Report Of Committee Research Articles

Racial capitalism and the ordinary extractivism of British elite schools overseas

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the relationship between elite British boarding schools and the overseas branches (‘satellites’) that they have established around the world. While British schools are categorised as charities, the satellites are operated as commercial ventures through subsidiaries. The UK-based schools can thus profit from the export of their ‘brands’, extracting capital from their satellites overseas and channelling it back to the UK. Drawing on interviews with staff of these satellite schools and on documentary analysis (including Charity Commission reports), we use the lens of racial capitalism to analyse the relationships between British elite schools and their overseas branches. We argue that through their overseas operations, British elite schools engage in extractive practices and are complicit in processes of enclosure and dispossession. These processes are premised along racialised lines and ultimately ensure that the promised ‘British eliteness’ remains out of reach for those who subsidise its social reproduction.

Heterogeneity effect of prudential regulation on the stability of banks: evidence from WAEMU banks using quantile regression with fixed effects

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the heterogeneous effect of prudential regulation on the stability of banks in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Design/methodology/approach The author uses in this study individual bank data from balance sheets, income statements of banks in the WAEMU space and annual reports of the banking commission formed into a three-year panel from the period 2017 to 2019. First, this study uses hierarchical clustering based on specific banking characteristics to determine whether the WAEMU region’s banking markets are heterogeneous or not. Second, this study uses quantile regression approach with fixed effects to explore how that prudential regulation affects the conditional distribution of WAEMU bank stability. Findings The analysis reveals heterogeneity resulting in two distinct groups. Using the quantile regression approach, this study demonstrates that prudential regulation has a significantly more substantial and positive effect on the upper quantiles than on the lower quantiles of the conditional distribution of WAEMU bank stability. Furthermore, the effect of banking regulation also varies among pan-African cross-border banks, national banks and foreign banks. Among these types of banks, pan-African cross-border banks remain the most stable by adopting prudential regulation. The results remain robust and vary across different WAEMU countries. Originality/value The contribution of this study to the literature is multifaceted. First, this study uses individual bank-level constituted in panel data from the WAEMU region to assess the effect of prudential regulation on the stability of the WAEMU’s banking sector. This approach allows for a more granular analysis as this study considers individual regional banks’ specific characteristics and behaviors. Second, this study considers the heterogeneous effect of regulation on the stability of banks within the WAEMU space. This means that this study acknowledges that not all banks are affected similarly by prudential regulations, and this research aims to identify and quantify these differences.

Report of the General Committee: 30

SummaryDecisions of the General Committee are reported on proposals and requests in Report 25 of the Nomenclature Committee (NC) for Algae, Reports 22 and 23 of the NC for Fungi, Report 15 of the NC for Bryophytes and Report 17 of the NC for Fossils. Report 23 of the NC for Fungi also included five lists of protected fungal names for formal approval.

Review of Road Traffic Accident Burdens in Transportation Sector of Ethiopia

The transportation sector has a very immense role in the economic development of a given country. Because human beings' day-to-day activities re highly depends on the transport service. But this sector has its own drawbacks, like road traffic crashes and environmental pollution. In Ethiopia, the road transport sector is poor in terms of quality and service delivery systems. Due to this, the frequent occurrence of road traffic crashes has been recorded in the country continuously. To that end, this paper was mainly intended to review road traffic accident burdens in the transportation sector of Ethiopia. In detail, reviewing the costs of road traffic accidents, the causing factors of road traffic accidents, the types of vehicles highly involved in road traffic accidents, and the victim groups of communities affected by road traffic accidents at the national level were the specific objectives of this paper. Meanwhile, all road traffic accident data found in Ethiopia from the federal police commission report papers, journal articles, and dissertation papers were used for analysis purposes. Besides, the collected data is presented in tables and figures. Furthermore, the data was analyzed and interpreted based on a descriptive research design. Finally, the result of this review shows that trends of road traffic accidents in Ethiopia have been increasing over time by killing, injuring people and damaging resources. Drivers’ bad behaviors, low know-how of road users, poor road infrastructure, old vehicle conditions, and environmental factors are aggravating the occurrence of road traffic accidents in the country. Thus, to tackle this problem, educating people, enforcing traffic laws, enhancing engineering measures, and giving emergency responses were the recommendations given in this paper.

Deconstructing the Laissez-Faire Legend: A Critical Analysis of the 1834 Poor Law Reform and Its Legacy

This research paper critically examines the 1834 Poor Law Reform in Britain, a seminal event that is often heralded as a triumph of laissez-faire economics. The study delves into the historical context of the Old Poor Law system, established in 1601, which mandated legal support for individuals unable to sustain themselves. The paper scrutinizes the perceived problems of the Old Poor Law and the subsequent radical reforms introduced by the New Poor Law. It challenges the conventional narrative that the Poor Law Reform was a necessary corrective to an inefficient and market-distorting welfare system. Through a detailed analysis of the Poor Law Commission Report of 1834 and its criticisms, the paper reveals significant gaps in the arguments presented. The study also considers the impact of the Industrial Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and the gold standard restoration on the Old Poor Law system, arguing that these external factors played a crucial role in shaping the economic and social landscape of the time. This study offers insights into the complexities of policy marking and the interplay of economic theories and social needs. It underscores the enduring impact of historical decisions on contemporary economic and political dynamics and challenges the notion of post-WWII liberal order as a perpetuation of the laissez-faire myth.

A Russian regional draft commission report on quality control efforts regarding medical examination of conscripts

A Russian regional draft commission report on quality control efforts regarding medical examination of conscripts

The Hamas massacre of Oct 7, 2023, and its aftermath, medical crimes, and the Lancet commission report on medicine, Nazism, and the Holocaust

BackgroundThe report of the Lancet Commission on medicine, Nazism, and the Holocaust, released in November 2023, calls for this history to be required for all health professions education, to foster morally courageous health professionals who speak up when necessary.Main bodyThe report was released a month after Hamas’ October 7 invasion of Israel, with the accompanying massacre of over 1200 people, taking of civilian hostages, and gender-based violence. These acts constitute crimes against humanity including genocide. Post-October 7, war in Gaza resulted, with a legitimate objective of Israel defending itself within international law. The authors discuss an accompanying Statement to the report condemning Hamas crimes and denouncing the perpetrators’ use of their own civilians as human shields, including in healthcare facilities, and with the Hamas attack unleashing immense and ongoing suffering in Israel and beyond. With some exceptions, the medical literature shows a marked absence of condemnation of Hamas atrocities and includes unsubstantiated criticisms of Israel’s military. A significant surge in global antisemitism including on university campuses since October 7, 2023, has occurred; and health professionals, according to the Commission, have a special responsibility to fight antisemitism and discrimination of all kinds. In this context, the authors discuss the controversy and criticism regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion education programs (“DEI”) including such programs failing to protect Jews on campuses, especially as the U.S. President Biden’s “The U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism,” released in May 2023, calls for the inclusion of issues of antisemitism and religious discrimination within all DEI education programs. The authors support an evidence-based approach to the Hamas massacre, its aftermath and its relevance to health professionals both within medicine and their global citizenship, including refuting the international community accusations and anti-Israel libel.ConclusionsThe report of the Lancet Commission on medicine, Nazism, and the Holocaust has striking relevance to the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023 and its aftermath. This is further conveyed in an accompanying Statement, that describes the report’s implications for contemporary medicine, including: 1) provision of skills required to detect and prevent crimes against humanity and genocide; (2) care for victims of atrocities; (3) upholding the healing ethos central to the practice of medicine; and (4) fostering history-informed morally courageous health professionals who speak up when necessary.

Professional Education for Social Work in Britain: An Historical Account (A Book Review)

This article is a review of Marjorie J. Smith's book, Professional Education for Social Work in Britain: An Historical Account, 2022. We present a comprehensive historical expression of the evolution of vocational education for social workers in the United Kingdom in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The focus was on the initial training methods in social workers institutions, the transition to formal training schemes, the establishment and challenges of the School of Sociology, as well as the merger with the London School of Economics (LSE). This paper explores the ongoing tension between academic education and practical professional training in social work. As a valuable resource, this paper outlines the philosophical foundations, pedagogical approaches, and institutional challenges that shape social worker training. Through historical exhibitions, committee reports, and practical work reports, this paper provides a rich narrative that emphasises the importance of comprehensive education that integrates theoretical knowledge with practical skills. The review assesses the content, structure, and contribution of this book to the field of social worker education, exploring the target audience, advantages, and potential constraints as well as their relevance in contemporary discussions on training and preparation of social workers. In conclusion, the merger of the School of Sociology with the London School of Economics is not only a strategic step to maintain the quality and coverage of social worker education but also depicts further reflection on narratives that integrate social thinking and action into a more sustainable institutional framework.

Disasters Ineligible for Disaster Risk Funding: A Political–Economic Discourse Between States and the Center for Inclusion of Region-specific Disasters

Disaster risk funding is a well-established mechanism in India. It includes funds such as the National Disaster and Risk Management Fund (NDRMF), the State Disaster and Risk Management Fund (SDRMF), etc. These funds provide funding for listed disasters only, such as floods, droughts, landslides, and so on. However, states find this list very limited in its scope as many state/region-specific disasters are not covered in it. Hence, there are constant demands from the states to revise this list by including state-specific disasters such as snakebites, lightning, sea and riverbank erosion, bamboo flowering, and the like. However, these demands are rejected by the Finance Commission, a nodal agency of the central government for disaster risk funding, on many accounts. The present article analyzes the rationale for states’ demands to add certain region-specific disasters to the eligible list of disasters for funding and the Finance Commission’s response to them. The article utilizes primary sources such as Finance Commission reports and government orders, recommendations, and reports of the Ministry of Home Affairs and related agencies. It is supplanted with secondary sources as well.

Preservice teachers and the patriotism of the 1619 and 1776 history narratives

PurposePreservice teachers (n = 39) described their definitions of patriotism and to what extent they believed statements from The 1619 Project (2019) and The 1776 Commission Report (2021) were patriotic.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a mixed-method survey including open-ended prompts requesting participants’ descriptions of patriotism and Likert scale prompts asking participants to agree/disagree with deidentified statements from The 1619 Project and the 1776 Commission Report. In vivo words reflecting emotional responses to patriotism and the statements informed the categorization process in a second round of coding.FindingsFour categories of patriotism definition were identified. Identified were relationships between groups’ conceptualizations of patriotism and whether statements from history narratives were viewed as patriotic.Originality/valueThis article contributes to the field by exploring the intersectionality of the concept of patriotism with competing narratives regarding the foundation and growth of the United States.

Direct, indirect, and reciprocal associations between perfectionism, compulsive exercise and eating disorder pathology in adolescents with eating disorders

BackgroundThere is a strong association between perfectionism and eating disorders. In a cognitive–behavioural model of compulsive exercise it has been suggested there are reciprocal associations between perfectionism, eating disorder pathology, and compulsive exercise. No study has examined if there is an indirect association between perfectionism and compulsive exercise through eating disorder pathology, which would inform a preliminary understanding of the cognitive–behavioural model of compulsive exercise.MethodsThe sample included 301 adolescent females diagnosed with eating disorders (age M = 14.89, SD = 0.85, range 13–17). We tested models of direct and indirect associations of compulsive exercise in the relationship between perfectionism and eating disorder pathology, and direct and indirect associations of eating disorder pathology in the relationship between compulsive exercise and perfectionism.ResultsPerfectionism was directly associated with eating disorder pathology and compulsive exercise. Perfectionism was indirectly associated with eating disorder pathology through compulsive exercise. Perfectionism also had an indirect association with compulsive exercise through eating disorder pathology.DiscussionThe findings suggest it would be useful for future prospective research to examine the cognitive–behavioural model of compulsive exercise in adolescents with eating disorders. Compulsive exercise and perfectionism may be useful targets for future research to improve eating disorder treatment.Level of evidence Level V: Opinions of respected authorities, based on descriptive studies, narrative reviews, clinical experience, or reports of expert committees.

Science in 2025-2027 and the SPQEO journal

Relevance of recent research is important for scientists and journals reporting research results. There are many sources of prognoses and one of them is the Report of European Commission "Looking into the R&I future priorities 2025-2027". It predicts the importance of the following areas for users: healthcare, energy, climate, sustainability and digitalization. The Ukrainian journal Semiconductor Physics, Quantum Electronics and Optoelectronics (SPQEO) actually focuses on these areas and contributes to the development of related knowledge. Monitoring of last SPQEO issues shows some interesting results: (i) the effect of local field amplification, which causes emergence of ponder motive forces acting on viruses until destruction of viral envelopes; (ii) the methods of malignant tumors treatment taking into account their genesis mechanisms and focusing on correction of definite pathogenesis components, while being nontoxic for other organs and tissues; and (iii) manipulation of the spectral characteristics of a “polycarbonate matrix – gold nanostructures – HTTH dye” system due to influence of gold nanostructures. SPQEO paid attention to the improvement of solar cells (SCs) by considering physical effects such as the effect of space charge region (SCR) recombination on the key characteristics of high-efficiency silicon solar cells, such as photovoltaic conversion efficiency and open-circuit voltage, is not only dependent on the charge-carrier lifetime in the SCR, but also on the ratio of hole-to-electron-capture cross section, σp/σn. Non- traditional SCs were also considered: SCs with perovskite thin films, SCs comprising CdS/CIGS heterojunctions, and vitamin B12-patterned silicon hybrids based SCs. Moreover, SPQEO also covers research results in the fields of quantum devices, diamond- like and oxide films, and light-emitting diodes.

The evolution of regional triple helix food sector SME interventions: a longitudinal study, Wales, UK

ABSTRACT This paper explores the effectiveness of regional intervention strategies aimed at enhancing ‘low-tech’ SMEs’ sustainable competitive advantage and innovation activities, employing the food sector in Wales (UK) as a case study. It utilizes the triple helix model to analyse these interventions, emphasising collaboration between government, academia, and industry to stimulate knowledge-based economic development. The food sector represents an ideal subject for innovation-focused regional development policies because of its global importance, sustainability concerns, health impact and economic outcomes. A mixed-methods longitudinal case study approach was taken, evaluating a series of intervention programmes over an extended period (12 years in total), all funded by the European Union via the Welsh Government. Data sources included program reports, management committee reports, interviews, and case study testimonials. Frequent intervention activities included quality systems development, technical support, and skills training. They notably improved product and processing innovation for SMEs, key performance indicators revealing over 1,800 new products, safeguarding around 2,300 food sector jobs, and supporting 64 new business start-ups. Findings emphasized the value of consistent policies over an extended time period, albeit with the potential for lock-in effects. Future programme goals should be adapted for broader sustainable development outcomes – these are not uniquely Welsh challenges.

Report of the General Committee: 29

SummaryDecisions of the General Committee are reported on proposals and requests in Report 74 of the Permanent Nomenclature Committee for Vascular Plants and on two older proposals: 2550 (Plagiomnium) and 2786 (Ipomoea). The General Committee has approved the list of institutional votes for the Nomenclature Section of the XX International Botanical Congress in Madrid.

The history of polio vaccination with "Sabin's OPV" 60 years after its introduction in Italy: an unforgivable "delay".

In the spring of 1964, polio vaccination with the oral vaccine developed by Albert Sabin began in Italy. Polio was feared in the world and in Italy. Thus, between 1957 and the beginning of 1958, Italian children began receiving the "Salk vaccine", though the results were not particularly convincing. In July 1960, the international scientific community was able to verify the data from the mass testing of the Sabin vaccine. It became clear that the OPV, could prevent the virus from multiplying, thereby providing greater protection and determining the eradication of the disease. In 1960 over 70 million people in the USSR alone had already received the oral vaccine and mass vaccination in the USA would start in March 1961. However, in Italy there was no similar initiative; only later the new vaccine was accepted but was not made compulsory at the beginning. As a result of the commission's report, registration of the "Polioral" vaccine, was authorized in September 1962 but the sale of the vaccine was not authorized until November 1963. At the beginning of 1964, the production of "Polioral" started and the product was marketed and on the 1 st of March 1964, anti-polio vaccination with the "Sabin anti-polio vaccine" also began in Italy. This manuscript focuses on a crucial issue about a historical delay for public health and it points out as the preparation and diffusion of the Sabin polio vaccine demonstrates that decisions regarding health treatments, and specifically vaccination campaigns, must be based exclusively on the results of clinical studies and on independent evaluation by the scientific community. This process ensures trust in vaccines, adequate protection of public health andcitizens' well-being.

Political Reservation for Women: The (Un)making and Futures of the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023

This article attempts to contextualise the issue of political reservation for women and trace the decadal shifts in articulation of this demand over 27 years, that is, since 1996, when it was first introduced as the 81st Amendment and defeated, until its passage as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023. The wider contexts of the struggles for women’s rights to voice, visibility, and equality; the implementation of reservation for women with internal reservation for women from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the 73rd and 74th Amendments; and the recommendations of the Mandal Commission and later the Sachar Committee guide us in historicising this moment and refusing its rhetorical appropriation by any particular political party. This context is examined through a close reading of parliamentary debates and reports of parliamentary committees in 1996–1997 and 2009–2010 and a brief glimpse at the other backward classes and Muslim feminist engagements within larger movements for equal citizenship.

Is Audit Quality Higher When Audit Committees Report Strong Oversight?

SUMMARY This article provides a summary of recent research by Bratten, Causholli, and Sulcaj (2022), who examine whether issuers with audit committees who report strong oversight over the audit function have higher audit quality. Using a novel dataset from Audit Analytics that summarizes reported audit committee activities, Bratten et al. (2022) create a composite measure that captures the strength of the audit committee’s oversight of the audit process. The study uses several measures to capture audit quality, including audit fees, discretionary accruals, and propensity to meet or just beat earnings benchmarks. The authors show that, when issuers’ audit committees report activities consistent with being more active in overseeing the external auditor, issuers, on average, have better audit quality.

Risk Factors for Poland to Achieve the European Commission’s Recycling and Landfill Targets and Their Effects on Waste-to-Energy Conversion: A Review

Poland is highly likely, as per a European Commission report, to fall short of meeting the 2025 targets related to the preparation for re-use and recycling of municipal waste and packaging waste. The risk of not meeting the municipal waste recycling targets stands at 27%, while for packaging waste, it is estimated at 30%. Recycling rates play a pivotal role in gauging the efficiency of waste management systems, as well as in monitoring progress toward a circular economy. Taking into account the considerable likelihood of Poland not achieving the recycling targets, the authors of the paper found it imperative to identify the risk factors associated with Poland’s failure to meet the European Commission’s recycling and landfill targets within the waste-to-energy context. Additionally, they sought to evaluate the potential for the development of the waste-to-energy concept in Poland. The research objectives were fulfilled through the literature review method. By employing the classification of factors outlined in a SWOT analysis, the authors highlighted which of the identified risk factors could or should be considered strengths or weaknesses, opportunities or threats to the Polish recycling process. Mapping out future courses of action will enable decision-makers in Poland to address the weaknesses in recycling, capitalize on opportunities arising from the socio-economic situation in Poland, and formulate plans to mitigate the identified threats. Undertaking such initiatives has the potential to enhance recycling rates in Poland and facilitate the broader application of waste-to-energy practices.

The Quest for Memory and Truth at the Local Level: University Truth Commissions in Brazil

Abstract: Alongside and in the wake of Brazil's National Truth Commission (2012–2014), local and institutional truth commissions flourished. This article examines one form of those local truth commissions: university truth commission reports. Situating them in the context of both their creation and Brazil's longer history with military rule, it analyzes the ways in which such commissions engage with, reinforce, and challenge national narratives of the military dictatorship of 1964–1985 and the ways in which they contribute new understandings to the military past. In the process, such commissions complicate the collective memory and narratives of military rule while both revealing the limitations of specialized truth commissions yet pointing to the ways in which such commissions can expand understandings of human rights both definitionally and temporally.

TAX INCENTIVE SCHEMES AND BALANCED REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH IN TURKEY

This study delves into the impact of investment incentives on regional development and economic growth in Turkey. It provides a comprehensive overview of the investment incentive system introduced in 2012, categorizing regions based on development levels and offering various incentives such as tax exemptions, reductions, and social security support. The research investigates the relationship between investment incentives, public expenditures, regional differences, and economic growth. Through a thorough examination, the study aims to understand how the current incentive system addresses regional disparities and promotes balanced economic growth. The literature review explores international perspectives, including China and Italy, providing insights into the effectiveness of tax incentives on R&D investment and macroeconomic performance. The study also analyzes the European Commission's report on tax incentives for venture capital and business angels. The results and discussion section outlines the investment incentive framework in Turkey, emphasizing regional, priority, large-scale, and strategic schemes. The research considers twelve investment categories, each supported by specific incentive measures. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of aligning incentives with regional needs, fostering equitable development, and promoting strategic sectors. It highlights the significance of quasi-tax supports, VAT exemptions, and interest subsidies in encouraging investments. The employment and income tax withholding supports, especially in the 6th region, are recognized for their contribution to reducing unemployment. The study concludes by underscoring the need for continuous evaluation and adaptation of incentive schemes to address evolving economic challenges.