Critical Analysis Research Articles

Absence & presence: The six racism-in-education-processes (‘the 6 REP’)

This article aims to explore the ways in which racial inequity in England education affects resilient minority (ReM) – that is, racially minoritised – students. Scholars argue racism simultaneously produces and normalises the lack of opportunities given to ReM students, shown within six key processes: (i) pre-university educational attainment, (ii) university application choices, (iii) university admissions process, (iv) degree completion and achievement, (v) graduate career prospects, and (vi) the racialised student experience. Each of these processes afford opportunity but are vulnerable to external factors (e.g. race and gender), thus students’ futures are ultimately constrained to uncontrollable aspects of their being. This is because racism manifests in both overt and covert ways leading administrators to believe a colour-blind and meritocratic system is beneficial for students, in turn creating deficit narratives. Thus, the author has called these stages the six Racism-in-Education-Processes (6 REP). Research has highlighted the impact of these processes, but few have amalgamated them altogether. Therefore, this paper deploys existing literature and the author’s theses using a Critical Race Theory analysis to critically examine the 6 REPs impact on Black African England students, to illustrate the absence of racial equity leads to the presence of racism.

Exploring Curriculum Transformation in Higher Education Institutions: A Critical Analysis of Equity and Social Justice Perspectives

This paper addresses the imperative of curriculum transformation within higher education in South Africa to confront and mitigate structural inequalities and promote equitable access and outcomes. Drawing upon Fraser's multi-dimensional framework for social justice, the study critically examines the efficacy of curriculum interventions, particularly Education Development initiatives in South Africa. Fraser's framework enables assessing how these interventions address justice dimensions: redistribution, misrecognition, and representation. The analysis reveals that existing interventions predominantly adopt an affirmative rather than transformative approach, primarily focusing on redistributive justice while neglecting misrecognition and representation issues. The study underscores the necessity of embracing a transformative paradigm in curriculum development within South African higher education institutions. A transformative approach necessitates a fundamental reframing of the curriculum, involving reassessing the scale of existing challenges, interrogating underlying assumptions shaping curriculum norms, and re-evaluating the delineation between 'mainstream' and 'other' students. Moreover, it advocates for revisiting the appropriateness of the curriculum for a diverse and pluralistic society. In conclusion, the paper advocates for a comprehensive reframing of the South African higher education curriculum, emphasising the imperative of transformative practices. It proposes recommendations for reformulating the curriculum to address better social justice issues, including embracing inclusivity, challenging prevailing norms, and fostering a curriculum that reflects the diversity and complexities of contemporary society.

Bringing imperialism back in: for an anthropology against empire in the twenty-first century

AbstractWhat can a critical analysis of imperialist political economy offer the decolonial turn in the contemporary social sciences? How might revisiting “classic” anti-imperialist thought and politics from the global South push scholars and activists to envision a more revolutionary decolonization? And how, in our discipline’s history, have anthropologists variously opposed or been complicit with the workings of imperialist power? In this article, and in the special issue of Dialectical Anthropology that this article introduces, we engage these questions with a call to bring imperialism “back in” to anthropological research and analysis. Our proposal, however, is not simply for an anthropology of empire, but for an anthropology against empire—a project, that is, not solely of interpreting imperialism, but of aiding its abolition.

Segmental Mobility in Linear Polylactides of Various Molecular Weights

In this work we synthesized and studied a series of linear polylactides (PLA) with a fixed L/D -lactide stereoisomer ratio, covering together the wide range of molecular weights, Mn, from ∼6 to ∼80 kg/mol. The basic aims are the segmental mobility mapping, in terms of time scale and fragility, the recording of the Mn dependences of the glass transition temperature and fragility, and, finally, the comparison with corresponding findings from the literature. Obviously, the direct Mn effects on Tg are assessed by preserving PLA at the amorphous state, i.e., via melting and relatively fast cooling. The segmental mobility is studied by conventional and temperature modulated calorimetry, whereas the molecular dynamics is assessed employing the technique of broadband dielectric spectroscopy in combination with proper critical analysis and evaluation routes. The calorimetric and dielectric Tg(Mn) trends were found consistent between each other as well as with previous findings in similar systems, both with respect to experimental findings and theoretic predictions for PLAs of similar L/D ratio. The Mn threshold of entanglements seems to lay between 13 and 28 kg/mol. The fragility index of the α relaxation, i.e., the dielectric analogue of the glass transition, exhibits a similar dependence to that of Tg(Mn). When decreasing Mn to very low values, the high fragility (∼150) drops down to 0 (Mn∼6 kg/mol), denoting the vanishing of the polymer chains’ cooperativity. Qualitatively interesting alternations are recorded in the dielectric strength of the α relaxation and the relaxation times width. The effects are discussed in terms of the various parameters co-affecting the polymer dynamics, namely, chain lengths, free volume and dynamical heterogeneities.

METHANOL STEAM REFORMING FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION OVER Ni-BASED CATALYSTS: STATE-OF-THE-ART REVIEW AND FUTURE PROSPECTS.

With increasing global emphasis on environmental sustainability, the reliance on traditional energy sources such as coal, natural gas, and oil is encountering significant challenges. H2, known for its high energy content and pollution-free usage, emerges as a promising alternative. However, despite the great potential of H2, approximately 95% of hydrogen production still depends on non-renewable resources. Hence, the shift towards producing H2 from renewable sources, particularly through methods like steam reforming of methanol - a renewable resource - represents a beacon of hope for advancing sustainable energy practices. This review comprehensively examines recent advancements in efficient H2 production using Ni-based catalysts in methanol steam reforming (MSR) and proposes the future prospects. Firstly, the fundamental principles of MSR technology and the significance in clean energy generation are elucidated. Subsequently, the design, synthesis techniques, and optimization strategies for enhancing the catalytic performance of Ni-based catalysts are discussed. Through the analysis of various catalyst compositions, structural adjustments, surface active sites, and modification methods, the review uncovers effective approaches for boosting the activity and durability of MSR reactions.By offering a comprehensive critical analysis, this review serves as a valuable reference to enhance MSR hydrogen production efficiency and catalyst performance.

Media representations of the ‘little fresh meat’ phenomenon in China: a feminist critical discourse analysis of the masculine nonconformity discourse

ABSTRACT ‘Little fresh meat’ (LFM or xiǎo xiān ròu), which describes a masculine aesthetic rooted in ‘soft masculinity’, is a phenomenon across Asia that challenges prevailing concepts of masculinity and patriarchal discourse. This study furthers previous research by using feminist critical discourse analysis to evaluate the construction of LFM masculine nonconformity, via data collected from 42 news articles from China’s English-language news media, including: China Daily, Global Times, People’s Daily Online, Shanghai Daily, and Xinhua News Agency. The analysis generated three key themes: (1) market driving a female consumer fan base, (2) challenging hegemonic masculinities when men wear makeup to imitate their ‘idols’, and (3) criticisms of gender stereotypes. These themes show how a masculine nonconformity discourse is developed by using a variety of discursive strategies in China. This study highlights the need for increased awareness and education regarding gender diversity and the harmful impacts of gender stereotypes on Chinese society.

Application and challenges of layers of protection analysis (LOPA) in mining processes: Insights into benefits and limitations

AbstractLayers of protection analysis (LOPA) is a semiquantitative technique widely used in process industries for assessing hazardous scenarios and supporting risk‐informed decision making. It provides a balance between the simplicity of qualitative analysis and the detail of quantitative analysis. This paper discusses the authors' experiences with the application of LOPA in the mining and metals (M&M) industry, combined with traditional methods like HAZOP and HAZID, to identify risks. Several of LOPA's limitations became evident, and scenarios involving human factors, natural events, and asset integrity were excluded from analysis. Certain M&M processes, often complex and heavily reliant on manual operations, pose unique challenges to LOPA's effectiveness due to difficulties in isolating independent protection layers: for example, those involving induction furnaces where overheat scenarios can lead to explosive phase transitions upon contact with water and molten metal. Despite these challenges, the advantages of LOPA, such as enhanced understanding of protection layers and fostering effective safety improvements, are significant. The paper anticipates continued use of LOPA within the company, complemented by safety critical task analysis to manage human errors and enhance safety controls in critical situations.

Transgender Lived Experience in Social Work: A Critical Discourse Analysis

To date, social work literature regarding transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals situates TGD individuals as objects of social work knowledge and intervention. While this existent work represents an important foundation, it may foreclose other positionalities for TGD individuals. Therefore, this feminist critical discourse analysis of social work literature utilizes professionalization and transnormativity as conceptual anchors to explore the phenomenon of “transgender lived experience” in social work literature in order to understand both the nature of transgender lived experience and who is permitted to have it. Ultimately, this project found that transgender lived experience within social work is a totalizing discourse centered on a wholly painful experience of othering that can only be ameliorated through medical intervention. While this experience can confer expertise upon some individuals, transnormativity and professionalization operate in concert with this discourse to situate TGD people as transgender in the first place, foreclosing any other subjectivity. Therefore, future inquiry into the experiences of TGD individuals in social work must be willing to embrace epistemic perspectives and methodologies that emphasize the nuance and diversity of individuals’ experiences and resist totalizing grand narratives.

Passive Anti-Amyloid Beta Immunotherapies in Alzheimer’s Disease: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Impact

Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia worldwide, lacks effective disease-modifying therapies despite significant research efforts. Passive anti-amyloid immunotherapies represent a promising avenue for Alzheimer’s disease treatment by targeting the amyloid-beta peptide, a key pathological hallmark of the disease. This approach utilizes monoclonal antibodies designed to specifically bind amyloid beta, facilitating its clearance from the brain. This review offers an original and critical analysis of anti-amyloid immunotherapies by exploring several aspects. Firstly, the mechanisms of action of these therapies are reviewed, focusing on their ability to promote Aβ degradation and enhance its efflux from the central nervous system. Subsequently, the extensive history of clinical trials involving anti-amyloid antibodies is presented, from initial efforts using first-generation molecules leading to mixed results to recent clinically approved drugs. Along with undeniable progress, the authors also highlight the pitfalls of this approach to offer a balanced perspective on this topic. Finally, based on its potential and limitations, the future directions of this promising therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s disease are emphasized.

Deleterious Effects of Heat Stress on the Tomato, Its Innate Responses, and Potential Preventive Strategies in the Realm of Emerging Technologies

The tomato is a fruit vegetable rich in nutritional and medicinal value grown in greenhouses and fields worldwide. It is severely sensitive to heat stress, which frequently occurs with rising global warming. Predictions indicate a 0.2 °C increase in average surface temperatures per decade for the next three decades, which underlines the threat of austere heat stress in the future. Previous studies have reported that heat stress adversely affects tomato growth, limits nutrient availability, hammers photosynthesis, disrupts reproduction, denatures proteins, upsets signaling pathways, and damages cell membranes. The overproduction of reactive oxygen species in response to heat stress is toxic to tomato plants. The negative consequences of heat stress on the tomato have been the focus of much investigation, resulting in the emergence of several therapeutic interventions. However, a considerable distance remains to be covered to develop tomato varieties that are tolerant to current heat stress and durable in the perspective of increasing global warming. This current review provides a critical analysis of the heat stress consequences on the tomato in the context of global warming, its innate response to heat stress, and the elucidation of domains characterized by a scarcity of knowledge, along with potential avenues for enhancing sustainable tolerance against heat stress through the involvement of diverse advanced technologies. The particular mechanism underlying thermotolerance remains indeterminate and requires further elucidatory investigation. The precise roles and interplay of signaling pathways in response to heat stress remain unresolved. The etiology of tomato plants’ physiological and molecular responses against heat stress remains unexplained. Utilizing modern functional genomics techniques, including transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, can assist in identifying potential candidate proteins, metabolites, genes, gene networks, and signaling pathways contributing to tomato stress tolerance. Improving tomato tolerance against heat stress urges a comprehensive and combined strategy including modern techniques, the latest apparatuses, speedy breeding, physiology, and molecular markers to regulate their physiological, molecular, and biochemical reactions.

Problems of Scientometrics and its Suitability for Management Scientific Activity in Modern Russia

The purpose of the study is a critical analysis of the Russian practice of using the main indicators of sci entometrics in management activities at various levels. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to solve several problems, namely: to study the main scientometric parameters; determine the degree of accuracy and reliability of information indexed by the major bibliographic databases; to formulate a number of principles of management practice related to scientometrics; to identify and consider the shortcomings of management decisions recorded in regulatory documents; to develop recommendations aimed at resolving a number of problems related to the use of scientometric indicators. The research is based on both general scientific theoretical methods: induction and deduction, analysis and synthesis, systems approach, social modeling, comparative typological and comparative analytical methods, and practical methods: working with documents, analysis of printed and electronic sources of information, content analysis and bibliographic combination of documents. In the course of the work, it was revealed that scientometrics in its applied version still clearly lacks reliability both due to imperfections associated with both its main indicators in all databases and with the indexing of publications in them, as well as due to management miscalculations reflected in regulations. In particular, in the light of the current political events caused by the special military operation in Ukraine, and in connection with difficult access to Western bibliographic data bases, the problem of a radical reorganization of the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI) and the transition to a new system of scientometric indicators clearly arises. The data and recommendations obtained as a result of the study will help management structures avoid obvious omissions and errors in planning and monitoring the scientific activities of university and academic research institute staff, as well as optimize scientometric reporting.

Safe Environment for Working Women - A Critical Analysis

Safe Environment for Working Women - A Critical Analysis

How does movie foster experiential learning in auditing education?

PurposeThis study explores virtual platforms’ capabilities, particularly emphasising the influence of educational movies embedded with lifelike narratives to serve as a potent medium for immersive learning within the auditing discipline. Through this exploration, we aim to discern how cinematic depictions can educate and encapsulate the intricate dynamics of real-world auditing scenarios, thereby enriching the educational experience for budding auditors.Design/methodology/approachBy employing an action research methodology, this study engaged 134 auditing students from China in an experiment, using a questionnaire to assess their grasp of auditing concepts like internal control, corporate governance, and professional ethics.FindingsPreliminary findings underscore the efficacy of movies as pedagogical tools. These movie experiences bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and its real-world application, particularly highlighting the nuances of professional ethics and corporate governance. Results show that such a method amplifies students’ comprehension of auditor skillsets, practical complications, and ethical insight and nurtures professional scepticism about tangible audit issues.Research limitations/implicationsThis study illuminates a novel virtual learning approach using movies that primes students to exercise critical thinking and augments cognitive skillsets, especially when navigating ethical conundrums. The broader implication is the potential enhancement of auditing education quality in China, presenting educators with an innovative teaching modality that bolsters students’ critical analysis and cognitive development.Practical implicationsThis study has multiple implications for auditing education policy. It underscores the imperative need for curriculum revision in contemporary auditing education. Our study can significantly change contemporary auditing education by incorporating movie-based experiential learning. Educators and institutions in China and other parts of the world explore this avenue, customising it to fit the unique requirements of their respective courses and the country’s contexts. Our study also highlights the challenges and recommendations for real-world audit simulation for auditing education. While our research highlights the promise of educational movies, it also sheds light on the potential difficulties in their integration. Audit educators need adequate support and training for effective assimilation, ensuring they leverage educational movies to maximise learning outcomes. Careful curation and selection of movies, combined with strategic planning, are paramount to this teaching method’s success. With the continual evolution of video tools, there is an opportunity for a more immersive and holistic education model, shaping the next generation of auditors.Originality/valueThis study offers insights into innovative strategies to imbue real-world experience into traditional curricula, ensuring relevance and applicability across diverse educational landscapes.

A Review of the AGE Barometer 2023: EU Good Practices and Barriers in the Empowerment of Elderly in the Labour Market - The Case of Hungary

The 2023 edition of the AGE Barometer was released by the Age Platform Europe, aimed at consolidating data from European statistics and national-level sources and enriched by feedback from 19 European countries, including Hungary. The publication aimed at empowering older people in the labour market and promoting sustainable and high-quality working lives for them. The Barometer revealed that the European Union (EU) is far from reaching its 78% employment target for adults aged 20 to 64 with its current state of just 62.3%. This could be due to various barriers to the integration of older people in the labour market, which include inadequate supportive policies, ageism, and unfavourable workplace conditions. Conversely, these are broadly stated in the context of the EU; hence, a deeper analysis of these results, with a special focus on the case of a single country, such as Hungary, is relevant to establish a clearer understanding of the national and local framework of these findings and in determining facilitating policies and programmes as well as gaps in promoting elderly inclusion in the labour sector. Using various methods such as critical analysis, desk and literature review, and thematic analysis, this article examined the Barometer report and other relevant publications. The Barometer 2023 effectively provided general issues and actionable areas in supporting older people in the labour market, combating ageism, and ensuring an age-friendly work environment in the EU landscape. Moreover, it revealed that Hungary performed better in employing older persons compared to the EU average, likely associated with a favourable environment for older workers through its legal protection systems, financial incentives, equal treatment policy, and initiatives such as pensioner cooperatives and information technology education. However, this still falls below the target, and based on the analysis and review of existing relevant publications, this could be associated with some unfavourable policies, gender disparities, a continuous rise in the ageing population, an increased number of migrant workers, technology challenges, ageism, political mayhems, cultural and traditional constraints, and other challenges that continue to threaten the marketability of older people, thereby resulting in consequences for their financial, physical, social, psychological, and environmental wellbeing. Moreover, the report also stated few good practices in promoting elderly employment in the county, contrary to numerous efforts implemented by both the Hungarian government, non-government organisations, and other institutions, which remained unrecognised, perhaps due to limited data availability and gaps in the reporting schemes. Finally, the Barometer 2023 report was realized to be included and used as a part of the technical working papers of the European Economic and Social Committee, being the EU advisory body that deals on the issues and opinions regarding this matter. The latest edition of the Barometer has the potential to spark positive changes among policymakers and decision-makers in acknowledging the economic potential of the elderly and in eliminating barriers that hinder elderly integration in the labour market. In the case of Hungary, substantial policies, programmes, and welfare services exist that facilitate elderly employment; however, challenges were also identified, hence the precise recommendations provided in the Barometer report must transform into reality, taking into consideration the unique national, local, and cultural peculiarities of Hungary and its local communities. It is also suggested that systematic data collection and good practice documentation must be facilitated in Hungary, and feedback from the other 18 countries in the Barometer report must be thoroughly reviewed or benchmarked for possible inspiration and replication. Lastly, the potentials of the Barometer 2023 to be used at all levels of decision-making must be maximized.

Metaphors to describe sanctions against Iran in American and Iranian newspapers

Abstract Since Iran’s 1979 revolution, Sanctions Against Iran (SAI) has been one of the most crucial issues concerning Iran and the US’ relationships, and both parties employ different metaphors to depict the situation in line with their own ideologies. This study explored the conceptual metaphors (CM) concerning the sanctions against Iran in two corpora of the editorials and news extracted from an international American newspaper (New York Times) and a local Iranian English press (Iran Daily). Following Charteris-Black’s (2004) framework for Critical Metaphor Analysis, sixty editorial news texts (thirty for each), since 2013 until 2021, were scrutinized for the CMs in the two corpora. The findings revealed that although both newspapers took advantage of the metaphors in description of the sanctions against Iran, there were significant differences between them in the employment of the CMs. The American newspaper enjoyed more frequent and diverse metaphors to represent the sanctions compared to the Iranian newspaper, and “SAI is a pain/illness” (22.7%) was the most frequent conceptual metaphor in the New York Times whereas “SAI is a human” (32.4%) and “SAI is a journey” (18.9%) were the common metaphors in Iran Daily. The results suggest how language could be manipulated to serve different purposes.

From Bureau to Micro-Industry

This paper aims to provide a critical and contextual analysis of research conducted together with Martin Smith at the Royal College of Art in the field of ceramic printmaking during 2015–2018, and the subsequent reflections upon the four years since as we have continued to implement the research as a commercial print studio. Over these seven years, I was a senior research associate on the two AHRC-funded research projects: Extending the Potential for the Digitally Printed Ceramic Surface and Improved Laser Printing Equipment for Ceramics, and design director for the spin-out ceramic design project, the print company Smith&Brown. Digital design, combined with electrophotographic laser printing technology, has the potential to open up new market models and extend the visual language of ceramic tableware design but it has hit several barriers causing it to be dismissed by the ceramic industry, weak deposits and poor colour saturation being the most significant of these. Our research has contributed to resolving these issues by developing several technical innovations. These improvements have convinced key players within the industry; however, other barriers to the acceptance/implementation of the technology remain. This has led us to question this context and revise our original aims for industrial uptake, and identify new models more appropriate to the exploration of the market for the uptake of our research findings.

Critical and prospective analysis of landscaping teaching in Brazil

Critical and prospective analysis of landscaping teaching in Brazil

Fire, police cars and barricade tape: exploring visual securitisation in Sweden Democrats’ Instagram posts

ABSTRACT With the growing popularity of visual-centred social media, authoritarian populist parties are provided with more platforms and devices to position themselves as key securitising actors by engaging in the visual securitisation of issues related to immigration, law and order. This paper uses the 2022 Swedish electoral campaign as a case study to explore the securitisation in the visual discourse of authoritarian populist actors by comparing the Sweden Democrats to the mainstream right. Through a combination of thematic and multimodal critical discourse analyses, this study examined a total of 639 Instagram posts. It shows how the Sweden Democrats use semiotic strategies to represent social actors in a way that conveys the message of securitisation. The findings reveal that the authoritarian populist party adopts a visual securitising style that not only includes apparent populist aspects and relies on the linguistic elements to counterbalance the ambiguity of the image, but it is also distinct from the discursive style of the mainstream right.

Playing to learn: developing self-directed learning skills through serious games

Purpose Higher education is undergoing a significant transformation, demanding a rethinking of instructional methods, the establishment of novel assessment frameworks and the incorporation of state-of-the-art technologies to advance the development of learning competencies. The use of simulations is an alternative that offers satisfactory results and favors learning in new generations. This study aims to present a methodology for assessing the advancement of self-directed learning (SDL) in participants through simulation techniques and show that the incorporation of simulations can improve participants’ SDL skills. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a quantitative approach to evaluate the evolution of various competencies related to SDL among participants. Includes the application of scales specifically designed to measure readiness for SDL, the use of factor analysis to identify and validate essential factors and conducting hypothesis testing to verify shifts in students’ perceptions regarding the significance of SDL-related skills. Findings The findings of this study reveal a positive impact of simulations on the SDL readiness. Factor analysis identified five key factors: self-management skills, openness to learning opportunities, initiative and independence in learning, self-concept as an effective learner and desire for Learning. The use of simulations significantly improved critical thinking, logical reasoning, analysis and decision-making capabilities. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique as a valuable tool for developing SDL skills and highlight the potential of such interventions in complex and uncertain learning environments. Research limitations/implications The study provided valuable insights into the impact of simulations in the logistics field, particularly in the development of SDL-related skills. There is a need for studies in other areas of knowledge that would allow for the generalization of these results. Likewise, it is advisable to use scales that measure the development of other types of skills. Additionally, the study’s focus on short-term effects may not fully capture the long-term development of SDL-related skills. Future research should address these limitations, expand the sample size, conduct longitudinal studies and explore possible contextual and external factors that may influence SDL outcomes in various educational settings, leading to broader and more robust conclusions. Practical implications The practical implications of this study are significant for both higher education institutions and educators in the logistics domain. The positive impact of the serious game on participants’ SDL skills highlights the potential of incorporating interactive and engaging learning tools in the curriculum. Educators can leverage serious games to foster critical thinking, logical reasoning and decision-making abilities in their students. Moreover, the identified key factors influencing SDL development provide valuable guidance for designing targeted interventions to enhance students’ self-management, initiative and love for learning. Social implications The social implications of this study underscore the importance of equipping individuals with SDL skills in a rapidly changing world. By integrating serious games and fostering SDL competencies, higher education institutions can contribute to a more adaptable and resilient workforce. Empowering students with critical thinking, innovative thinking and independent learning, they can enhance their ability to navigate the challenges of the labor market. This, in turn, may lead to a more informed and proactive society capable of addressing complex issues and making well-informed decisions. Originality/value This article arises from empirical exploration with students from two countries in Latin America (Mexico and Colombia), examining the importance of games in developing SDL skills. Furthermore, it promotes the use of a methodology with a low level of complexity, and that can be replicated with different games. This perspective adds valuable insights to the existing literature, offering practical implications for educators and institutions seeking effective strategies to promote SDL skills among students.

Is a Good Story Enough? A Critical Analysis of Storyteller Roles in Tourism

Is a Good Story Enough? A Critical Analysis of Storyteller Roles in Tourism