Established Practice Research Articles

Contrasting effects of food waste and its biochar on soil properties and lettuce growth in a microplastic-contaminated soil

The incorporation of organic amendments, such as food waste (FW) and biochar, into soil is an established agronomic practice known for enhancing soil fertility and improving overall soil health. However, the individual and combined effects of FW and biochar on soil properties in microplastic (MP)-contaminated soil–plant systems remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a field experiment to investigate the individual and combined effects of polystyrene MPs, FW, and FW-derived biochar on soil properties and lettuce growth. Soil chemical properties were unaffected by the addition of MPs. However, the application of FW and biochar increased the soil pH, with the highest pH (8.2) observed in the combined treatment of biochar and MPs. Despite the presence of MPs, FW application resulted in notable increases in soil electrical conductivity (EC; 2.04 dS m−1), available nitrogen (NO3−–N: 325.5 mg kg−1, NH4+–N: 105.2 mg kg−1), available phosphorus (88.4 mg kg−1), and total exchangeable cations (18.6 cmol(+) kg−1). However, these values decreased after lettuce cultivation. In soil cultivated with lettuce, the coexistence of MPs and biochar reduced soil Fluorescein diacetate hydrolase enzyme activity by 46.2% and urease activity by 94.0%. FW addition doubled acid phosphatase activity, whereas FW and its coexistence with MPs decreased alpha diversity. The relative abundance of Actinobacteria decreased with MP application, whereas that of Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria decreased with FW treatment. Gemmatimonadetes and Nitrospirae decreased in soil treated with FW and biochar. The highest relative abundances of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were observed in the FW-added soils, and Planctomycetes were the highest in the biochar-added soils. FW application negatively affected lettuce growth. Overall, the coexistence of MPs with FW or biochar had limited effects on soil properties and lettuce growth, with FW and biochar serving as the primary factors in modifying soil–plant systems. Future studies should investigate the effects of different MPs and their interactions with organic soil amendments on soil properties and crop growth under different management practices.Graphical

The evaluation concepts – a necessary means of achieving the constitutional idea of legal certainty or a factor leading to its violation?

The subject of the research is the study of evaluative concepts included by the legislator in legal norms in order to ensure dynamic legal regulation of social relations. The problem of using evaluative concepts is of scientific interest, since the unreasonable inclusion of such concepts in the content of a legal norm can lead to a violation of the constitutional idea of legal certainty, and their interpretation and practical application to specific situations largely depends on the level of legal awareness of the law enforcer.The author aims to analyze approaches to understanding the category of “evaluative concepts”, identifies signs that characterize this category, its role in the legal regulation of social relations.The methodology of scientific research is represented by a complex of private scientific, formal legal, systemic and structural methods.The main results. The author establishes the features of the inclusion of evaluative concepts in the legal norms based on the analysis of the practice of the Russian Constitutional Court, provides interesting cases considered in the framework of the constitutional proceedings. In particular, the author provides examples of the inconsistency between established judicial practice and the practice of the Russian Constitutional Court, and also establishes the need to apply evaluative concepts in both private and public law.Conclusions. The inclusion of evaluative concepts in legal norms is relevant for many areas of law, which is due to the need to ensure the flexibility and dynamism of legal regulation. However, the possibility of their application should not be unlimited, since this may lead to a violation of the fundamental principles of law, including the principle of legal certainty.

Humanism and History as Ethics of Institutions: A Reflection on Linda Woodhead, Truth, and Institutions

This paper builds on Linda Woodhead’s discussion of institutions and truth-telling and suggests how we might make progress towards more ethical institutions. Much of the literature on the ethics of institutions focuses on institutions like banks, churches, hospitals, universities, or even political entities. This is also Woodhead’s focus. But another understanding of institutions is something akin to “an established law, practice, or custom”; namely, a tradition. How these two senses of institutions might relate and inform each other regarding justice and facilitating truth-telling is largely ignored. Drawing out this distinction helps reposition ourselves with regard to the starting point of the ethics of institutions and provides a backdoor into our understanding of formal institutions. Taking this as my starting point along with Woodhead’s discussion of truth and institutions, in this paper, I explore this backdoor further. I do this by drawing on the work of Edward Said and showing that the ethics of institutions is the realm of the humanist, but more specifically, the historian.

The term ‘atmosphere’ is unhelpful to understand experience, agency, and field processes

"While Gestalt therapy has always drawn on field theory, its origins were largely based on an individualistic paradigm. Since the later relational turn, Gestalt therapy has focussed on relationships between individuals. In this article I start from a recalibrated approach based on a field-centred perspective. Starting from the dictum that contact is the first reality, this article revisits field theory and tries to broaden our understanding of a field’s forces, including affordances (Gibson, 1979, p. 127). Recently, a few practitioners of Gestalt therapy have espoused the term atmosphere, originating from the so-called ‘New’ Phenomenology. This article discusses the shortcomings of that proposal and delineates alternatives for a field-centred approach. Drawing on a session with a client, I point out that the term atmosphere is quite unhelpful for the understanding of transgenerational trauma, or situations in general for that matter. In my view, it is also incompatible with established Gestalt thinking and practice. Key words contact, field theory, atmosphere, transgenerational transmission, Gestalt therapy, New Phenomenology"

Making science public: a review of journalists’ use of Open Access research

Science journalists are uniquely positioned to increase the societal impact of open research outputs by contextualizing and communicating findings in ways that highlight their relevance and implications for non-specialist audiences. Yet, it is unclear to what degree journalists use open research outputs, such as open access publications or preprints, in their reporting; what factors motivate or constrain this use; and how the recent surge in openly available research seen during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected this. This article examines these questions through a review of relevant literature published from 2018 onwards—particularly literature relating to the COVID-19 pandemic—as well as seminal articles outside the search dates. We find that research that explicitly examines journalists’ engagement with open access publications or preprints is scarce, with existing literature mostly addressing the topic tangentially or as a secondary concern, rather than a primary focus. Still, the limited body of evidence points to several factors that may hamper journalists’ use of these outputs and thus warrant further exploration. These include an overreliance on traditional criteria for evaluating scientific quality; concerns about the trustworthiness of open research outputs; and challenges using and verifying the findings. We also find that, while the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged journalists to explore open research outputs such as preprints, the extent to which these explorations will become established journalistic practices remains unclear. Furthermore, we note that current research is overwhelmingly authored and focused on the Global North, and the United States specifically. We conclude with recommendations for future research that attend to issues of equity and diversity, and more explicitly examine the intersections of open access and science journalism.

КОМПЕНСАЦИЯ МОРАЛЬНОГО ВРЕДА КАК СПОСОБ ЗАЩИТЫ НАРУШЕННЫХ ЛИЧНЫХ НЕИМУЩЕСТВЕННЫХ ПРАВ И НЕМАТЕРИАЛЬНЫХ БЛАГ В ИНТЕРНЕТ-СРЕДЕ

The purpose of this article is to study the theoretical and legal aspects of compensation for moral damage as a mechanism for the prevention of offenses in the Internet environment. To achieve this goal, tasks such as the analysis of the content of the concept of «moral harm», the study of criteria for the systematization of personal non-property rights are set. The article uses modern methods of scientific cognition such as general scientific and private scientific research methods, which together made it possible to characterize compensation for moral damage as a mechanism for preventing offenses in the Internet environment.The results of the study include the formulation of scientific and practical proposals to improve the legal regulation of compensation for moral damage in the Internet environment in Russia, taking into account the established legal practice in foreign countries. The legal essence of moral damage as an evaluative concept and legal category is revealed in the fact that when determining the amount of the latter, judicial discretion is taken into account to the extent that it is allowed by Russian law, the model of civil procedure, the existing judicial system and established practice in courts. The article also touches upon the theoretical dilemma regarding the identification of a person in the digital space through the coverage of issues of the correctness of the use of personal data in the Internet environment. As a result, it is proposed to legislatively define the concept of «personal data» as «any information related to an identified individual or an individual who can be identified.» The analysis of the problem of tracking and recording the facts of offenses in the Internet environment, the problem of determining the amount and payment of compensation for moral damage caused in the Internet space is consistently given.The study is accompanied by conclusions arising from the analysis of the legislative regulation of compensation for moral damage caused on the Internet. As a result, the authors come to the conclusion that compensation for moral damage has certain features of manifestation on the Internet. Cases in this category have certain difficulties (the uncertainty of the defendant, the large volume of the information dissemination site, the defendant's ability to delete information, high costs for ensuring pre-trial fixation of evidence), which contributes to an increase in the marginal environment of the Internet environment. A proposal has been formulated on the need to catalog the amounts for causing moral suffering and provide the perpetrator with a wide margin of discretion, taking into account new approaches to determining the amount of compensation for moral harm on the Internet.

Development of educational package and participatory consumer groups to improve food handling practices in food establishments in Sri Lanka.

Improper food handling contributes to many foodborne diseases and food outbreaks globally leading to witnessed morbidities and mortalities. The study aims to develop an educational package and participatory consumer groups to improve food handling practices among food handlers and in food establishments in the Regional Director of Health Services area, Kalutara, Sri Lanka. The study developed an educational package and participatory consumer groups to improve the food handling practices among food handlers and in food establishments. The critical knowledge gaps were identified during the first component of this study, which was conducted as a descriptive study, and the findings were further discussed in the Focus Group Discussion. Posters, info sheets, and workshops were used for educational packages, and four consumer groups were formed. The second component of the study following the development of the interventions was continued as a three-arm, non-randomized controlled community trial for 4 months in the Regional Director of Health Services, Kalutara. The educational package for food handlers was introduced as a package of a workshop, info sheets, posters to display at workplaces, and short refresher training two weekly to direct good food handling practices in food establishments. Consumer groups were strengthened to exercise their legal rights on their purchases and the ratings showed improvements in the hygiene levels with repeated consecutive visits. The novel educational package and participatory consumer groups are designed and implemented to improve food handling practices among food handlers and in food establishments.

Innovation ecosystem of the defense industry of Ukraine: conceptual foundations and practice of establishment

Innovation ecosystem of the defense industry of Ukraine: conceptual foundations and practice of establishment

Magnets for a Muon Collider

The renewed interest for a muon collider has motivated a thorough analysis of the accelerator technology required for this collider option at the energy frontier. Magnets, both normal and superconducting, are among the crucial technologies throughout the accelerator complex, from production, through acceleration and collision. In this paper we initiate a catalog of magnet specifications for a muon collider at 10TeV center-of-mass. We take the wealth of work performed within the scope of the US-DOE Muon Accelerator Program as a starting point, update it with present demands for the increased energy reach, and focus on the magnet types and variants with the most demanding performance. These represent well the envelope of issues and challenges to be addressed by future design and development. We finally give a first and indicative selection of suitable magnet technology, taking into account both established practices as well as the perspective evolution in the field of accelerator magnets.

Barriers to and facilitators of successful implementation of a palliative approach to care in primary care practices: a mixed methods study

ObjectiveIntegrating a palliative approach to care into primary care is an emerging evidence-based practice. Despite the evidence, this type of care has not been widely adopted into primary care settings....

A Maturity Level Framework for Practicing Machine Learning Operations in CI/CD For Software Deployment

Significantly shorter software development and deployment cycles have been made possible by the adoption of continuous software engineering techniques in business operations, such as DevOps (Development and Operations). Data scientists and operations teams have recently become more and more interested in a practice known as MLO (Machine Learning Operations). However, MLO adoption in practice is still in its early stages, and there aren't many established best practices for integrating it into current software development methods. In order to give a frame that outlines the way necessary in espousing MLO and the stages through which business capes process as they come riper and sophisticated, we achieve a methodical literature study as well as a slate review of literature in this composition. We test this approach in three example businesses and demonstrate how they were able to embrace and incorporate MLO into their massive software development businesses. This study offers three contributions. To give an overview of the state of the art in MLO, we first examine recent publications. Based on this analysis, we create an MLO framework that outlines the steps taken in the ongoing creation of machine learning models. Second, we define the several stages that businesses go through as they develop their MLO practices in a maturity model. Third, we map the firms to the maturity model phases and test our methodology using three embedded systems case companies. The main objective is to create an MLO framework.

Recognition, diagnosis, and operability assessment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH): Aglobal cross-sectional scientific survey (CLARITY).

Early recognition and diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is crucial for improving prognosis and reducing the disease burden. Established clinical practice guidelines describe interventions for the diagnosis and evaluation of CTEPH, yet limited insight remains into clinical practice variation and barriers to care. The CTEPH global cross-sectional scientific survey (CLARITY) was developed to gather insights into the current diagnosis, treatment, and management of CTEPH and to identify unmet medical needs. This paper focuses on the recognition and diagnosis of CTEPH and the referral and evaluation of these patients. The survey was offered to hospital-based medical specialists through Scientific Societies and other medical organizations, from September 2021 to May 2022. Response data from 353 physicians showed that self-reported awareness of CTEPH increased over the past 10 years among96% of respondents. Clinical practices in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) follow-up and CTEPH diagnosis differed amongrespondents. While 50% of respondents working in a nonexpert center reported to refer patients to an expert pulmonary hypertension/CTEPH center when CTEPH is suspected, 51% of these physicians did not report referral of patients with a confirmed diagnosis for further evaluation. Up to 50% of respondents involved in the evaluation of referred patients have concluded a different operability status than that indicated by the referring center. This study indicates that early diagnosis and timely treatment of CTEPH is challenged by suboptimal acute PE follow-up and patient referral practices. Nonadherence to guideline recommendations may be impacted by various barriers to care, which were shown to vary by geographical region.

European Union civil liability frameworks in the age of artificial intelligence: Assessing current regimes and future prospects

This study intends to evaluate the suitability of the EU’s liability regimes in solving AI-related concerns by carefully examining the current legal environment. It also examines the consequences and viability of using these frameworks to consider the special features of AI technology. Furthermore, the article offers insight into the growing nature of AI liability inside the EU and its potential by thoroughly examining current regulations and evaluating the suggested revisions and proposals for prospects. Some of the questions that are the focus of the attention in the article are the burden of proof and its allocation in cases involving AI-caused damages, the standard of proof required to establish liability in AI-related cases, whether a preponderance of evidence, clear and convincing evidence, or a higher standard should be applied in different scenarios and the difficulties in establishing causation in AI-related damages. The method used in this paper will consist of conducting a comparative analysis based on the hypothesis (bearing in mind that there is no established court practice in the EU with regard to this matter) of how different jurisdictions in the EU handle liability and proof standards in AI-related cases, highlighting of any emerging trends or most suitable doctrines and practices. These questions certainly open a discussion of the potential future developments in AI liability law, considering the rapid advancements in AI technology and how legal standards might need to adapt as AI systems become more sophisticated. By focusing on these practical aspects of AI liability, this research can offer valuable insights into how the legal system can effectively address the challenges posed by AI technology and set the legal bases for fair and just outcomes for all parties involved.

Public Policy Exceptions and the Balancing Act: Examining Zambia’s Corporate Insolvency Act in Cross-Border Cases

This article explores the interplay between public policy exceptions and international cooperation in cross-border insolvency situations. It focuses on Section 148 of Zambia’s Corporate Insolvency Act (2017), which empowers the High Court to refuse involvement in such cases based on public policy concerns. The analysis examines the rationale behind public policy exceptions and explores potential areas of concern that might arise in cross-border insolvency, such as environmental regulations or labour standards. It then delves into the specific provisions of Section 148, including the role of the Attorney-General. Furthermore, the article critically evaluates how Zambia’s approach to public policy exceptions balances the need for international cooperation in insolvency matters. It compares Zambia’s framework with established models or practices in other jurisdictions. Finally, the article suggests potential improvements to Zambia’s Act to achieve a better balance and enhance its effectiveness in handling cross-border insolvency cases.

Addressing researcher fraud: retrospective, real-time, and preventive strategies-including legal points and data management that prevents fraud.

Researcher fraud is often easy and enticing in academic research, with little risk of detection. Cases of extensive fraud continue to occur. The amount of fraud that goes undetected is unknown and may be substantial. Three strategies for addressing researcher fraud are (a) retrospective investigations after allegations of fraud have been made, (b) sting operations that provide conclusive evidence of fraud as it occurs, and (c) data management practices that prevent the occurrence of fraud. Institutional and regulatory efforts to address researcher fraud have focused almost exclusively on the retrospective strategy. The retrospective approach is subject to controversy due to the limitations of post-hoc evidence in science, the difficulty in establishing who actually committed the fraud in some cases, the application of a legal standard of evidence that is much lower than the usual standards of evidence in science, and the lack of legal expertise by scientists investigating fraud. The retrospective strategy may be reliably effective primarily in cases of extensive, careless fraud. Sting operations can overcome these limitations and controversies, but are not feasible in many situations. Data management practices that are effective at preventing researcher fraud and unintentional errors are well-established in clinical trials regulated by government agencies, but appear to be largely unknown or unimplemented in most academic research. Established data management practices include: archiving secure copies of the raw data, audit trails, restricted access to the data and data collection processes, software validation, quality control checks, blinding, preregistration of data processing and analysis programs, and research audits that directly address fraud. Current discussions about data management in academic research focus on sharing data with little attention to practices that prevent intentional and unintentional errors. A designation or badge such as error-controlled data management could be established to indicate research that was conducted with data management practices that effectively address intentional and unintentional errors.

Reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections in a large health system: a quality improvement approach using a fractal management system

Abstract Objective: Although preventable through established infection control practices, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain prevalent in acute-care settings. Our goal was to improve the CAUTI rates through multiple hospitals through implementing sustainable practices, including enhancing communication, provider engagement, accountability, and transparency in reporting to achieve long-term improvements. Design: Quality improvement with multiple levels of interventions Setting: A health system in northern Ohio with 21 affiliated hospitals across 16 counties. Patients: Adult patients admitted to the hospital between June 2020 and June 2023. Methods: A broad set of quality improvement (QI) strategies was developed by an interdisciplinary team and guided by the Fractal Management System framework to ensure accountability, communication, and alignment across teams and facilities. Key drivers were indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) alternatives, insertion, maintenance, removal, and smart diagnostics. The main outcome measures were standardized infection ratios (SIR) and standardized utilization ratio (SUR), comparing period 1 (P1, June 2020 to December 2021) and period 2 (P2, January 2022 to June 2023). Results: Enhanced communication and management played crucial roles in minimizing IUC placement. Updated policies and protocols, coupled with clear guidelines and decision support tools, facilitated effective urinary management. Performance tracking and visual management boards provided real-time insights, while collaborative efforts, including staff huddles and multidisciplinary teamwork, ensured consistent adherence to best practices. Conclusions: A systemwide QI initiative focused on enhanced communication, management, and collaboration contributed to improved SIR and reduced CAUTI rates across multiple hospitals, highlighting the impact of strong communication and proactive management in healthcare settings.

Болезнь и смерть в жизни казанских мещан (конец XVIII - первая половина XIX в.)

The article deals with the issues of illness and death in the everyday life of Kazan burghers of the first half of the 19th century. Based on the analysis of a significant number of archival documents, an analysis of the nature of diseases was carried out, climatic, geographical and social causes of diseases and mortality were identified. The social factors of diseases are the low standard of living of the burghers, the peculiarities of the city as a habitat, the weak level of sanitary culture, the lack of qualified medical care. A significant role was played by the commitment of the burghers to the traditional conservative lifestyle, which was based on adherence to established practices and habits, including the refusal to consult doctors. The daily way of life was significantly corrected by epidemic diseases, among which smallpox and cholera were especially significant. The therapeutic and preventive measures taken significantly changed everyday life and required new practices that were perceived differently by people. Restrictive measures violated the usual order of life, a mass phenomenon was the refusal of smallpox vaccination, as well as non-compliance with sanitary measures. The burghers understood the disease as an attribute of the material world, which was expressed in the rational perception and designation of the disease as a state of the body, although some features of the irrational understanding of the disease can still be traced in the language of the burghers. The burghers realized death as an inevitable natural outcome of life, which required the necessary actions to complete earthly affairs.

The temporal specifics of the transitions to youth maturity

Youth, as a stage of a person's life path, is the most intense period in terms of age transitions. Despite the presence of many transitions, most researchers identify several basic age transitions. The current stage of development of society is characterized by the complication, lengthening, increasing variability and risks of liminality (incompleteness) of age transitions. The time characteristics of their commission are changing. The temporal component of the features of secondary socialization remains poorly understood, which increases the risks of inefficiency of youth support and assistance programs. In this article, based on the conducted research, the temporal specificity of age transitions of modern youth is analyzed. The study was conducted on a sample of 484 people aged 18 to 40 years. Multistage selection.the time characteristics of their commission. The questionnaire method. The results obtained allow us to conclude that there is a general "delay" in leaving childhood. The duration of the period of youth itself is highly likely to stretch over the entire period of maturity. The risks of liminality of basic transitions to maturity have been identified. In the opinion of young respondents about the optimal time for making specific transitions, both the reproduction of previously formed norms remains (the connection of sexual debut with adulthood, entry into the labor market with financial independence), and the consolidation of established practices is planned (the temporary gap between sexual debut and marriage, the formation of one's own family and the birth of a child).

A Systematic Review of Developing a Comprehensive and Strategic Framework for Business Model Innovation and Adaptation Amid Technology and Market-Driven Disruption for Incumbent Businesses

Purpose - This study aims to address a crucial gap in academic understanding regarding business-model innovation and adaptation, particularly within the dynamic landscape of technology and IT-based companies experiencing disruptive innovations. To meet the increased demand for a precise approach, timely execution, and relevant content in business-model evolution, this study strives to develop a comprehensive framework. Through synthesizing existing knowledge, the goal is to contribute valuable insights and offer a cohesive guide for businesses navigating the complexities of innovating and adapting their business models amidst technological disruptions.
 Design/Methodology/Approach - Through a systematic review of 29 research articles from reputable journals, we employ a structured, five-step approach to define research questions, conduct literature search, select relevant studies, rigorously extract and synthesize data, and report findings. Emphasizing methodological rigor, consistent with established practices, this approach provides a robust foundation for developing a strategic framework for business model evolution amid disruptions.
 Findings - This study contributes significantly by developing a comprehensive and integrated framework to help incumbent businesses navigate disrupter threats and implement business-model innovation. The synthesis of the relevant literature and practical guidance empowers incumbent businesses for long-term competitiveness.
 Research Implications - This study has substantial implications, offering academia a comprehensive and integrated strategic framework for navigating disrupter threats through business-model innovation. It provides practical guidance for incumbent businesses, aiding in strategic decision-making and competitiveness. The findings set the stage for future research to explore industry-specific contexts and advance methods for early disrupter detection in the evolving landscape of technology disruptions.

“The Missing Mum Mystery”: Solved

For decades, collectors and museum curators have pondered the meaning behind the defacing or removal of Imperial chrysanthemum seals on Japanese rifles following the surrender of Japan in 1945. Several myths and explanations for the removal are commonplace and have been perpetuated since the end of the Second World War, but definitive evidence explaining exactly why the chrysanthemum was removed has not been presented in the English language until recently. The truth of the matter lies with the disarmament of Japan, Japanese ordnance regulations, and perceived requirement of removal by American servicemembers. All Japanese rifles since the 1880s were marked with the chrysanthemum, and it is common to find examples of various models of rifle with the chrysanthemum intact, whilst other examples of the same model have had the seal removed or mutilated. This article presents evidence which proves that the Japanese did indeed order the removal of the Imperial chrysanthemum and that this had been an established practice decades before the Second World War.