason is that they can hear a sound or word as many times possible as they want compared to the classroom where they have not the opportunity to ask several times. After using the tools, they felt more motivated and encouraged and most importantly they started enjoying their learning. Though government and many organizations have taken many activities to promote mainstreaming education, the opportunity of mainstreaming the dyslexic students is yet to develop.

Shaping pollinator diversity through coffee agroforestry management: A meta‐analytical approach

Abstract Pollinator diversity plays an important role in improving the resilience of pollination services. However, agricultural intensification is causing declines in pollinator diversity. Such losses could be mitigated and even reversed by agroforestry systems, whose structural complexity exceeds that of intensive agricultural systems. Research, primarily conducted in tropical regions, suggests that efficiently managing agroforestry systems can increase pollinator diversity. We performed a global meta‐analysis to explore how coffee agroforestry management practices affect the diversity of bee pollinators. We employed 137 sets of results from 20 studies that had been conducted at widely distributed locations across four of the seven continents. More specifically, we investigated the impact of augmenting floral resources (60 sets of results) and shade‐tree cover (43 sets of results) and reducing the distance to natural forests (34 sets of results). Additionally, we examined key moderating factors, including climatic conditions, pollinator sociality, the metrics used to describe pollinator diversity, pollinator sampling methods, the metrics used to characterise the effects of management practices and floral resource type. We observed that bee pollinator diversity broadly increased as local floral resources increased in tropical coffee agroforestry systems. Shade‐tree cover and proximity to natural forests did not broadly influence bee pollinator diversity. However, the strength and direction of the relationships between the agroforestry management practices and bee pollinator diversity were moderated by different factors, mainly climatic conditions and pollinator sociality. Our findings underscore the importance of managing coffee agroforestry systems to maximise bee diversity, which is crucial for coffee plant pollination. The broader objective should be to ensure the availability of resources that promote pollinator fitness, effective pollination and, as a consequence, crop yields.

Elephants in the Room - Analyzing Local Discourses for Sustainable Management of Bannerghatta National Park, South India.

Landscape governance challenges, particularly in peri-urban contexts like the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) region in South India, exemplify 'wicked' problems due to their inherent complexities. These challenges arise from a mix of conflicting interests, policy ambiguities, and sociocultural dynamics, which often blur the definition of problems and hinder effective solutions. Despite apparent options for resolution, stakeholder disagreements and deep uncertainties about implementation strategies complicate governance. This study, therefore, has two broad objectives. The first objective is to analyze the local discourses surrounding planned policy interventions around the BNP region in South India. Based on the findings, the second objective is to draw insights for sustainable natural resource governance research and practice. We applied Q-methodology to understand the discourses that underpin various conflicts in the rapidly urbanizing elephant corridor at BNP. We elicited information on how various local actors frame solutions to current collective action challenges in the BNP landscape and their perspectives on the proposed eco-sensitive zone notification, as well as the functioning of current policy interventions concerning conservation and development. The study uncovers the micropolitics and power regimes underpinning various natural resource governance challenges and demonstrates the utility of the Q-methodology in bringing diverse perspectives together in response to 'wicked' governance challenges.

The likely impact of the BBNJ Agreement on the architecture of ocean governance

In June 2023, governments agreed to a new treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). Unlike most other multilateral environmental agreements that typically emerge in response to newly identified transboundary environmental issues, the BBNJ Agreement steps into an already crowded institutional landscape as a global authority with broad objectives. The challenge facing this new legal instrument is unique. It must transform the architecture of ocean governance by harmonizing existing institutions, frameworks, and bodies (IFBs) while respecting their autonomy. This study examines the numerous references to IFBs in the treaty text to shed light on how the BBNJ Agreement might affect the dynamics with and among existing IFBs. The findings suggest that the BBNJ Agreement represents a new model for multilateral environmental agreements. It relies on its capacity to orchestrate incumbent IFBs and forge a new polycentric order centered around its treaty objectives. Its institutional power is likely to be constrained by the obligation to involve relevant IFBs in its decision-making processes. But the primary strength of the BBNJ Agreement lies in the normative authority it has established. Its objectives are effectively promoted within IFBs, potentially taking precedence in the event of serious or irreversible harm to marine biodiversity. When fully implemented, the BBNJ Agreement has the potential to redefine the relationships among existing IFBs and improve their coherence for more holistic ocean governance.

Fuelwood Supply Consumption and Dynamic on Forest Resource in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana County Kenya

Forestry is a source of livelihood for many farmers and rural households in developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the utilization of fuelwood in Africa contributes greatly to desert encroachment and consequently has implications with regard to climate change. Its, little to understand about the drivers and dynamics of fuelwood consumption in Kenya and other African countries. This study is to analyze determinants of refugee camp forest resource utilization efficiency Kakuma refugee camp Turkana county. It accomplishes two broad objectives:( 1) To analyse utilization of fuelwood from indigenous tree species supplied to the camp, the profitability of firewood supplied to the local market and a growing body of evidence on the influence of utilization of fuelwood in the camp in the refugee camp, as the host community get cash from the refugees and food ration in exchange with the resource (Fuelwood) in a household’s level. It embraced a mixed methods approach embedded with an explanatory research design for concurrent triangulation. The study interviewed a total of 296 respondents through HH questionnaires, the KII Tool and FGD Guide. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic framework approach while quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential (correlations) statistics on SPSS. Results suggest that even with minimal investment in both productive and non-productive assets (M=2.40) and SD=0.99) from cash purchase of fuelwood from agencies, there is significant negative effect (r=0.139) and P=0.05) between asset accumulation and poverty reduction among targeted household. study reveals that the provision of alternative sources of energy has the potential to reduce overdependence on wood fuel by the refugees in Kakuma Kenya. Therefore, the government ought to support other cheaper energy alternatives like alternatives gadgets and energy-saving cooking technologies, while the local administrators should integrate the refugee needs in the development plans for equal distribution of resources at large

Epidemiology of Substance Abuse Among the Youths in Makueni County, Kenya

Introduction: Majority of youths all over the world ignorantly rely on one or more types of drugs for their everyday activities, including Mandrax, Cocaine, Tobacco, Heroine, Khat, Morphine, Alcohol, Amphetamines, Ephedrine, and Glue among others. This study’s purpose was to evaluate the epidemiology of substance abuse among the youths in Makueni County, Kenya. The broad objectives that guided the study was; to determine the epidemiology of substance abuse among the youths in Makueni County, Kenya. Methodology: -A Cross-sectional mixed-method study design was undertaken, with the target population consisting of all youths from Makueni County's eight main marketplaces. Purposive sampling was employed to obtain the 8 Major urban centres while simple random selection approach was employed to obtain respondents in each market. Qualitative data was collected using 8 key informants to supplement the quantitative data collected from the youths. A self-administered questionnaire was employed. Quantitative data was analysed using Descriptive as well as inferential statistics while qualitative narrative data was grouped into themes and was presented inform of texts with verbatim quotes used to amplify the voice of the informants. Results: The study sampled 384 respondents from Makueni County. Prevalence of Drug/Substance abuse stood at 62.3 % with alcohol (58.3%) being the most commonly abused drug/Substance. Hard Drugs were the least abused with 96.9% reporting they had never abused. Pearson correlation between gender, age and education level on prevalence of drug abuse in Makueni showed a weak positive relationship(r=0.032), weak negative relationship (r=-0.064) and a significant negative relationship (r=-0.212) respectively. High unemployment rates 62.3%, easy availability of drugs 34.3%, Peer pressure 72.3%, cheap cost of drugs 28.3% and poverty level 15.1% are main contributory factors to drug abuse. A chi-square run on the factors contributing to drug abuse also indicated a significant positive relationship between the local music, TV programs, friends, and social media with prevalence of drug abuse in Makueni County. The chi-square results also revealed a weak positive relationship between parents and prevalence of drug abuse in Makueni County. Faith-based organizations, local leaders, religious leaders, and non-governmental organizations had a strong negative relationship with prevalence of drug abuse in Makueni County. Conclusion & Recommendations: There is high prevalence of Drug/Substance abuse among the youths in Makueni County and both the County Government, national Government and the community in general must put stringent measures to curb the easy availability, sale and buying of abusive Drugs and other substances in the county.

Metabolomic and proteomic applications to exercise biomedicine.

'OMICs encapsulates study of scaled data acquisition, at the levels of DNA, RNA, protein, and metabolite species. The broad objectives of OMICs in biomedical exercise research are multifarious, but commonly relate to biomarker development and understanding features of exercise adaptation in health, ageing and metabolic diseases. This field is one of exponential technical (i.e.,depth of feature coverage) and scientific (i.e.,in health, metabolic conditions and ageing, multi-OMICs) progress adopting targeted and untargeted approaches. Key findings in exercise biomedicine have led to the identification of OMIC features linking to heritability or adaptive responses to exercise e.g., the forging of GWAS/proteome/metabolome links to cardiovascular fitness and metabolic health adaptations. The recent addition of stable isotope tracing to proteomics ('dynamic proteomics') and metabolomics ('fluxomics') represents the next phase of state-of-the-art in 'OMICS. These methods overcome limitations associated with point-in-time 'OMICs and can be achieved using substrate-specific tracers or deuterium oxide (D2O), depending on the question; these methods could help identify how individual protein turnover and metabolite flux may explain exercise responses. We contend application of these methods will shed new light in translational exercise biomedicine.

Comparison of VAE model and diffusion model in lung cancer images generation

In the rapidly evolving domain of medical imaging, there's an increasing interest in harnessing deep learning models for enhanced diagnosis and prognosis. Among these, the Variational Autoencoder (VAE) and the Diffusion model stand out for their potential in generating synthetic lung cancer images. This research article delves into a comparative analysis of both models, focusing on their application in lung cancer imaging. Drawing from the "Iraq-Oncology Teaching Hospital/National Center for Cancer Diseases (IQ-OTH/NCCD) lung cancer dataset," the study investigates the efficiency, accuracy, and fidelity of the images generated by each model. The findings suggest that while the VAE model offers faster image generation, its output is notably blurrier than its counterpart. Conversely, the Diffusion model, despite its relatively slower speed, is capable of producing highly detailed synthetic images even with limited epochs. This comprehensive comparison not only highlights the strengths and shortcomings of each model but also lays the groundwork for further refinements and potential clinical implementations. The broader objective is to catalyze advancements in lung cancer diagnosis, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.

Overcoming systemic and institutional challenges in policy implementation in South Africa's water sector

The water sector in South Africa is faced with numerous challenges, among which include; increased flooding and prolonged droughts caused by increased climate variability, rapid population growth, unsustainable water demands and withdrawals by various water users, deficiencies in institutional management and infrastructural maintenance, lack of political will with accompanying high levels of corruption and steady deteriorations in all sub-sectors of the economy. Other significant challenges include provision of water in rural communities, water pollution especially from poorly operated wastewater treatments works, acid mine drainage, nutrients from agriculture, siltation of dams. A combination of these factors has led to high levels of water scarcity and an immense burden on the water supply. However, it must be noted that in 1994, South Africa (SA) embarked on developing numerous policies and strategies to address water challenges. While some levels of success have been achieved in terms of policy formulation, there is, however, a lack of comprehensive coordination and synergy that cut across the broad objectives of these policies in meeting environmental, social and economic targets and aspirations. Additionally, the implementation of the policies and programmes is stalled by structural, systemic and institutional factors, coupled with new challenges arising from climatic variabilities. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods together with rapid appraisal of existing literature, we explore systemic and institutional factors impeding the implementation of policies and strategies designed to drive South Africa's water sector as envisaged within the National Development Plan of 2012. We argue that the water sector is faced with multifarious and interweaving challenges such as inadequate human capital, changes in climatic conditions, limited financial resources, infrastructural deficiencies largely linked to poor urban planning and rapid growth of informal settlements, rampant corruption and mismanagement, lack of stakeholders' involvement and compartmentalisation of institutions. This paper, therefore, recommends a community-based approach that enforces transparency and the participation of civil society, cross-sectoral cooperation and a broad range of stakeholders and decentralisation of policy implementation strategies.

“It’s About Going From Good to Great”: Expert Approaches to Conducting a First Sport Psychology Session

The aim of this study was to investigate expert practitioners’ approaches to conducting a first sport psychology session with individual clients as there is sparse empirical literature on this topic. Nine expert Certified Mental Performance Consultants completed a semistructured interview where they discussed experiences conducting a first meeting with an athlete. Primary objectives included establishing the relationship, setting guidelines and expectations, understanding the client’s background, identifying presenting concerns, and formulating the treatment plan and building skills. Building rapport was an aspect used to establish the relationship while discussing confidentiality was utilized to set guidelines. Important strategies employed to increase the perceived benefits to services included conveying the consulting approach and philosophy. Lessons learned centered around doing too much and not appreciating individual differences of clients. Findings show expert consultants aim to achieve similar broad objectives in the first session and provide a basis for best practices in this area.

Exit (digital) humanity: Critical notes on the anthropological foundations of “digital humanism”

This paper evaluates the historical-anthropological and ethical underpinnings of the concept of “digital humanism.” Our inquiry begins with a reconstructive analysis, focusing on three pivotal works defining digital humanism. The objective is to expose shared characteristics shaping the notions of “human being” and “humanity.” Moving forward, our investigation employs anthropological-evolutionary and individual-cognitive perspectives to discern how cultural-historical contingencies shape the implicit understanding of the “human being” that forms the foundation for digital humanism. As an illustrative case study, we delve into Luddism to illuminate the potential and limitations of adopting a critical stance towards digital humanism. Through a thorough analysis, encompassing both efficacy and implicit anthropological elements, our goal is to extract ethical implications pertinent to our broader objective. This examination reveals the interplay between cultural-historical contingencies and anthropological constants in shaping assumptions about the “human being” within the context of digital humanism. In conclusion, our paper contributes to a nuanced understanding of the implicit assumptions permeating the digital humanism discourse. We advocate for a more critical and reflective engagement with the foundational concepts of digital humanism, urging scholars and practitioners to navigate the complexities of its historical-anthropological and ethical dimensions.