General Reflections Research Articles

Justicia constitucional y polarización política en EspañaConstitutional justice and political polarization in Spain

Abstract Established in 1980, the Spanish Constitutional Court displayed a pacifying function and remained in a discreet position, relatively immune to external polarization, during its first years of existence. Already in the first decade, certain signs of polarization began to appear. However, the last fifteen years have witnessed an increasing polarization around the Court. This is mainly due to exogenous causes, which have produced a change in the very self-understanding of the Court. The article begins with some conceptual clarifications, in order to highlight the inherent balance of Constitutional Justice. The author then devotes an epigraph to examine the practices that have contributed to polarization from the outside (distribution of appointments by quotas, transfer of social polarization, excessive recusals, political criticism and direct legislative disturbance of its peaceful functioning). Thirdly, he refers to the judicial practices that, as a consequence of the external intervention, seem to have fed back the polarization (leaks, delays, public exposure of the judges and overreaching of jurisdiction). The author concludes with some more general reflections on the relationship between the external and internal causes of polarization around the Court.

Algunos apuntes preparatorios para abordar el tema de la responsabilidad histórica de los estudios generales en un contexto de colapso mundial y crisis civilizatoria

Introduction. In the introduction to the article we set out how the global collapse and the current civilizational crisis imply the need for a permanent reflection on the role of general studies and the impulse in the academic formation of a new humanism that criticizes and overcomes the ideological prejudices of liberal humanism. Objective. The general objective of the article is to provide a propaedeutic contribution to address the issue of the responsibility of general studies to continue promoting a new humanism. Discussion. The discussion starts from a critical description of the failure of liberal humanism or that analyticaland colonial interpretation of the history of European and American thought from which a hegemonic and western identity was sought to be defined during the second half of the 20th century. Conclusions. After making this critical exposition, some general and exploratory reflections on the importance of education and generalstudies in the process of forming critical thinking of people capable of authentically acing our own societies are presented as conclusions.

ENSURING ECONOMIC SECURITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

The article examines regional economic security. The authors determined that it is a certain value that is a general reflection of the state of various spheres of the state. It was determined that the mechanism for ensuring the economic security of the region should contribute to the strengthening of the security of the economy in various regions, the improvement of the regulation of economic growth by the state can help thanks to the preparation of regional and territorial planning documentation, the formation of a comprehensive concept of risk control, including the active monetary policy of the state. It was analyzed and determined in the study that a comprehensive analysis of regional economic security should be based on the concept of indicators that show the main aspects of the state of production, science, technology, investment, society, as well as the demographic situation in the region.

Mistakes in Thinking about Cognitive Science and How to Reduce Them.

This article allows readers to assess their ability to detect errors in thinking in seven case histories of psychologists' thoughts about cognitive science. It explains the nature of the errors and shows that some of them reflect faulty reasoning. It presents a "model method" to improve reasoning. It is based on the theory of mental models, which gives a general account of how individuals think, both deductively and indicatively, and which postulates that individuals construct mental models of possibilities in the world. The model method enhances both the accuracy and speed of reasoning. The article concludes with some general reflections on the role of knowledge of meanings, the world, and context in thinking.

LA REPRESENTATION DU COMMUNISME DANS L’OEUVRE DE PETRU DUMITRIU, OANA ORLEA ET MARIUS DANIEL POPESCU

This article analyzes the representation of Romanian communism in exile and migrant literature from the ‘60s to the early 2000. The three authors that are discussed here belong to three generations of Romanian writers and their literary works revolve around communism. There are some common themes in their novels, such as: society described as a prison, the destruction of human trust under the strain of communism, the dissolution of identity in the context of exile and migration, the obsessive desire to leave the country. Another similarity between these works is the fact that they use autofiction, in order to emphasize the text’s authenticity; but Dumitriu, Orlea, and Popescu transform their personal experience by using complex narrative techniques in order to express a more general reflection concerning aspects such as: the freedom of expression, the influence of dictatorial regime on society, the conflict between the writer and the political power.

Screening of Serum Cholesterol Level Amongst Sri Lankan Women in Relation to Waist-Height Ratio (WHtR), Waist Circumference (WC), Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), and Waist-Thigh Ratio (WTR): A Cross-Sectional Study

Anthropometric measurements give a general reflection of any changes in lipid concentration in the human body. A disturbed lipid profile can be associated with cardiovascular disease risk. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum total cholesterol level and different anthropometric parameters related to obesity in a female population of two administrative areas in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Boral and Hiththatiya-Meda areas of Matara district, Sri Lanka. The systematic random sampling method was followed to select 314 females aged 18-60 years. Serum total cholesterol concentration was measured on a venous blood sample by Konelab 20XT biochemistry analyser with a commercially available reagent kit. Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist-Height Ratio (WHtR), Waist Circumference (WC), Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), and Waist-Thigh Ratio (WTR) parameters were calculated for each individual. Pearson correlation test, chi-squared test and t-test were done to analyse data using SPSS, 16 (P<0.05). The serum total cholesterol concentration is positively associated with abdominal obesity while showing a statistically significant positive correlation with BMI, WC, WHR, WTR and WHtR (r=0.217, r=0.590, r=0.315, r=0.347 and r=0.574 respectively; P≤0.05). The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in the population was 8.6%. These results indicate that all main anthropometric parameters of this study are positively associated with serum total cholesterol levels and an increment of these risk markers can lead to an increase in risk of developing metabolic diseases associated with abdominal obesity among women.

Monitoring of plant diseases caused by Fusarium commune and Rhizoctonia solani in bok choy using hyperspectral remote sensing and machine learning.

Local vegetable production is susceptible to various fungal pathogens, the most common and lethal of which are Fusarium commune and Rhizoctonia solani. Early detection of these pathogens is challenging, and by the time visual symptoms appear, the pathogens may have already spread extensively, causing massive damage to the production. In this study, we explored the use of hyperspectral data for early detection of diseases caused by F. commune or R. solani in bok choy Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis by collecting hyperspectral data from healthy plants and plants inoculated with either fungal pathogen in a controlled experimental set-up. Based on the collected data, we employed various tree-based, distribution-based, geometric, neural networks and ensemble learning algorithms to train detection models. Among the trained models, Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) models performed the best with overall accuracy reaching 95.9 ± 0.26%. MLP models could differentiate between healthy and infected plants with 99% precision after 1 day of infection, and distinguish between different fungal pathogens with 99% precision after 2 days. During this period, no visible symptoms of fungal infection could be observed. Further analysis into trained MLP models and general reflectance profiles of plants also revealed a high correlation of the spectral regions 445-460, 560-595, 606-620 and 719-728 nm with fungal infection in bok choy plants. Our findings highlight the potential of hyperspectral imaging as a highly precise early detection tool for fungal diseases in plants. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Agrypnia excitata: a human model to explore the derailment of sleep-wake cycle integrated control.

The commemoration of the 70th anniversary of rapid eye movement sleep discovery offers a unique possibility to reassess the peculiar organic condition of agrypnia excitata. Agrypnia excitata is characterized by a severe loss of sleep leading to a complete derangement of physiological sleep-wake cycle and body homeostasis. Agrypnia excitata is a definite clinico-neurophysiological condition characterized by: (1) slow-wave sleep loss with disruption of sleepwake cycle; (2) a 24-hr motor and autonomic overactivity; and (3) peculiar episodes of oneiric stupor. Agrypnia excitata may happen within different pathophysiologies, such as delirium tremens, Morvan's syndrome and fatal familial insomnia, suggesting some general reflections on the composition and function of the cerebral neuronal network generating wake and sleep behaviour and regulating body homeostasis, with a focus on rapid eye movement sleep.

I Made Fire! I—Made—Fire! A Response to “Loneliness” by Frieda Fromm-Reichmann

The article is a response to Fromm-Reichmann’s “Loneliness,” first published in the middle of the 20th century and continuing to resonate deeply a quarter through the 21st century. Along with general reflections, Adler’s Individual Psychological theory serves as a framework for the discussion, emphasizing the indivisibility of human nature and oneness as an ultimate human striving and an antidote to loneliness.

Analyzing the Effectiveness of Project-Based Learning and Information Literacy Instruction at a Liberal Arts College

Project-based learning engages students in the collaborative design of generating and seeking answers to questions. Students work independently and creatively, to plan, execute, and make necessary adjustments to produce high-quality work, while developing competent twenty-first-century skills. These skills include critical thinking, collaboration, creativity/innovation, and communication. This work presents a unique partnership between a physics faculty member, a librarian, and a physician in a project-based ultrasound course at a primarily undergraduate institution. Implementing project-based learning, students actively engaged with real-world and personally, meaningful problems. Information literacy skills, such as evaluating and synthesizing information, were also naturally incorporated throughout the completion of student projects. Students responded to general surveys, self-evaluations, peer evaluations, metacognitive surveys, reflections, and attitude tests to help instructors improve, calibrate, and assess the teaching method. Key findings indicate a 9% growth in students’ information literacy skills and increased engagement. Additionally, results suggest that students prefer project-based learning compared to traditional teaching. This article highlights the course approach, assessment tools, and student engagement and perception.

Dispersal policies, neighborhood disadvantage, and refugee health in a Nordic context.

In this issue of the journal, Kim et al. (Am J Epidemiol 0000;000(00):0000-0000) examine whether neighborhood disadvantage is associated with cardiovascular disease risk in Denmark. A potential contribution of their article is the study of mediators (cumulative income, unstable employment, and poor mental health) underlying the association using a quasi-experimental design based on a Danish dispersal policy. In this commentary, I will draw attention to some potential limitations involving using refugee dispersal policies as natural experiments. I will further discuss the extent to which the mediators studied by Kim et al. contribute to our overall understanding of mechanisms linking neighborhood disadvantage and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, as a similar dispersal policy was introduced during the same time period in a country neighboring Denmark - Sweden - I will also take the opportunity to give an account of the background of dispersal policies in the two countries and offer some general reflections on their consequences for refugee integration and well-being there.

Human Right to a Clean Environment: General Reflections

Abstract This article examines the substantive and procedural right to a clean environment. The universal right (based on the 2022 Resolution of the UNGA) is critically analysed from the point of view of its universality in the context of Global North and Global South. The procedural environmental right is less controversial. In this article is analysed within the context of the ECHR and the Aarhus Convention. Environmental Impact Assessment is dealt with from the points of view of environmental information and public participation in environmental matters.

Bioenergy: Paradoxes and dilemmas of a promising energy alternative

The energy production that still moves the world comes in the vast majority from fossil sources. However, according to renewable energy main institutions reports, the sources from which this renewable energy is being generated are hydropower with the highest percentage by far, 41.2%, followed by solar 31.2%, wind 26.4%, bioenergy 4.5%, geothermal 0.4%, and tidal with a minimum percentage of 0.02 %. Therefore, bioenergy is located as another of the promising renewable energies, but still with a very low percentage. As biomass is the main source of bioenergy, it is the renewable energy source with the greatest variety of inputs, for example, biogas from landfill or thermal processes, solid biofuels from wood, municipal waste, and crops or animal waste, and liquid biofuels from conventional and advanced bio gasoline and biodiesel, among others. The purpose of this paper is to explore and analyze the uses of biomass in some Latin American countries, offering a general reflection on this region, and to expand on the various faces of energy injustice suffered by a series of communities, and also the advances that the bioenergy sources could offer; therefore, the structure of this chapter is as follows: first, some general information and facts related to one of its inputs -the steadily growing problem of human waste production- are exposed. Then, a brief description of bioenergy advances in some Latin America countries is offered, to close with the identification of some challenges to be addressed within the domain of bioenergy and with some conclusions.

Epistemic circularity and measurement validity in quantitative psychology: insights from Fechner's psychophysics.

The validity of psychological measurement is crucially connected to a peculiar form of epistemic circularity. This circularity can be a threat when there are no independent ways to assess whether a certain procedure is actually measuring the intended target of measurement. This paper focuses on how Fechner addressed the measurement circularity that emerged in his psychophysical research. First, I show that Fechner's approach to the problem of circular measurement involved a core idealizing assumption of a shared human physiology. Second, I assess Fechner's approach to this issue against the backdrop of his own epistemology of measurement and the measurement context of his time. Third, I claim that, from a coherentist and historically-situated perspective, Fechner's quantification can be regarded as a first successful step of a longer-term quantification process. To conclude, I draw from these insights some general epistemological reflections that are relevant to current quantitative psychology.

Forging Europe Under Communist Eyes: The European Community, the comecon, and Socialist Romania - Alexandru Cistelecan

This article aims to critically discuss the foreign policy of communist Romania, especially towards Western Europe and the socialist bloc. It does this firstly by reviewing Elena Dragomir’s recent ample analyses of communist Romania’s foreign policy. Its second section consists in a critical problematization of the allegedly “pragmatic” and “adaptative” nature of communist Romania’s dealings with its Western and Eastern partners, as established both by Dragomir’s recent contributions, as well as the traditional scholarship. The paper ends with some more general methodological and conceptual reflections on the role, weight, and meaning of “pragmatism,” “realism,” “context” and “ideology” in historiographical reconstructions.

Writings from a Sienese Renaissance prisoner. Antonio Petrucci’s fall and his zibaldone (1461-1465)

Urbino. November 1464. Antonio Petrucci, a preeminent Senese politician and condottiero, is still imprisoned, following his defeat at the hands of papal troops on 30 October 1461. During his captivity, Petrucci composed a Zibaldone (a commonplace book), in which he mainly copied lyrics by Latin classics and Italian poets and humanists. Petrucci’s autograph also contains a complaint against Fortune dated 10 November 1464, which is one of the last texts of the manuscript. Petrucci was certainly not the first medieval author to reflect on human fate and the role of Fortune. On the contrary, the image of the wheel of Fortune is probably among the most iconic of the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, Petrucci’s complaint is not simply a general reflection on the role of Fortune. The lamentation is chiefly the way Petrucci decided to portray his own personal fall, accusing the “very cruel Fortune” of depriving him of his “illustrious and gracious homeland”, Siena. It would be superficial to reduce the Senese’s complaint to a simple description of his misadventures, and the same is true for every document written by someone who suffered a failure. Petrucci’s case raises questions about the sources available to historians to study the history of downward mobility.

Ready, set, co(produce): a co-operative inquiry into co-producing research to explore adolescent health and wellbeing in the Born in Bradford Age of Wonder project

BackgroundCo-production of research with communities and stakeholders is recognised as best practice, but despite this, transparent reporting and reflective accounts on co-producing research is lacking. Born in Bradford Age of Wonder (AoW) is a large longitudinal health research project, following the health trajectories of up to 30,000 young people across the Bradford district; moreover, AoW has been entirely co-produced with teachers, parents, and young people. This paper describes the co-production of the Born in Bradford Age of Wonder (AoW) project and shares general reflections on co-production from peer researchers involved in co-producing AoW.MethodsA co-operative inquiry (CI) approach was used to gather written reflections on co-production from ten peer researchers (one teacher, one parent, eight young people) involved in co-producing the AoW project. Written reflections were collected and rough “themes” were identified using thematic analysis.ResultsFour key ‘themes’ were identified: (1) promoting young people’s voice and views (2) identifying impacts of co-production, (3) fostering a collaborative ethos, and (4) suggested improvements to the co-production work in AoW. Peer researchers’ reflections highlighted how co-production can positively impact research projects such as AoW, whilst also holding broader benefits including giving young people a voice, facilitating their personal development, and fostering a collaborative ethos both within AoW and with partner organisations. Suggested improvements to AoW co-production included supporting greater numbers of young people and researchers to engage in co-production, organising more regular sessions, and establishing clearer communication channels.ConclusionsPeer researchers’ reflections highlight positive impacts of engaging in co-production, both for research projects (including AoW) and for peer researchers’ personal and professional development. That said, continued efforts are needed in AoW to meet young people’s needs and interests, maintain trusting relationships, and foster sustained growth of co-production efforts within and beyond the AoW project. Evaluation of AoW co-production, along with wider partnership building are key to these efforts.

Debates and Reflections from the Cultural Heritage Perspective on the “Plan especial de salvaguardia: saberes y tradiciones asociados a la manifestación del viche/biche del Pacífico colombiano”

The text discusses the “Plan especial de salvaguardia: saberes y tradiciones asociados a la manifestación del viche/biche del Pacífico colombiano” [“Special Safeguarding Plan: Knowledge and Traditions Associated with the Manifestation of Viche/Biche of the Colombian Pacific”,] elaborated by the Colombian Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Knowledges in 2023 as an instrument for the management of viche, an artisanal beverage included in the nation’s intangible heritage lists. Each of the document’s components is analyzed, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses and proposing some strategies in order to complement them. The general reflection falls within the framework of critical cultural heritage studies, aiming to contribute to the development of more reflexive cultural public policies. The article warns about the processes of patrimonialization that undermine the balance between the environment, the people, their manifestations, and cultural practices underlying the universe of traditional cuisines.

Accession of the EU to the ECHR: A more developed fundamental rights low for the EU after the Lisbon Treaty?

The Treaty of Lisbon introduced important changes in the protection of human rights in the EU, the most important of which lie in the changes in Article 6 of the Treaty on the European Union. These provisions indicate that the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is now legally binding, having the same status as primary EU law, and that the EU "shall accede" to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the Charter has been referred to on numerous occasions by the European Court of Justice and now acts as the main source of human rights in the EU. This article examines the import of this case law, some of which are ground-breaking and controversial, as well as how the higher profile for human rights under the Charter is likely to change the nature of the EU’s relationship with the ECHR. The article also examines the complex procedure for the EU’s accession to the ECHR, which is now underway, highlighting particularly significant aspects of this process. The article concludes with some general reflections about the status of human rights protection in the EU, suggesting that this has become one of the most significant areas of EU law that has had, and continues to have, a crucial impact on the EU’s relationships with its Member States, the EU and international law.

Incoherent partial superposition modeling for single-shot angle-resolved ellipsometry measurement of thin films on transparent substrates

Ellipsometric measurement of transparent samples suffers from substrate backside reflection challenges, including incoherent and partial superposition issues. The recently developed angle-resolved ellipsometry (ARE) can naturally eliminate the backside reflections of substrates with a micro-spot equivalent thickness or thicker; however, for thinner substrates, ARE working with general incoherent backside reflection models shows significant inaccuracy or measurement failure. In this paper, an incoherent partial superposition (IPS) model is proposed to characterize the optical superposition effect between the frontside and uncertain backside reflections from an unknown substrate. IPS introduces a cosine-like correction of the backside reflection, corresponding to the overlapping-area change of backside and frontside reflections along with incident angles. Benefiting from ARE’s wide-angle spectral imaging capability, IPS achieves single-shot measurement of thin film thicknesses on transparent substrates of unknown thickness. An ARE system was built and calibrated regarding the linear relationship between the cosine-corrected angular frequencies and substrate thicknesses. Then, commercial ITO films on glasses of different thicknesses ranging from 200 to 1000 µm were measured. Experimental results show that IPS-ARE results in a root-mean-square accuracy error of ∼1 nm in film thickness measurement and provides a ∼77% error reduction from general incoherent backside reflection models.