Global Dilemma Research Articles

Global Gender Justice and Epistemic Oppression: A Response to an Epistemic Dilemma

Critiques of Western feminists’ attempts to extend claims about gender injustice to the global context highlighted a dilemma facing Western feminists, what I call the global gender justice dilemma. In response to this dilemma, Alison M. Jaggar argues that Western feminists should turn our attention away from trying to resolve it and, instead, toward examination of our own complicity in the processes that produce injustice. I suggest that this kind of approach is helpful in responding to an additional dilemma that confronts the Western feminist, namely the epistemic dilemma. Western feminists can speak for women of the global South and run the risk of distorting those women’s experience and further silencing their voices, or we can refuse to speak and abdicate our responsibilities to address injustice. I argue that we should address this dilemma not by trying to resolve it but by examining our role in the reproduction of epistemically unjust practices. To explain this response, I offer a preliminary account of epistemic injustice as epistemic oppression. I conclude by claiming that our own epistemic complicity in epistemically oppressive social practices is a weighty reason for us to work to transform those practices.

Weaknesses in stock assessment modelling and management practices affect fisheries sustainability

Abstract We respond to criticism of our earlier paper where we report Australia‐wide declines in fisheries catches that parallel the declining trends in fish populations observed underwater, and we highlight concerns about the low levels of precaution applied when regulating fisheries catches using the avoidance of recruitment failure approach. Most fished species worldwide lack the data needed for accurate stock status assessments, and consequently exploitation of these species should be managed with high precaution. For the relatively few species and stocks with individually modelled assessments, the errors associated with model output are extremely large as a result of the multiplicity of confounding factors (including effects of changing climate, technological advances that increase catch efficiency, fisher behaviour, interactions with other species, and changes in habitat quality), and the compounding of error introduced by subjective assumptions in multiple parameter estimates. The magnitude of this assessment uncertainty appears to be rarely recognized and incorporated into management decisions. Given the difficulties in accurately predicting and managing fishing impacts, including species interactions across space and time, a well‐designed set of no‐take marine reserves is critically needed. Although not a universal panacea, an effective global network of marine reserves arguably represents the most efficient and publicly acceptable next step – in addition to greenhouse gas reduction – towards solving the unfolding global dilemma confronting fish populations and ocean ecosystems.

Does the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism Actually Promote Export？The Empirical Study Based on WTO Dispute Cases

As the Jewel of the Crown” of the multilateral trading system, the WTO dispute settlement mechanism （DSM） has made great contribution to resolving trade disputes among WTO members. Although a considerable amount of literature in the field of international law has discussed the legal issues of the DSM, the economic efficacy of the DSM has not been paid sufficient attention. Facing the dilemma of economic globalization and the unilateral trade protectionism of the US, what role can the DSM play? Can its advocacy of trade liberalization at the legal level produce the actual export promotion effects on the complainant? What factors will affect the respondent’s enforcement of dispute rulings and thus affecting the complainant’s export benefits? These urgent practical problems endow the theoretical research with deeper significance. This paper focuses on the judicial arbitration value of the WTO DSM, and reveals the theoretical mechanism of WTO dispute rulings turning into the complainant’s export benefits. In addition, this paper uses the difference-in-differences and propensity score matching methods to solve the selection bias and endogenous problem of WTO dispute cases, and investigates whether WTO dispute rulings bring export promotion effects on the complainant. The empirical results show that the DSM can indeed bring export promotion effects through judicial arbitration, but such export promotion effects have the hysteretic nature. Furthermore, due to the heterogeneity of dispute cases and the characteristics of the countries involved, it brings different degrees of export promotion effects. From the perspective of the heterogeneity of dispute cases, if the category of products involved in the case is agricultural product and the winning rate of the complainant is high, the export promotion effects of WTO dispute rulings will be stronger. However, if the dispute measure involved in the case is anti-dumping or countervailing measure and the case enters the remedy proceeding due to insufficient enforcement of dispute rulings by the respondent, the export promotion effects of WTO dispute rulings will be weaker. From the perspective of the characteristics of the countries involved, the higher the trade retaliation capability of the complainant is, the stronger the export promotion effects of WTO dispute rulings will be. This paper provides some insights by demonstrating the economic efficacy of the DSM. Especially in the current background that the WTO is facing multiple challenges and the DSM is hampered, this paper emphasizes on the marvelous contribution of the DSM in promoting trade liberalization, and highlights the urgent practical significance in maintaining an effective DSM. This paper makes a contribution in the following aspects: First, it enriches relevant theories and assumptions by assuming the enforcement behavior of the respondent as an important mediating variable for the WTO dispute rulings to produce expected export promotion effects. Second, it empirically testifies the export promotion effects of WTO dispute rulings and further measures the non-equilibrium nature of export promotion effects caused by the heterogeneity of dispute cases and the characteristics of the countries involved. Through the above research, this paper expands the economic research of the DSM and provides empirical basis for testing the export promotion effects of WTO dispute rulings.

Underdeveloping the Disadvantaged: The Dilemma of Globalization on Women in a Developing Country

Globalization in its meanings and focus is a phenomenon with anticipated promises and possibilities whose impact can be highly felt and appreciated in the face of gender equality. Achieving such may remain an insurmountable brick wall in a developing country like Nigeria. This is especially so when we consider the disadvantage women experience due to the patriarchal nature of the Nigerian system, high level of poverty, increased marginalization and segregation, invisibility and experienced limitations and difficulty in participating and succeeding in power relations, participation in unpaid and less paid jobs (coupled with the devaluation of the Nigerian currency), inability to move and grow in their career pursuit at the same pace with men due to reproductive health issues, socialization of children, women’s “seemingly” unappreciated loss of identity to the men (through marriage) and the general orientation that women are meant to be at the “background”. Conceptualizing globalization from Anderson’s view point and hinged on the theory of feminism, this paper addresses the effect of these disadvantages on women’s lives and opportunities in the Nigerian society at a critical point as this when the country is undergoing economic recession. It concludes that women are more likely to experience underdevelopment despite the possibilities and promises of globalization. It recommends a holistic approach which will involve revisiting some policies, passing some bills, educating, enlightening, re-orientating the necessary stake holders as well as empowering women and re-enforcing gender mainstreaming in all facets of the society in order to reduce the effect of these experiences on their development in the Nigerian society. DOI : 10.7176/JESD/10-8-16 Publication date : April 30 th 2019

Isolation and Molecular Identification of Leishmania spp. in Patients With Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Golestan Province, Iran

Background and aims: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major health issue in many parts of Iran. Diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a non-endemic area is not as simple as that in endemic foci. The management and treatment of this disease are global dilemmas. The purpose of this study was to identify Leishmania species isolated from human cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions in patients referred to health centers of Golestan province, Iran. Methods: Cutaneous leishmaniasis patients with suspected lesions were clinically examined. History of journey to the endemic areas of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis and/or anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis and the characteristics of their lesion(s) were recorded. Diagnosis of the lesion was done by using direct smear microscopy and conventional polymerase chain reaction. Results: Out of 360 patients, 202 (57.4 %) were male and 158 (42.8 %) were female. A total of 360 samples were selected from different cities. The number of infected samples in the cities is as follows: Azad Shahr [3 (1.5%)], Aq Qala [11 (5.7%)], Ali Abad [4 (2.1%)], Bandar Turkmen [3 (1.5%)], Bandar Gaz [2 (1%)], Ramian [3 (1.5%)], Kalaleh [23 (12.1%)], Kord koy [1 (0.5%)], Galikesh [7 (3.7 %)], Gomishan [12 (3.6 %)], Gorgan [13 (6.8 %)], Gonbad Qabus [99 (52.1 %)], Marave Tappe [7 (3.6%)] and Minoodasht [2 (1%)]. In the molecular investigations, 186 (96.8%) samples were observed to acquire rural cutaneous leishmaniasis, 4 (2.1%) to acquire urban cutaneous leishmaniasis and 170 (47.2%) to be uninfected. Conclusion: Although history of visiting endemic areas is an important factor to be considered in diagnosis, parasitological confirmation is necessary for the initiation of treatment.

Post-conflict reconstruction: Negotiating school leadership practice for inclusive education of conflict-affected children in Kenya

Provision of education during/after violent conflicts remains a global dilemma with many conflict-affected children excluded from/within education. Likewise, school leadership is increasingly seen as a key element in developing inclusive schools across communities. This single intrinsic case study with aspects of ethnography was conducted in one post-conflict community school in Kenya, where 71% of the pupil population comprised conflict-affected children following the 2007–2008 post-election violence. The aim was to explore and understand how the headteacher and teachers perceived and developed teacher participation in school leadership practice, in order to respond to learning and development needs of conflict-affected children, and promote inclusive practices in post-conflict schooling. Thematic analysis of interviews, observations, and textual displays indicated that by diagnosing the state of local affairs, that is, violence-disrupted livelihoods, school demographics, and systemic demands, the headteacher encouraged active participation of teachers in school leadership practices. Although overall accountability remained locked in hierarchical structures, teacher leadership emerged in arrangements like “office-referenced” individual leadership and collaborating groups (e.g., task groups and “team leadership”). With school leadership practice often attributed to headteachers in Kenya, this study contributes to debates on the construction of teacher leadership and offers insights into the experiences of school leaders in combating exclusionary practices after societal violence.

On the Theory of Electrolytic Dissociation, the Greenhouse Effect, and Activation Energy in (Electro)Catalysis: A Tribute to Svante Augustus Arrhenius.

Svante Augustus Arrhenius (1859, Vik - 1927, Stockholm) received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1903 "in recognition of the extraordinary services he rendered to the advancement of chemistry by his electrolytic theory of dissociation". Arrhenius was a physicist, and he received his PhD from the University of Uppsala, where he later became a professor for phyiscal chemistry, the first in the country for this subject. He was offered several positions as professor abroad, but decided to remain in Sweden and to build a Nobel Institute for physical chemistry using the Nobel funds. He remained director of the Institute until his death. There are powerful lessons to take from Svante August Arrhenius' journey leading to a Nobel laureate as there are from his tremendous contributions to chemistry and science in general, including climate science, immunochemistry and cosmology. The theory of electrolytic dissociation for which Arrhenius received the 1903 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has had a profound impact on our understanding of the chemistry of solutions, chemical reactivity, mechanisms underlying chemical transformations as well as physiological processes. As a tribute to Arrhenius, we present a brief historical perspective and present status of the theory of electrolytic dissociation, its relevance and role to the development of electrochemistry, as well as some perspectives on the possible role of the theory to future advancements in electroanalysis, electrocatalysis and electrochemical energy storage. The review briefly highlights Arrhenius' contribution to climate science owing to his studies on the potential effects of increased anthropogenic CO2 emissions on the global climate. These studies were far ahead of their time and revealed a daunting global dilemma, global warming, that we are faced with today. Efforts to abate or reverse CO2 accumulation constitute one of the most pressing scientific problems of our time, "man's urgent strive to save self from the adverse effects of his self-orchestrated change on the climate". Finally, we review the application of the Arrhenius equation that correlates reaction rate constants (k) and temperature (T); , in determining reaction barriers in catalysis with a particular focus on recent modifications of the equation to account for reactions exhibiting non-linear Arrhenius behavior with concave curvature due to prevalence of quantum mechanical tunneling, as well as infrequent convexity of Arrhenius plots due to decrease of the microcanonical rate coefficient with energy as observed for some enzyme catalyzed reactions.

Education for Social Transformation (EST) in the Caribbean: A Postcolonial Perspective

This paper critically examines the possibilities of education for social transformation (EST) in the context of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This is a region with a history of colonialism and embodies some of the central dilemmas of globalization, such as inequality and environmental precarity. Thus, conceptually, EST holds great promise for social justice and environmental sustainability. The paper argues, however, that EST can be relevant to the region only if it takes account of the enduring deep-seated legacy of asymmetries of power, exploitation and inequality in the broader society and within the education system resulting from colonialism and now exacerbated by globalization’s processes. Using postcolonial theory as the analytical frame, the paper highlights these challenges to EST in the context of the Caribbean and also identifies educational principles for EST to be a catalyst for social transformation in the region.

Erecting Walls Versus Tearing Them Down: Inclusion and the (False) Paradox of Diversity in Times of Economic Upheaval

Media images of walls being erected or dismantled symbolize the global dilemma at the heart of the approach toward diversity during economically challenging times. Will communities, organizations, and nations become more isolated, exclusionary, and protective of scarce resources? Or will they embrace diversity for humanistic reasons and its potential to drive economic growth? This paper first critically examines the paradox of diversity and deems it false because it omits the important role of inclusion climate. It then presents a systematic review of the research. Findings indicate that people are more likely to blame ‘the other’ for their economic hardships, and as a result are more likely to express racism, prejudice, and xenophobia, giving rise to intergroup conflicts and strife. Yet research also links diversity with innovation and its potential to uplift and energize economies, a quality that is particularly important during times of economic hardship. Finally, the paper presents a theory‐based conceptual model, highlighting the central role of inclusion, and proposes directions for future research.

Deterrence and its discontents

ABSTRACT What might Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, have found, had he lived long enough to study the 2018 US Nuclear Posture Review and its drafters? Anxiety about failure and death, fear of impotence, and an obsession with deterrence that obscures the ultimate question: “What is it that the United States wants in this world?” In this essay, the author uses psychoanalytic metaphors to explain why the United States does not currently have a long-term strategy for dealing with its most fundamental foreign policy challenges – and why it needs one, particularly as regards the global nuclear dilemma.

New Generation of Promising Immunotherapeutics Approaches for Psoriasis Dilemma; IL-35 Gene as a Potentiated Candidate

Psoriasis is immune-mediated chronic inflammatory disorder related to Th1 pattern, in which, 2 to 3% of white population worldwide have been affected. It is demonstrated that excessive secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-17A, TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-12 are involved in the immunopathogenesis and clinical manifestations of the disease. Common and previous therapeutics strategies have not been beneficial for all patients, yet. So, there is increasing considerations, leading basic medical scientists toward new directions. During last decade, exponential growth of immune based methods with easy accessibility, less morbidity and operatively yields in clinical trials, has opened a new window to novel clinical applications. Recently, approaches with immunological perspectives such as special immunobiomarkers recruitment, stem cells and vectors have been appropriated to psoriasis immunotherapy purposes. Various evidences suggest that interleukin-35 (IL-35) has important roles in immune system regulation as a promising anti-inflammatory agent. Also, it is demonstrated that Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are able to hold anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, too. Here, we suggest a hypothetical cell and gene-based immunotherapy method that it could be advantageous for pro-inflammatory agents diminution in psoriatic patients. We hope that anti-inflammatory effects of IL-35 gene transfer via Adenoassociated virus as a vector by Bone Marrow derived-MSCs (BM-MSCs) in an Imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mouse model, will probably be efficient in psoriasis global dilemma domination. Keywords: Psoriasis, IL-35, Mesenchymal stem cell, Regenerative medicine, Clinical applications.

Correlation between hepatic human males absent on the first (hMOF) and viral persistence in chronic hepatitis B patients

BackgroundChronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a global health dilemma with high morbidity and mortality. Human males absent on the first (hMOF) (a histone acetyltransferase) is responsible for DNA damage repair, tumorigenesis and cell cycle regulation. Persistence of HBV DNA contributes to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in CHB patients. Histone acetyltransferase enhances HBV replication, however the precise underlying mechanism of hMOF in HBV replication in CHB patients remains to be explored. This study aims to investigate the correlation between hepatic hMOF and HBV DNA replication in CHB patients, and may provide new insights towards the treatment of CHB patients.MethodshMOF in liver biopsy (CHB, n = 33 HBeAg+; n = 20 HBeAg−, and three healthy controls) was determined, using immunohistochemistry, qPCR and Western blot. The correlation between hMOF and HBsAg, as well as, HBeAg were determined.ResultsA positive correlation between hMOF and HBV DNA in overall CHB patients was observed. A distinct positive correlation between hMOF and HBsAg and/or HBeAg in HBeAg+ CHB patients was also detected, however not observed between hMOF and HBsAg in HBeAg− CHB patients. No correlation was observed between hMOF and hepatic inflammation severity and fibrotic stage in CHB patients.ConclusionsHepatic hMOF might contribute to host HBV clearance in CHB patients and possible pathogenesis.

Self-medication with antibiotics in Saudi Arabia

IntroductionDespite of the global dilemma of antibiotics resistance, this issue is more worsen in developing countries or places where the antibiotics can be dispensed or purchased without prescription such as in Saudi Arabia. Most health awareness campaigns and published studies regarding the self-medication with antibiotics in Saudi Arabia are conducted within hospitals. The prevalence and reasons of self-medication with antibiotics were not well studied from community perspective in Saudi Arabia. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in Saudi Arabia. MethodologyA cross-sectional study using online survey and snowball technique was conducted during the period from January 2017 to May 2017 targeting people who are living in Saudi Arabia. ResultsA total of 1264 respondent completed the questionnaire and included in the study. About 34% of respondents have used antibiotic without a prescription, and 81.3% of them knew that it might be harmful to health. The most antibiotic used for self-medication was Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (45.1%) followed by amoxicillin (39.9%). The most common illness and reasons for seeking antibiotic without prescription were tonsillitis (76.7%) and the previous experience of using a particular antibiotic (52.1%) respectively. The major source of self-medication with antibiotic was previous doctor's prescription (36.6%). ConclusionThe relative high prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics necessitates taking serious steps by health authorities to implement the law of forbidding the sale of antibiotics without prescription.

The Ethical Dilemma of Globalization

The Ethical Dilemma of Globalization

Ethical dilemmas during international clinical rotations in global health settings: Findings from a training and debriefing program

Purpose: This study describes the impact of an open-access, case-based global health ethics workshop and describes the breadth of dilemmas faced by students to inform future interventions.Methods: Eighty-two medical students who undertook electives at 16 international sites between 2012 and 2015 received web-based surveys at three time points, incorporating quantitative and free-text probes of knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to global health clinical ethics dilemmas. Sixty students (73%) completed the pre-workshop survey, 38 (46%) completed the post-workshop survey, and 43 (52%) completed the post-trip survey.Results: Analysis demonstrated improvement following the workshop in self-rated preparedness to manage ethical dilemmas abroad, identify ways to prepare for dilemmas, engage support persons, and manage related emotions (all comparisons, p < 0.001). Participants described 245 anticipated or actual dilemmas, comprising nine domains. Nearly one-third of the dilemmas that were experienced involved the student as an active participant. Only 21% of respondents experiencing a dilemma discussed the dilemma with a local support person.Conclusions: This analysis describes an ethics curriculum that prepares students to face ethical dilemmas during international clinical rotations. It broadens the representation of the dilemmas that students face, and highlights areas for curricular focus and optimization of on-site and post-trip student support resources.

Water scarcity as a global public dilemma: Public fiscal policies towards rainwater harvesting

Factors such as population growth rate, industrialization, increase in urbanization rate, unplanned urbanization, consumption of pesticides, climate change, which are experienced during the history of mankind, cause environmental pollution affecting future generations especially water resources. This situation, which constitutes a global public problem in today's world, has particularly reached threatening levels for usable/potable water resources. Under the prediction that the world will face 40% water scarcity by 2030, it is important that the rainwater will be stored and made usable. The article includes the applied fiscal policies around the world (e.g. public standards/practices, public incentive policies, output/result-oriented policies). The article presents the current situation in Turkey and suggests the legal regulation.

Climate change: Behavioral responses from extreme events and delayed damages

Understanding how to sustain cooperation in the climate change global dilemma is crucial to mitigate its harmful consequences. Damages from climate change typically occur after long delays and can take the form of more frequent realizations of extreme and random events. These features generate a decoupling between emissions and their damages, which we study through a laboratory experiment. We find that some decision-makers respond to global emissions, as expected, while others respond to realized damages also when emissions are observable. On balance, the presence of delayed/stochastic consequences did not impair cooperation. However, we observed a worrisome increasing trend of emissions when damages hit with delay.

Mixed methods research in tobacco control with youth and young adults: A methodological review of current strategies.

IntroductionTobacco use among young people is a complex and serious global dilemma that demands innovative and diverse research approaches. The purpose of this methodological review was to examine the current use of mixed methods research in tobacco control with youth and young adult populations and to develop practical recommendations for tobacco control researchers interested in this methodology.MethodsUsing PubMed, we searched five peer-reviewed journals that publish tobacco control empirical literature for the use of mixed methods research to study young populations, age 12–25 years. Our team analyzed the features of each article in terms of tobacco control topic, population, youth engagement strategies, and several essential elements of mixed methods research.ResultsWe identified 23 mixed methods studies published by authors from five different countries reported between 2004 and 2015. These 23 articles examined various topics that included tobacco use behavior, tobacco marketing and branding, and cessation among youth and young adults. The most common mixed methods approach was variations of the concurrent design in which the qualitative and quantitative strands were administered at the same time and given equal priority. This review documented several innovative applications of mixed methods research as well as challenges in the reporting of the complex research designs.ConclusionsThe use of mixed methods research in tobacco control has great potential for advancing the understanding of complex behavioral and sociocultural issues for all groups, especially youth and young adults.

Evolutionary Game Dynamics and Risk Control in Global Dilemmas with Insurance Compensation

In this paper, we study the evolution of global cooperation through proposing a multilevel threshold public goods game model, and introducing an insurance compensation mechanism to probe the risk control. We find that high risk and high threshold are in favor of global cooperation. Furthermore, the introduction of insurance compensation remarkably promotes the emergency of global cooperative behaviors. On the other hand, the fixation time of global cooperation is sharply shortened after introducing insurance compensation mechanism. Besides, global cooperation is strengthened with the increase of imitation intensities.

Unlicensed and off-label use of drugs in pediatric surgical units at tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan.

Background Unlicensed and off-label prescribing practice is global dilemma around the world. This pioneering study was designed to determine unlicensed and off-label use of drug in surgical wards of tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan. Objective To assess unlicensed and off-label use of drugs in pediatric surgical unit at three tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan. Setting Two government and one private tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan. Method Drug profiles of 895 patients from three different clinical settings were evaluated for unlicensed and off-label use of drugs using Micromedex DRUGDEX. Main outcome measure Characteristics of the unlicensed and off-label drug prescriptions. Result Total of 3168 prescribed drugs were analyzed in this study. Indication (38.7%) and dose (34.8%) were the most frequent off-label categories. In comparison with the corresponding reference categories, infants and children, male patients and having less than five prescribed drugs were significant predictors of unlicensed prescriptions. In comparison with the corresponding reference categories, significant predictors of off-label drug prescribing were children younger than two year, children between 2-12years, patient staying at hospital less than 5days and patients having less than five prescribed drugs. Conclusion The prevalence of unlicensed and off-label drug prescriptions are high at pediatric surgical ward of tertiary care hospitals. More awareness of the efficacy and safety of drugs are required in pediatrics. In addition, new formulations with advanced dosing for children are also required to minimize the risk of adverse outcomes.