Critical Point Of View Research Articles

Investigating the Relationship Between Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors and the Capital Asset Pricing Model

This study delves into the intricate relationship between the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors in the investment landscape. Through an extensive review of existing literature and comparative analyses, the paper uncovers the historical development of CAPM, the rise of ESG considerations, and their convergence in modern financial theory. The research aims to shed light on the ongoing debates surrounding integrating ESG factors into the CAPM framework, revealing both supportive and critical viewpoints. Through a critical evaluation of empirical studies, the paper identifies gaps in the current body of knowledge, emphasizing the need for further research to understand the interplay between ESG factors and CAPM. The study concludes that while ESG considerations have increasingly influenced investment decisions, their precise relationship with traditional financial models, such as CAPM, remains an area ripe for exploration.

The introspections of contemporary business research: a call for scientific creativity

Purpose This study aims to squeeze some critical viewpoints from the shifting landscape of business research (she), that conceals her true personality. Today, she is relentlessly struggling to strike a good balance between science and creativity. Therefore, she resolves to pivot the scholarly attention towards “scientific creativity”. Design/methodology/approach Business research is personified in this viewpoint paper. By adopting the methodology of third-person omniscient, the author pens the introspections of contemporary business research, and how she would express herself in modern times if she were a living person. Findings Business research introspects that she is suffering from the phenomena of “existential crisis” and “popularity fallacy” in contemporary times. Though she believes that the science of business research is evolving significantly, worries about becoming scientifically monotonous grip her in the dark of the nights. She laments the grim reality of today; studies of a similar nature dominate the research literature while the philosopher in her is fading gradually. Therefore, she calls for more “scientific creativity”. She realises that solving societal problems must remain her foremost priority. However, she believes that her priorities towards society and world peace depend on whether she could revitalise the fading philosopher of personality. Originality/value The current viewpoint paper is an attempt to shed some light on the landscape of contemporary business research, which is undergoing unremitting changes. It also highlights the desirable changes in the context of business research.

Conventional Dental Impressions vs. Impressions Reinforced with Rigid Mouthguards.

The impression materials utilized today in dental medicine offer a good reproducibility and are easily accepted by patients. However, because they are polymer-based, they have issues regarding their dimensional stability. In this respect, the present work proposes a new type of dental impression, which is reinforced with rigid mouthguards. The aim of the study is to test the performances of such new impressions by comparing them to conventional ones-from this critical point of view, of the dimensional stability. Three types of polymeric materials were considered for both types of impressions: alginate, condensation silicone, and addition silicone. In order to obtain the new type of impressions, a manufacturing technique was developed, comprising the following phases: (i) conventional impressions were made; (ii) a plaster model was duplicated, and 15 rigid mouthguards were obtained; (iii) they were inserted in the impression technique, with each mouthguard positioned on the cast before the high-consistency material was inserted in the tray and the practitioner took the impression; (iv) the mouthguard remained in the tray and the low-viscosity material was inserted over the mouthguard; (v) the impression was positioned on the model, and after the material hardened, the mouthguard-reinforced impression was analyzed. In the evaluation of the dimensional stability, rigorous statistical analysis was essential to discern the performance differences between conventional and mouthguard-reinforced dental impressions. Statistical analyses employed non-parametric Mann-Whitney U tests because of the non-normal distribution of the data. They indicated a statistically significant improvement in the dimensional stability of addition silicone impressions when reinforced with mouthguards (p < 0.05), showcasing superior performance over conventional methods. Conversely, alginate and condensation silicone reinforced impressions did not exhibit the same level of stability improvement, suggesting the need for further optimization of these materials. In conclusion, from the three considered elastomers, addition silicone was found to be the prime candidate for high-precision dental impressions, with the potential to improve their quality from conventional impressions by utilizing the proposed reinforcing technique.

What Is the Patriarchy Doing in Our Bed? Violent Sexual-Affective Experiences Among Youth

Abstract Introduction In the context of a qualitative research study on sexual practices and risk among youth, repeated accounts of non-consensual sex and other forms of gender-based violence emerged. Drawing from that research, this article explores the influence of the patriarchal system on sexual-affective relationships among young people aged 18–25 years residing in Andalusia, Spain. Methods The fieldwork was conducted between March and May 2019. Six discussion groups were held with 39 participants segmented by gender, level of education, sexual orientation, and length of relationships. Results The results show that patriarchal constructs related to female body standards and the subordination of women’s pleasure to men’s, in addition to blackmail and sexual violence, continue to pervade the sexual-affective imaginaries and experiences of young people. Additionally, the participants’ discourses on patriarchal and sexual violence are interwoven with critical feminist points of view, revealing timid signs of resistance to the patriarchal order. Conclusions Women navigate inequality by assuming, negotiating, or rebelling against the different types of violence to which they are exposed in their intimate relationships. In their sexual-affective relationships, young people today are confronted with numerous tensions and contradictions. The discourse of females shifts between their right to seek pleasure and self-blaming, while trying to overcome feelings of shame and dismantling aesthetic standards or empowering themselves and claiming orgasm equality. Policy Implications The findings are applicable for the prevention of violence against young women in relationships of trust.

ICT's in the Chilean and Latin-American civil justice. Analysis from the right of access to justice

AbstractThe incorporation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the justice sector is not necessarily a new phenomenon. Nevertheless, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated this process, as it required rapid solutions to mitigate the effects of social distancing and other security measures, for which ICTs proved crucial to ensure the continued provision of basic legal services. Initially used only for urgent matters, after two years it has become highly integrated into the regular functions of judicial institutions and is expected to continue as a critical tool against overburdened dockets. ICTs in the justice system can serve different purposes and can therefore be analyzed from different perspectives: efficiency in the administration of justice, interoperability between institutional actors, improvement of information for decision-makers, transparency and accountability, among others. This article focuses on access to justice. Therefore, it analyzes the ICTs implemented in Latin American countries, with a focus on the Chilean judiciary – particularly in the civil justice system – from a critical point of view, based on access to justice standards.

The interaction of history and modern thought in the creation of Iran's architecture by investigating the approaches of past-oriented architecture

The relationship between tradition and modernity significantly influences society, culture, and architectural discourse. This philosophy offers a framework for exploring the impact of traditional architecture on contemporary Iranian architecture from different perspectives and approaches. Various viewpoints exist on whether historical architecture can be a defining characteristic of contemporary architectural discourse. Through an in-depth review of analysis-centred architectural literature, a unique method was chosen for analysing contemporary architecture and gaining insight into its creation. The main goal of this study is to establish a productive relationship between past-oriented architecture, innovative architectural concepts, and contemporary thought. This article examines three critical viewpoints, tradition as imitation, transmission, and transformation, alongside analysing their influential components on architectural form to gain insight into productively connecting with historical achievements and show that the role of history is to add new values to architecture-conscious needs that have changed during history. Ultimately, the challenge lies in finding a suitable path among diverse perspectives and reinterpretations and establishing a productive relationship with history and contemporary thought.

The Promise and Potential of Metal-Organic Frameworks and Covalent Organic Frameworks in Vaccine Nanotechnology.

The immune system's complexity and ongoing evolutionary struggle against deleterious pathogens underscore the value of vaccination technologies, which have been bolstering human immunity for over two centuries. Despite noteworthy advancements over these 200 years, three areas remain recalcitrant to improvement owing to the environmental instability of the biomolecules used in vaccines─the challenges of formulating them into controlled release systems, their need for constant refrigeration to avoid loss of efficacy, and the requirement that they be delivered via needle owing to gastrointestinal incompatibility. Nanotechnology, particularly metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), has emerged as a promising avenue for confronting these challenges, presenting a new frontier in vaccine development. Although these materials have been widely explored in the context of drug delivery, imaging, and cancer immunotherapy, their role in immunology and vaccine-related applications is a recent yet rapidly developing field. This review seeks to elucidate the prospective use of MOFs and COFs for biomaterial stabilization, eliminating the necessity for cold chains, enhancing antigen potency as adjuvants, and potentializing needle-free delivery of vaccines. It provides an expansive and critical viewpoint on this rapidly evolving field of research and emphasizes the vital contribution of chemists in driving further advancements.

Recent advances in smart wearable sensors for continuous human health monitoring

In recent years, the biochemical and biological research areas have shown great interest in a smart wearable sensor because of its increasing prevalence and high potential to monitor human health in a non-invasive manner by continuous screening of biomarkers dispersed throughout the biological analytes, as well as real-time diagnostic tools and time-sensitive information compared to conventional hospital-centered system. These smart wearable sensors offer an innovative option for evaluating and investigating human health by incorporating a portion of recent advances in technology and engineering that can enhance real-time point-of-care-testing capabilities. Smart wearable sensors have emerged progressively with a mixture of multiplexed biosensing, microfluidic sampling, and data acquisition systems incorporated with flexible substrate and bodily attachments for enhanced wearability, portability, and reliability. There is a good chance that smart wearable sensors will be relevant to the early detection and diagnosis of disease management and control. Therefore, pioneering smart wearable sensors into reality seems extremely promising despite possible challenges in this cutting-edge technology for a better future in the healthcare domain. This review presents critical viewpoints on recent developments in wearable sensors in the upcoming smart digital health monitoring in real-time scenarios. In addition, there have been proactive discussions in recent years on materials selection, design optimization, efficient fabrication tools, and data processing units, as well as their continuous monitoring and tracking strategy with system-level integration such as internet-of-things, cyber-physical systems, and machine learning algorithms.

Nanotechnology and bioengineering approaches to improve the potency of mesenchymal stem cell as an off-the-shelf versatile tumor delivery vehicle.

Targeting actionable mutations in oncogene-driven cancers and the evolution of immuno-oncology are the two prominent revolutions that have influenced cancer treatment paradigms and caused the emergence of precision oncology. However, intertumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity are the main challenges in both fields of precision cancer treatment. In other words, finding a universal marker or pathway in patients suffering from a particular type of cancer is challenging. Therefore, targeting a single hallmark or pathway with a single targeted therapeutic will not be efficient for fighting against tumor heterogeneity. Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) possess favorable characteristics for cellular therapy, including their hypoimmune nature, inherent tumor-tropism property, straightforward isolation, and multilineage differentiation potential. MSCs can be loaded with various chemotherapeutics and oncolytic viruses. The combination of these intrinsic features with the possibility of genetic manipulation makes them a versatile tumor delivery vehicle that can be used for in vivo selective tumor delivery of various chemotherapeutic and biological therapeutics. MSCs can be used as biofactory for the local production of chemical or biological anticancer agents at the tumor site. MSC-mediated immunotherapy could facilitate the sustained release of immunotherapeutic agents specifically at the tumor site, and allow for the achievement of therapeutic concentrations without the need for repetitive systemic administration of high therapeutic doses. Despite the enthusiasm evoked by preclinical studies that used MSC in various cancer therapy approaches, the translation of MSCs into clinical applications has faced serious challenges. This manuscript, with a critical viewpoint, reviewed the preclinical and clinical studies that have evaluated MSCs as a selective tumor delivery tool in various cancer therapy approaches, including gene therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. Then, the novel nanotechnology and bioengineering approaches that can improve the potency of MSC for tumor targeting and overcoming challenges related to their low localization at the tumor sites are discussed.

Coincidence: A word with two meanings for explaining and predicting the future

AbstractConnecting the critical realist morphogenetic model to insights made by Nicholas Rescher, this paper argues that our predictions are always subject to chance and contingency but nevertheless ineluctably useful for both practical and scientific inquiry. Contingency results from the causal openness of the world, including the causal openness of our own decision‐making. On the other hand, as Rescher notes, human interaction would fail without a degree of stability, which makes the predictions of morphostatic relations if not lawlike at least predictable in a practical sense. Nor is it just habit that makes for morphostasis. Human agents strive reflectively to produce in morphostatic ways the human goods they have created by their interaction. And beyond individual actors, there is, from the critical realist point of view, the combined effects of structure and culture inclining at least in the short‐term to reliably predictable if not lawlike outcomes. With that background, the paper reflects on the dual role of coincidence in social theory, on the one hand signalling contingency and the other on what, according to the active causal mechanisms, generally co‐occur.

주요 성명학의 작명법 비판적 고찰

To draw the best naming method, this thesis examined jaui-nameology, jawon-ohaeng-nameology, 81-suli-nameology, suli-ohaeng-nameology, pronunciation-ohaeng-nameology, myeongli-nameology and hangeul-sibseong-nameology by focusing on problems and improvement directions from a critical point of view.&#x0D; The problems of major nameologies are as following: First, it emphasizes gaeun, but we cannot know whether it is possible to have gaeun. The influence of name on human beings is acknowledged but we cannot escape criticism and fortune-telling if we only insist on positive gaeunlon, so theories of destiny should be reconsidered. Second, each nameology has different foundation of gaeun. As for suli or jupasu, there are criticisms but no counterevidence, and only self-acknowledge and disparagement for others, so it is required the study on foundation of gaeun which has little previous studies. Third, the analysis of good or bad names is also problematic. 81yeongdongsu is difficult to accept and ohaeng-nameology needs verification to settle the problems and different opinions. Fourth, since each nameology has many problems deduced from each type, these should be solved, too.&#x0D; In conclusion, it is difficult to say which nameologiy is best because every nameology has its own problems and criticisms. If we verify and improve not only the examined seven nameologies , but also others, it can become the best naming method, so we must establish a system of nameology, with an active attitude.

From address to outcome, a proposal for discussing research in the art academia towards the idea of a critical landscape

This text aims to discuss forms of teaching/learning that allow for the understanding of the involvement of students in carrying out actions that pertain to two major areas of intervention: landscape and knowledge, and how research processes may be generated by those actions. Landscape is intended to be approached from a dynamic and critical point of view, beyond its multiple senses and descriptive characters, such e.g. as rural or urban considered as limiteded descriptions. Knowledge is considered horizontally as a collectively generated process focused on providing tools for research and analysis based on student-centred actions. As a brief open-ended exercise, this text does not aim to respond to a set of challenges involved in the definition of the practices that will attempt to discuss, such as, firstly, the contradictions inherent in the definitions of trans or post-medial practices, in constant change and often contested from current theory and art itself; and second, the danger of enclosing ourselves in definitive terminologies to describe the practices that occupy us and that often operate precisely in opposition to the propensity to find and stabilise definitions, which is the aspiration of the academia. How is academic research in the art academia to deal with these contradictions and how to distinguish between practice based and practice led research, will be the key questions that the text will try to address critically. Is the space of the academia the last space for utopia? Cover page: Relational

최근 판례를 통해 본 명예훼손죄의 쟁점과 시사점

In recent years, since victims of sex crimes have been accused of defamation after they have sued the perpetrators, there is a high concern that the crime of defamation in fact reduces the victim of crime to a suspect. In particular, the Me Too movement, which emerged in Korea in early 2018, and the dispute over the revelation of past school violence involving celebrities and sportsmen have helped to amplify the debate over the existence of libel in fact. As a means of guaranteeing basic constitutional rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and people's right to know, decriminalization of de facto defamation is still actively being discussed. In the current situation related to the discussion on the existence of such factual defamation crimes, this paper first examines the legislative cases in foreign countries and the legislative discussions in Korea. Related to the recent decision of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court, this study examines the decriminalization of realistic defamation based on the last resort of the criminal law, the contraction of freedom of expression, the protection of false names, and the abuse of counter-accusations against victims of sexual violence. Then, this study presents a counterargument focusing on the necessity of criminal punishment, the lack of civil remedies, the reduction of punishment through Article 310 of the Criminal Act, the protection of victims, and the conversion to the crime of appeal, and attempts to maintain a critical viewpoint on the decriminalization claim of factual defamation.

Digital risks and Islamic FinTech: a road map to social justice and financial inclusion

Purpose This study aims to map the digital risks for the Islamic finance industry. Since 2010, the financial space has largely shifted from being banking-centric to the entrepreneurship spectrum, benefiting from groundbreaking innovations in computer technology. The problem of Islamic Finance is that it is still within its banking-centric moment that is risk averse leading to financial exclusion. As with all innovations, there are associated risks that require careful consideration to ensure the reaping of the benefits of these technologies while controlling the risks at its lowest. In this context, the aim of this study is to highlight the risks associated with financial technologies (FinTech) to prepare the Islamic finance sector to serve the economic ideals of Maqāṣid al-Shariah in financial inclusion and profit and loss sharing. The main research question is as follows: What do Islamic Finance industry need to do to manage the digital risks for financial inclusion? Design/methodology/approach This study uses narrative review method in analysing the discourse of financial technology literature using qualitative data collected from the literature on the topic. It aimed to problematise associated digital risks from the Shariah compliance and Maqā¸ṣid al-Shariah critical viewpoints. Considering the nature of this conceptual study, it adopts a qualitative methodology by using discourse and thematic analysis of the literature that can lay the foundation for future empirical testing on the topic. Findings The study found that managing risks faced by the Islamic financial sector while adapting to the digital era can be divided into two main clusters: risk mitigation for Shariah-compliant FinTech and risk avoidance for Shariah non-compliant innovations. The high level of gharar associated with current practices in both cryptocurrencies and smart contracts needs additional regulation and simulation before they can be reconsidered for market-wide application. Cloud computing, crowdfunding and big data have promising applications that can address the limitations of the Islamic finance industry, particularly in terms of reducing transactional costs. Research limitations/implications This conceptual article offers some insights into the subject; nevertheless, it does not attempt to establish causation or generalise the results. Additional statistical testing is required prior to generalising the results. Practical implications Due to the difficulties experienced since its inception, the Islamic financial industry is in urgent need of the cutting-edge solutions required to gain a competitive edge in the market and get over the limits that came with its late entry into the financial sector. Mapping digital risks is imperative for the development of comprehensive prudential risk management strategies for the Islamic finance industry that can fix its problems and enable it to deliver the more favourable Shariah-based solutions, rather than remaining in the lower bands of Shariah compliance. Originality/value Findings of the study lay the foundation for empirical testing the volatility of FinTech innovations for the Islamic finance industry to reduce uncertainties and generate reliable forecasts. Scholarship on managing digital risks for Islamic financial institutions is still developing due to the covid global lockdown and the looming recession, and this study will help enhance theorisation necessary that can aspire economic recovery after current challenges.

From Development to Place in Therapy of Lorlatinib for the Treatment of ALK and ROS1 Rearranged Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

Following the results of the CROWN phase III trial, the third-generation macrocyclic ALK inhibitor lorlatinib has been introduced as a salvage option after the failure of a first-line TKI in ALK-rearranged NSCLC, while its precise role in the therapeutic algorithm of ROS1 positive disease is still to be completely defined. The ability to overcome acquired resistance to prior generation TKIs (alectinib, brigatinib, ceritinib, and crizotinib) and the high intracranial activity in brain metastatic disease thanks to increased blood-brain barrier penetration are the reasons for the growing popularity and interest in this molecule. Nevertheless, the major vulnerability of this drug resides in a peculiar profile of related collateral events, with neurological impairment being the most conflicting and debated clinical issue. The cognitive safety concern, the susceptibility to heterogeneous resistance pathways, and the absence of a valid alternative in the second line are strongly jeopardizing a potential paradigm shift in this oncogene-addicted disease. So, when prescribing lorlatinib, clinicians must face two diametrically opposed characteristics: a great therapeutic potential without the intrinsic limitations of its precursor TKIs, a cytotoxic activity threatened by suboptimal tolerability, and the unavoidable onset of resistance mechanisms we cannot properly manage yet. In this paper, we give a critical point of view on the stepwise introduction of this promising drug into clinical practice, starting from its innovative molecular and biochemical properties to intriguing future developments, without forgetting its weaknesses.

Digital health education as a topic for PE: Relevance, practical implications, and teachers’ perspectives

Digital health technologies and social networking services have become an inherent part of physical activity, exercise routines and fitness training. Adolescents obtain significant parts of their health-related knowledge and beliefs from such technologies and social media, which in turn can influence how they approach sports and physical activity. These processes have been accelerated and intensified by the Covid-19 pandemic. Against this background, this paper aims to discuss the relevance of digital health education as a topic for the subject PE. First, potential benefits and risks of digital health technologies and networks are explained with a focus on adolescents as the target group for digital health education. In this context ideas and recommendations to implement digital health education in teaching practices are illustrated. It is argued that young people should be supported to develop their own critical viewpoints and attitudes towards the use of digital health technologies and networks to pursue individual health-related goals. Second, results from a qualitative interview study with 32 PE teachers in Austria regarding their perspectives on digital health education in PE are presented. The most significant findings of the survey are that asked teachers see digital technology mainly as a tool for functional health promotion and are aware of normative body representations in social networks. Some PE teachers also orchestrate PE as a counterpart to an increasingly digitalized world excluding digital technology form their lessons. However, a holistic approach to digital health education requires that the digital culture of health, body, exercise and fitness is experienced and discussed from different perspectives. In doing so, students can be enabled to use digital health technologies and networks in an informed, responsible and self-determined way.  

A Corpus-Based Study on Reporting Verbs Used in Doctoral Dissertations by Chinese EFL Learners

Reference to previous studies is an indispensable component in the academic discourse. Based on a self-built corpus, this study aims to analyze the use of reporting verbs in doctoral dissertations written by Chinese EFL learners with both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The findings show that Chinese EFL learners show a preference for citing previous studies as Discourse Acts. The absence of certain subtypes of Research Act verbs and Cognitive Act verbs reveals the reluctance of Chinese EFL learners to convey a critical viewpoint or judge the cited materials as false or incorrect. In terms of tense, simple present tense is most frequently used in the corpus to refer to previous studies as accepted facts. As for voice, active voice plays a dominant role in the corpus with a high proportion of 92.14%. At the same time, a small percentage of passive voice is used by writers to emphasize the essential contribution of certain cited scholars.

A Systematic Review on Human Capital: A View From Human Resource Development

With rising globalisation and the overcrowding of the employment market because of recent crises in numerous economies throughout the world, human capital is receiving more attention. Both developed and developing countries place a greater emphasis on human capital development to accelerate economic growth by dedicating the required time and effort. As a result, one of the most important means of accessing the global stage is to build human capital. Firms must devote the required resources to building human capital, which has a significant influence on performance. From several critical viewpoints, this research investigates the extent to which human capital has direct implications on corporate performance. This survey also intends to review 42 human capital related papers. Additionally, this paper provides a comprehensive study concerning the chronological review based on each publication, while also focusing on and reviewing the topic knowledge utilizing a systematic literature review. Finally, this paper develops a model that explains the relationship between human capital and firm performance.&#x0D; Keywords: HRM practices, organization performance, human resource capital, human capital investment, employee engagement

Navigating the Social Media Landscape: A Guide for Special Education Teachers and Parents

This research probes the complex relationship between social media and special education in Jordan. The purpose of this paper is to provide critical viewpoints that might guide the development of a useful guidebook tailored to the needs of educators, parents, and students in the field of special education. Special education instructors and parents of children with disabilities have been shown to use Facebook and WhatsApp at much higher rates than the general population. This discovery highlights the potential of these platforms as efficient ways to enhance special education communities' capacity to communicate, collaborate, and share resources. The study highlights the importance of ethical social media use, career advancement opportunities, effective communication, and diversity and inclusion as cornerstones of the recommended guide. The goal of this living document is to equip stakeholders and make a significant contribution to the area of inclusive education as special education practices evolve.

Critical viewpoint on ChatGPT usage in oral medicine.

Critical viewpoint on ChatGPT usage in oral medicine.