ABSTRACT This introduction discusses the mechanisms of racialization, resistance, and white supremacy in education and outlines our approach to critical anti-racist praxis as rooted in the lived experiences, knowledges, insights, and practices of racialised groups and individuals. We then present the contributions in this special issue that engage with critical and interdisciplinary perspectives to expand the conversation on critical anti-racist research and praxis in education.

More than two decades have passed since exposure-based interventions were first applied to four individuals with chronic low back pain reporting pain-related fear. To reflect on the progress made since then, an international Special Interest Meeting gathered experts for two days of active dialogue and discussion focusing on the theoretical foundations of exposure-based interventions and their broader application to bodily symptoms from an interdisciplinary perspective. In a subsequent joint paper, the participants summarized how exposure-based interventions have been applied across clinical settings (psychology, behavioral and rehabilitation medicine), treatment providers (psychologists, physiotherapists, physiatrists), delivery formats (digital and in-person), and treatment adaptations (for different age groups and co-occurring conditions). Beyond chronic pain, emerging applications have also extended to a wider range of bodily symptoms, including chronic neuropathic pain, post-concussion symptoms, tinnitus, female genitopelvic pain, cardiovascular symptoms, and gastrointestinal symptoms. To facilitate implementation in clinical practice, the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used to systematically identify evidence gaps and inform a strategic roadmap for future research. Theoretical models that have shaped the field were examined for their potential to guide future innovation. Continued research is needed to clarify which individuals benefit most within a matched care framework and to identify optimal strategies for implementation in routine practice.

Abstract Multilingual reading is an inherently social and critical practice that questions normative monolingual and nationalist discourses by creating affective bonds with unknown others and bringing together people with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Focusing on the case of The Poetry Project, a civil society organization in Berlin that runs collaborative writing and translation workshops for refugees and hosts public reading events in several languages, this essay looks at practices of multilingual reading that emerge in contexts of migration from an interdisciplinary perspective. Going beyond Western and presentist notions of literature that efface oral storytelling and delivery, we define writing and reading, production and reception, as mutually interconnected practices that are not just performed in community but that also create collective identity. For aspiring multilingual writers, reading their own work to others can be a way of carving out a (counter-hegemonic) space in German society and the literary world. Reading, thus, becomes a rights-claiming and performative activity in the broader sense of the word. Combining methods from literary and translation theory with ethnographic research, including participant observation and interviews, the essay takes into account the complexity of multilingual reading by analyzing its literary representations in the poems, its materiality in the bi- and multilingual format of the Poetry Project’s publications, and its intersubjective, embodied and culturally embedded dimensions at public events where poetry is read aloud. The essay expands the focus of literary research on reading written texts with an anthropological lens, attending to collective and oral practices. In so doing, it explores the social relations and power dynamics involved in reading and writing across cultures, while pointing to the relevance of literature and reading practices to understand the experiences of migration.

ABSTRACT This paper examines the conceptual metaphors underlying the perception of English language proficiency, usage, and attitudes in Nigeria, and provides their pedagogical implications. The data comprise transcripts of focus group discussions involving selected Nigerian students on attitudes towards varieties of Nigerian English. The conceptual metaphors in the data were identified and analysed by maximising the merits of conceptual metaphor theory. The analysis indicates that diverse aspects of Nigerian English are conceptualised using six conceptual metaphors, namely: USAGE OF NIGERIAN ENGLISH AS A MASK/DECORATION, FLUENT COMMUNICATION IN NIGERIAN ENGLISH AS LIQUID, PROFICIENCY IN NIGERIAN ENGLISH AS AN INHERITANCE, PROFICIENCY IN NIGERIAN ENGLISH AS BUILDING, PROFICIENCY IN NIGERIAN ENGLISH AS MORALITY, and PROFICIENCY IN NIGERIAN ENGLISH AS EATING/FOOD. While these conceptualisations reflect the participants’ positive attitude towards Nigerian English, on the one hand, and their negative attitude towards Nigeria's indigenous languages, the MASK metaphor highlights a subtle negative perception that English is used to obscure one's true social-economic identity. This study concludes that evaluations of Nigerian English and its speakers are shaped by sociocultural factors reflected metaphorically. By bridging metaphor studies and language attitude research, this work offers a new interdisciplinary perspective that highlights critical implications for English language pedagogy in Nigeria.

ABSTRACT Knowledge influencers, such as YouTuber mathematicians and TikTok veterinarians, have appeared as a distinctive genre of social media experts. Integrating theories of social epistemology with communication research, this paper examines how a new subcategory of knowledge influencers, whom I call social media economists, redefine epistemic authority by discussing cutting-edge, complex topics in economics and finance through engaging videos. Based on content analyses of the account @Lindsay(小 Lin 说) and focus group interviews with its followers, this research reveals the shifting locus of epistemic authority, underpinned by algorithmic visibility, stylistic fluency, and audience engagement. As public demand for accessible financial literacy grows, social media economists have become prominent sources of knowledge. However, their epistemic approach is often constrained by platform logic and lacks critical insight or reflexivity. This study enriches influencer research from an interdisciplinary perspective, underscoring its dualistic implications for business, finance, and everyday economic life.

ABSTRACT Inspired by the French Marxist Philosopher Henri Lefebvre, this paper problematizes a dialectical approach for intercultural communication in situating both language and culture within the broader dynamics of political economy. Amidst calls for epistemological plurality within the field of intercultural communication, this conceptual paper offers a multidimensional and interdisciplinary perspective in bringing together scholarship from sociology, politics, and philosophy with applied linguistics and sociolinguistics research. In focusing on the Marxist concepts of alienation, fetishism, and reification, I argue for a dialectical approach that critically analyzes both epistemology and ontology together in intercultural communication research. In doing so, I present a dialectical perspective that goes beyond simplistic representations and/or snapshot discourses about intercultural knowledge.

Skovoroda Institute of Philosophy, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, organised the round table “War and the Environment: Ecological, Ethical and Anthropological Dimensions”, exploring the environmental impacts of the war from interdisciplinary perspectives. The discussion covered direct and indirect environmental damage, including the destruction of ecosystems and habitats, depletion of natural resources, and climate change, as well as anthropological transformations caused by war. It also included ethical, philosophical, and artistic reflections on these issues, the moral and ecological dimensions of war, and rethinking ecocide as an existential catastrophe. However, the environment is not only a 'silent victim' of war but also a witness to tragic events that leave a unique imprint on the landscape of our memory.

The integration of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into teacher education curriculum represents a transformative step toward developing culturally rooted, holistic, and value-oriented educators. In alignment with contemporary educational reforms such as the National Education Policy 2020, there is an increasing emphasis on incorporating indigenous knowledge traditions, ethical foundations, and interdisciplinary perspectives into formal education. This paper proposes a comprehensive framework for integrating IKS into teacher education programs, focusing on curriculum design, pedagogical approaches, assessment strategies, and institutional preparedness. The study adopts a conceptual and policy-analytical approach to identify core domains of IKS such as Indian philosophy, ecological wisdom, traditional sciences, arts, and community-based knowledge and examines their relevance in preparing reflective, context-sensitive, and socially responsible teachers. The paper further explores key challenges in implementation, including epistemological resistance, lack of trained faculty, curriculum rigidity, limited authentic resources, and concerns regarding standardization and academic rigor. Structural and attitudinal barriers within teacher education institutions are also critically analysed. To address these challenges, the study proposes strategic interventions such as capacity-building programs, interdisciplinary curriculum restructuring, collaborative research initiatives, community engagement models, and policy-level support mechanisms. Emphasis is placed on aligning IKS integration with global competencies while preserving indigenous intellectual traditions. The proposed framework aims to bridge traditional wisdom and contemporary pedagogical needs, fostering a teacher education system that promotes holistic development, cultural continuity, critical thinking, and sustainable practices. Integrating IKS meaningfully can contribute significantly to the revitalization and contextualization of teacher education in India.

Active learning, as delineated through the ICAP framework, differentiates between active, constructive, and interactive modes of engagement, each linked to specific cognitive and behavioural processes that influence knowledge acquisition and retention. While cognitive psychology and neurobiology provide mechanistic explanations for the effectiveness of certain learning behaviours, these insights are seldom systematically integrated within educational frameworks. This theoretical review aims to address this gap by utilising the ICAP hierarchy as an organisational scaffold for synthesising findings from education, cognitive psychology, and neurobiology, and by proposing an integrated model that elucidates how distinct forms of active engagement enhance declarative memory through shared neurocognitive mechanisms. From an interdisciplinary perspective, active learning fosters long-term memory not merely through heightened behavioural engagement, but by aligning curiosity, effort-reward appraisal, and social interaction to activate dopaminergic plasticity pathways. Consequently, the modes of ICAP engagement can be conceptualised as graded modulations of a common neurocognitive cascade: Increasing learner choice and novelty enhances effort–reward appraisal, biases learning toward curiosity and motivation, and thereby facilitates dopaminergic activation, hippocampal and striatal plasticity, and durable memory formation. Within this framework, the active mode initiates engagement with the cascade, the constructive mode stabilises learning through metacognitive monitoring and attentional control, and the interactive mode further amplifies memory by integrating social reward with coordinated regulation of cognitive demands. Collectively, these distinctions elucidate how instructional design can support durable learning by maintaining a favourable effort–reward balance, fostering metacognitive regulation, and leveraging collaboration without exceeding cognitive limits.

Purpose Therefore, our goal is to understand the possibilities and potentialities of articulation between environmental education and health education from the perception of older individuals. We evaluated this group’s perspectives due to their life experiences and health concerns. This research employed walking ethnography, a qualitative methodology based on sensory ethnography for data production. The methodology recognizes lived experiences, perceptions and construction of knowledge through location and social context. Design/methodology/approach Environmental education and health education are fields of study and practice with different origins, approaches and theoretical frameworks. Environmental education includes authors working in ecological epistemologies, which are defined by the need to overcome modern dualities and dichotomies between human-world-environment. When working on socioecological, formative and pedagogical aspects, health education provides an opportunity to be a protagonist in understanding and transforming their own reality, covering cultural, social, economic, environmental and other aspects. Despite their interdisciplinary perspectives and the fact that both are initiatives that integrate health and the environment, there are few attempts to bring environmental education and health education into dialogue. Findings The data indicated the emergence of three categories: attentionalities, ethics and presence, which demonstrate the potential of the Buen Vivir philosophy for articulating health education and environmental education. Originality/value Dialogues between these research fields can facilitate educational practices that emphasize sensations and emotions, are motivated by embodiment and offer new perspectives on environmental education and health education.

Theorizing AI literacy development using Habermas' three cognitive knowledge interests from a systematic review: A STEM interdisciplinary perspective

This study examines the problem of the nafs's failure to recognise Allah, the rebellion of Iblis in refusing to prostrate before Adam, and the journey of those who follow Satan by obeying this rebellion, in light of primary sources and in relation to contemporary life. Drawing on the Islamic Sufi tradition, palaeoanthropology, modern neuroscience, and psychological data, the individual and societal consequences of the nafs (ego) overriding the intellect and divine consciousness are discussed within a holistic framework. An interdisciplinary perspective is presented, integrating data from the Qur'an, hadith, and classical Islamic thought with modern psychology, evolutionary ethics, and philosophy. Within the framework of the nafs's stages of ammāra, lawwāma, and muṭma'inna, the study analyses how pride, denial, and rebellion transform individuals and societies into 'the party of Satan.' Membership in Satan's party manifests today in impulsive behaviours at the level of the nafs al-ammāra, consumerism, obesity, and existential crises. The study proposes that humanity's exit from this existential crisis is possible through holistic self-discipline (riyāḍa), dhikr, and moral maturation, and aims to offer a comprehensive framework for humanity's journey toward moral maturity by addressing this narrative at cosmic, individual-psychological, and social levels.

Proverbs are one of the most deeply rooted components of culture and function as fundamental references that embody social value judgements and shape the relationship between the individual and society. This study examines the socio-cultural status of women and the gender perceptions in traditional Turkish society through the proverb “A woman’s hair is long, but her mind is short”. The study addresses historical sources, literary texts, and anthropological theories from an interdisciplinary perspective. In Turkish culture, hair has historically symbolized vital energy, power, and social hierarchy. However, the proverb discussed in this study establishes a metaphorical contrast between the concrete physical feature of “hair” and the abstract intellectual faculty of “mind,” thereby distancing women from the rational and public sphere. This reflects a traditional mindset that defines women as aesthetic “ornaments” and confines them to the private domain. Drawing on Delaney’s concept of the ‘open/closed body’ and Foucault’s approach to ‘power and the body’, the study further analyses how mechanisms of social control have limited women’s physical and spiritual existence. Ultimately, the research concludes that such elements of oral heritage function as powerful discursive tools that naturalise gender roles and legitimise their transmission across generations.

Dermatological conditions, including acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and chronic wounds, are distinguished by intricate lesion microenvironments, substantial heterogeneity, and notable dynamic alterations. Conventional topical therapies frequently encounter challenges such as inadequate local retention, non-specific diffusion, and potential adverse effects. In contrast, Natural hydrogels are gaining prominence as pivotal materials for dermatological interventions due to their exceptional biocompatibility, biodegradability, and adaptable multifunctional network structures. This systematic review explores the recent progress of Natural hydrogels in dermatological therapy. Particular attention is given to their capacity to sense dynamic lesion microenvironments, such as pH, reactive oxygen species, enzymes, temperature, and mechanical stress. Building on this foundation, we discuss how these smart hydrogels achieve precise interventions, including controlled anti-inflammatory release, antibacterial effects, immune regulation, and barrier repair. It also evaluates the potential and limitations of Natural hydrogels in preclinical studies and translational applications. In addition, it forecasts future directions, particularly their integration with advanced technologies such as single-cell omics, AI-driven material design, and wearable diagnostic therapeutic systems. The review aims to offer an interdisciplinary perspective and a future roadmap for precision and personalized interventions utilizing Natural hydrogels in dermatological therapy.

This research addresses the theoretical relationship between public opinion and international relations(IR) in Latin America from an interdisciplinary perspective that integrates political science, communication, and international studies in the Spanish language. It starts by recognizing that, within the context of globalization, digital technologies, and public diplomacy, public opinion has transcended its traditionally national analysis to acquire a transnational dimension. Utilizing the PRISMA methodology for a systematic literature review of recent academic work (2020-2025) within the Scopus database, the study focuses on the theoretical-conceptual nexus between public opinion, IR, and the Latin American context. The main objective is to map trends, identify gaps, and establish emerging lines of research. Additionally, the role of the media, social networks, and political actors in shaping opinion climates that directly impact the foreign policies and international image of the region’s States will be discussed. Thisproposal aims to contribute significantly to the construction of research avenues linking public opinion with the discipline of International Relations in Latin America, an area insufficiently explored to date.

Grounded in the interdisciplinary perspective of education and sports science, this study investigates the intrinsic mechanisms and practical pathways for the living inheritance of dragon and lion dance in higher education institutions. It expounds the unique educational values of dragon and lion dance in strengthening college students’ national cultural identity, collective consciousness, and bodily confidence from the perspective of sports-based moral education, and analyzes the pedagogical logic of integrating ideological and political education through value guidance, behavioral regulation, and character cultivation. Addressing practical bottlenecks—including insufficient specialized teaching staff, difficulties in recruiting intangible cultural heritage (ICH) bearers into universities, and weak disciplinary competence among physical education teachers—as well as systemic deficiencies such as fragmented curriculum frameworks, ambiguous credit recognition, technique-oriented assessment neglecting cultural dimensions, and lack of process-oriented evaluation of inheritance outcomes, the study proposes a ‘three-stage, four-dimensional’ campus inheritance model: progressing from foundational cognition to experiential practice and innovative dissemination, supported integrally by curriculum instruction, student associations, competitive performances, and cultural spaces. It further advocates building a collaborative ICH inheritance community linking universities with local dragon-lion associations, ICH bases, and communities. Systematic safeguard strategies—including institutional support, inter-departmental governance coordination, digital resource construction, and dynamic dual-track evaluation tools—are advanced to ensure sustainable operation, offering theoretical reference and practical paradigms for the living inheritance of traditional Chinese sports culture in contemporary higher education.

This article introduces the concept of teratocracy to analyze contemporary forms of political power marked by the erosion of symbolic limits and the normalization of excess. Epistemologically, it aligns with the tradition of the criminological imagination articulated by Jock Young, reconnecting criminology and sociology through C. Wright Mills’ critique of abstracted empiricism. From a criminological perspective, it also draws on recent developments in zemiology and social harm approaches, shifting the analytical focus from crime to the production, normalization, and denial of harm. From an interdisciplinary perspective, the analysis examines processes of symbolic collapse and their implications for authority, responsibility, legitimacy, and social harm. Teratocracy is conceptualized not as governance without law, but as a mode of power organized around unbounded enjoyment, which reshapes moral boundaries and weakens mechanisms of accountability.

The article examines the origins of the formation of local self-government in independent Ukraine and analyzes the main stages of its development in terms of both form and content from an innovative aspect. This approach make it possible to identify the continuity of historical traditions and attempts to introduce innovative practices in the development of local self-government. In the author’s opinion, focusing only on the legal aspect of the evolution of municipal relations is not sufficient for a full understanding of the nature and dynamics of the development of local self-government. A comprehensive approach, combining interdisciplinary perspectives, make it possible to take into account the real needs of communities and to offer a new vision for their future development. The development of local self-government in Ukraine since the declaration of independence has been innovative in nature, but has been mostly limited to the legal framework - improving structures and competencies. At present, the extensive potential of this development has largely been exhausted: increasing efficiency and approaching European standards is possible only through innovative approaches that go beyond the law and are based on the achievements of political science, urban studies, and public administration, with further consolidation in legislation. From the innovative perspective of the evolution of local self-government, the following stages can be distinguished: 1) 1991-1996 – the introduction of the institution of local self-government as an innovative approach to the territorial organization of public authority and the search for its optimal domestic model; 2) 1996-2004 – constitutionalization of the domestic model of local self-government and its alignment with international legal standards; 3) 2004-2014 – functional and competence-based growth of local self-government, combined with the accumulation of contradictions in its organization and activities; 4) 2014-2022 – reform of local self-government in the context of decentralization as an innovative way of developing the territorial organization of public authority; 5) from February 2022 to the present – innovative growth of the role of local self-government in the field of national security and defense under martial law.

Chronic exposure to environmental noise poses a significant global challenge to auditory health and cognitive development, with direct effects on the cochlea and substantial social repercussions. This integrative review synthesises evidence on the vulnerability of the basilar membrane and hair cells, emphasising the role of auditory biomarkers and computational cochlear modelling in the early detection of subclinical auditory alterations. The analysis encompasses both classical and contemporary findings, addressing peripheral and central auditory effects, implications for children and vulnerable populations, and preventive strategies. Studies indicate that noise-induced mechanical strain in the basilar membrane, loss of outer and inner hair cells, and subsequent neural modelling compromise hearing sensitivity, speech perception in noisy environments, and higher cognitive functions. Computational simulations provide predictive insights into cochlear responses, complementing biomarker assessments and guiding individualised preventive interventions. Integrating experimental, clinical, and computational approaches establishes a robust framework for translating scientific knowledge into public health policies, urban planning, and protective measures. This interdisciplinary perspective underscores the importance of early identification of at-risk populations, informed acoustic environment management, and evidence-based interventions to safeguard auditory function and promote societal well-being. The findings highlight that combining biomarker assessment with computational modelling is a promising strategy for proactive auditory health management amid increasing urban noise exposure.

This narrative review explores the potential neurophysiological correlates of the subjective experience of shared consciousness in romantic intimacy, synthesizing evidence from hyperscanning (simultaneous recording from two brains) EEG (electroencephalography), fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), and MEG (magnetoencephalography) studies. It examines how neural synchrony, specifically through shared gaze, emotional alignment, and coordinated rhythms, correlates with the experience of connection in romantic intimacy. This review explores how these neural patterns relate to the subjective feeling of being “in sync” with a partner and their potential role in supporting social bonding and emotional regulation. It further addresses the bidirectional relationship between neural synchrony and relational depth, considering how romantic attachment both shapes and is shaped by dynamic inter-brain coupling. Long-term neuroplastic effects emerging from sustained dyadic co-regulation are also considered. Beyond reviewing the data, this article discusses theoretical questions regarding the boundaries between self and partner, considering whether romantic connection might reflect a form of shared cognitive processing. In doing so, this review integrates neuroscientific data with frameworks from enactivism, intersubjectivity, and the extended mind thesis, offering a rigorous, interdisciplinary perspective on the potential neural foundations of romantic intimacy. Overall evidence from EEG and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning suggests that transient neural synchrony correlates with subjective intimacy, though causal mechanisms remain to be fully established.