International Community Research Articles

Pediatric anesthesia outreach in low and middle-income countries: Models, motives, and moral misalignments.

A lack of anesthesia and surgical capacity leaves approximately 1.7 billion children per annum without access to surgical and anesthetic care. Over the past 50 years, the predominant strategy to address this lack of access has been to provide surgical capacity primarily from high-income countries (HICs) to low and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the form of short-term surgical missions. More recently, the international medical community has recognized the need to build sustainable surgical capacity in resource-constrained settings. This article reviews three models of surgical aid: the vertical model (short-term surgical missions); the horizontal model (system-wide capacity building); and the diagonal model, which is a hybrid of the first two. At their core, medical aid interventions exist on a spectrum ranging from providing surgical capacity to building surgical capacity. The skills, attitudes, and behaviors that drive success in providing medical capacity are fundamentally different from those that drive success in building medical capacity. The root cause of this difference is a shift in the moral duty of the visiting physician from a duty solely to the patient in front of them (based on the primacy of the doctor-patient relationship) to include a duty to the local physicians and the local medical system, and by extension to the next 10 000 patients in need of care. Failure to address the conflicts engendered by this fundamental moral shift risks undermining capacity-building efforts in all models of medical aid.

Building momentum through networks: Bioimaging across the Americas.

In September 2023, the two largest bioimaging networks in the Americas, Latin America Bioimaging (LABI) and BioImaging North America (BINA), came together during a 1-week meeting in Mexico. This meeting provided opportunities for participants to interact closely with decision-makers from imaging core facilities across the Americas. The meeting was held in a hybrid format and attended in-person by imaging scientists from across the Americas, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay. The aims of the meeting were to discuss progress achieved over the past year, to foster networking and collaborative efforts among members of both communities, to bring together key members of the international imaging community to promote the exchange of experience and expertise, to engage with industry partners, and to establish future directions within each individual network, as well as common goals. This meeting report summarises the discussions exchanged, the achievements shared, and the goals set during the LABIxBINA2023: Bioimaging across the Americas meeting.

Data analytics in the football industry: a survey investigating operational frameworks and practices in professional clubs and national federations from around the world.

The use of data and analytics in professional football organisations has grown steadily over the last decade. Nevertheless, how and whether these advances in sports analytics address the needs of professional football remain unexplored. Practitioners from national federations qualified for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and professional football clubs from an international community of practitioners took part in a survey exploring the characteristics of their data analytics infrastructure, their role, and their value for elaborating player monitoring and positional data. Respondents from 29 national federations and 32 professional clubs completed the survey, with response rates of 90.6% and 77.1%, respectively. Summary information highlighted the underemployment of staff with expertise in applied data analytics across organisations. Perceptions regarding analytical capabilities and data governance framework were heterogenous, particularly in the case of national federations. Only a third of national federation respondents (~30%) perceived information on positional data from international sports data analytics providers to be sufficiently clear. The general resourcing limitations, the overall lack of expertise in data analytics methods, and the absence of operational taxonomies for reference performance metrics pose constraints to meaningful knowledge translations from raw data in professional football organisations.

The Impact of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation on the World: Taking the Belt and Road Initiative as an Example

As China emerges in global affairs, the rise of China and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation have become one of the focal points on the international stage today. This paper takes the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as an example and deeply explores the impact of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on the international community. The theory of the Thucydides Trap and the international attention sparked by China's rise are focused, and a combination of strategic research and literature review is employed to systematically analyze the initiative's performance from both strategic and cultural perspectives. The study finds that the BRI reflects China's multiple roles as a global economic participant and an advocate for international cooperation; meanwhile, it also triggers potential challenges of geopolitical competition and the Thucydides Trap. The conclusion emphasizes a profound understanding of the positive impact of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on the world, providing wise references for the cooperation and stability of the international community. This research provides an in-depth and comprehensive perspective on the evolution of China's role in global perception.

The International Commission on Continental Erosion (ICCE): a brief overview of its scientific focus and example outputs

Abstract. Erosion and sediment-related problems are well documented globally and continue to warrant further scientific investigation, as well as improved policies and management strategies to protect soil and water resources. The International Commission on Continental Erosion (ICCE) has long been a very active commission of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) focussing on progressing scientific understanding of erosion and sediment systems. This paper provides a brief overview of its main scientific foci, examples of previous contributions to scientific conferences and finally, concludes by paying tribute to two key former members of the international scientific community engaged with its remit.

Religion as a ‘threat’ and ‘instrument’ in authoritarian regimes: state-religion relations in post-Soviet Azerbaijan

ABSTRACT This article explores contentious state-religion relations in Azerbaijan. In recent years, the Azerbaijani government has adopted new regulations in religious affairs aiming at two goals: on the one hand, the government tries to keep religious groups/individuals under control, prevent the politicisation of the religious environment, and prevent foreign countries from expanding their influence in the country. On the other hand, the government aims to promote a positive image of the state in the international community through hosting and funding interreligious dialogue platforms and highlighting the multicultural environment in Azerbaijan. The study examines the evolution of state-religion relations in the country and highlights that in recent years its political regime has applied more restrictive policies towards independent religious communities in legal and extra-legal forms and simultaneously established institutions and co-opted regime-friendly groups through instrumentalising religion to keep the religious environment under control.

The right to education in the system of constitutional rights and freedoms of a person and a citizen

It was established that, despite the universal recognition of the right to education as one of the fundamental human rights enshrined in international documents and the constitutions of many states, there are a number of significant challenges in the implementation of this right at the national and global levels, including unequal access to quality education, limitations of opportunities for individual social groups, as well as the need to adapt educational systems to the rapidly changing conditions of the modern world. It is emphasized that the right to education is one of the fundamental human rights, enshrined in the constitutions of many countries of the world and international documents and is recognized not only as an important individual freedom, but also as a necessary condition for the development of democracy, the rule of law and social progress. It is noted that the right to education, as an important component of the system of human rights and freedoms, is characterized by a number of main features: universality - the right to education belongs to every person without any exceptions or restrictions based on gender, race, nationality, language, religious beliefs, social origin, state of health, beliefs or any other characteristics; every person has equal opportunities for access to education at all levels, in particular, it is also about overcoming gender inequality, as well as inequality related to physical or mental limitations, socio-economic status or place of residence; accessibility for all, which means the absence of any barriers that can prevent a person from getting an education (both financial barriers and barriers related to the place of residence, social status or special needs of a person); the quality of the process of realizing the right to education, which includes not only access to educational institutions, but also the guarantee of obtaining a quality education that contributes to the full development of the human personality; adaptability - the education system should be flexible and adapted to the needs of different population groups, including persons with special educational needs, migrants, national minorities and other vulnerable groups. In summary, the right to education is an integral part of the system of constitutional rights and freedoms of a person and a citizen and is at the basis of the development of a fair and free society, providing every person with the opportunity to realize their potential and actively participate in society. Ensuring access to quality education for everyone without exception is a key task of the state and the international community on the way to achieving sustainable development and strengthening human rights.

Civilians at war: focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and scrutinizing the doctrine of non-combatant immunity

The principle of non-combatant immunity was codified in the Code of International Law and developed into an important foundation for the doctrine of just war, whose origins can be traced to the moral imperative of religious support. The doctrine advocates that persons deemed innocent should be protected from the threat of war, and it is the most widely recognized and deeply rooted moral constraint on the conduct of war. However, the principle of non-combatant immunity has not really deterred the outbreak of war, leaving the international community committed to utopian ideals. In the contemporary context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the principle of non-combatant immunity has been rendered ineffective as civilians are forced to be on the frontlines of both sides of the war. The principle of “just war” seems to have taken on a new basis, with self-defense becoming the pretext for justifying war, and the international community unable to rescue civilians from the flames of war amidst the outcry. There is an urgent need for the international community to re-examine and re-evaluate the immunity of non-combatants, and to limit the use of war as a “legitimate” means of resolving international conflicts. This article calls for a critical assessment of the normativity and effectiveness of the existing law on the principle of non-combatants, and a rethinking of how to construct a more rational and high-level principle to enhance the protection of non-combatants.

International community towards the Afghan refugee question – fight against the threat, cooperation towards the challenge

Niniejsza analiza jest próbą udowodnienia, iż ruch uchodźczy (ale również migracyjny, powodowany względami ekonomicznymi), jaki pojawił się w następstwie wycofania sił amerykańskich i pozostałych sił sojuszniczych z Afganistanu, z jednej strony stanowi czynnik destabilizujący sytuację międzynarodową, szczególnie w regionie. Z drugiej jednak, determinuje intensyfikację aktywności kooperacyjnej państw (zarówno państw tranzytowych, jak i docelowych) i organizacji międzynarodowych. Rozważania poprowadzone zostały przy wykorzystaniu metod badawczych, charakterystycznych dla nauk społecznych, w szczególności nauki o stosunkach międzynarodowych. Z uwagi na aktualny charakter analizowanego problemu międzynarodowego, materiał badawczy stanowiły przede wszystkim źródła pierwotne (tj. raporty międzynarodowych rządowych organizacji pomocowych monitorujących skalę i przebieg zjawiska uchodźstwa afgańskiego, rezolucje Rady Bezpieczeństwa i Zgromadzenia Ogólnego ONZ, oficjalne dokumenty ministerstw spraw zagranicznych poszczególnych państw), ale również źródła wtórne w postaci doniesień medialnych.

International knowledge connectivity and the increasing concentration of innovation in major global cities

Abstract We argue that trans-local knowledge connections positively impact local epistemic inventor communities in global cities, using patent citations as an indicator of global knowledge connectivity. Patented inventions have become more concentrated in the most internationally connected global cities, increasing inter-regional inequality. We identify two dimensions of knowledge connectivity: the compatibility of connections between similar profiles of technological knowledge, and the geographical diversity of knowledge connections between differently specialized global cities. We suggest that interaction between local and international inventor epistemic communities is now a vital driver of local innovation in global cities, and interregional inequality between these and other cities.

Ocean protection quality is lagging behind quantity: Applying a scientific framework to assess real marine protected area progress against the 30 by 30 target

AbstractThe international community set a global conservation target to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030 (“30 × 30”) to reverse biodiversity loss, including through marine protected areas (MPAs). However, varied MPAs result in significantly different conservation outcomes, making MPA coverage alone an inadequate metric. We used The MPA Guide framework to assess the the world's largest 100 MPAs by area, representing nearly 90% of reported global MPA coverage and 7.3% of the global ocean area, and analyzed the distribution of MPA quality across political and ecological regions. A quarter of the assessed MPA coverage is not implemented, and one‐third is incompatible with the conservation of nature. Two factors contribute to this outcome: (1) many reported MPAs lack regulations or management, and (2) some MPAs allow high‐impact activities. Fully and highly protected MPAs account for one‐third of the assessed area but are unevenly distributed across ecoregions in part because some nations have designated large, highly protected MPAs in their overseas or remote territories. Indicators of MPA quality, not only coverage, are needed to ensure a global network of MPAs that covers at least 30% of the ocean and effectively safeguards representative marine ecosystems from destructive human activities.

Performance Analysis Based on Fuel Valve Train Control Optimization of Ammonia-Fuel Ships

In order to reduce carbon emissions, which are currently a problem in the shipping and offshore plant sectors, the international community is strengthening regulations such as the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI). To cope with this, eco-friendly fuel propulsion technology is being developed, and the development of an ammonia fuel supply system is in progress. Among them, fuel valve train (FVT) technology was researched for the final supply and cutoff of fuel and purging through nitrogen for ammonia engines. In this paper, we analyzed the change in ammonia supply due to FVT opening and the change in nitrogen supply due to closure. In addition, a plan to minimize risk factors was presented by applying a control method to remove residual fuel in FVT. According to the presented FVT model, the difference in the flow rate of supplied fuel was as much as 17.8 kg/s. Additionally, by opening the gas bleed valve at intervals during the closing process and purging about 0.28 kg of nitrogen, the internal fuel could be completely discharged. This is expected to have an impact on improving the marine environment through the application of eco-friendly fuels and the development of fuel supply system technology.

International Publicity Translation Based on the Perspective of Eugene Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory: A Case Study of 2022 Government Work Report

The Government Work Report delivered by Premier Li during the Two Sessions in 2022 is an authoritative summary and future outlook of China’s economic, social, cultural and diplomatic development in the past year, which has attracted wide and high attention from the international community. As an official state document, the Government Work Report is highly authoritative. Therefore, when translating the report into English, translators are supposed to strictly follow the principles of publicity translation on the premise of profoundly grasping the content of the report, so as to accurately convey the content and meanings of the report to foreign readers and spread the positive voice of China. After careful study and comparison, Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory plays a pivotal role in the publicity translation strategy. Taking the 2022 Government Work Report as the research object, this paper analyzes the English version of the report from three levels of lexicality, syntax and discourse from the perspective of Functional Equivalence Theory, then discusses the skills and strategies of publicity translation, so as to provide useful reference for China’s publicity translation.

OFAC, Famine, and the Sanctioning of Afghanistan: A Catastrophic Policy Success

On August 15, 2021, American military forces withdrew from Kabul, and the sanctioning of Afghanistan began. Marred by the usual problems—ineffective, counterproductive, unwieldy—these sanctions revealed three additional puzzles. First, although grounded in targeted sanctions, they transformed into de facto comprehensive sanctions. Secondly, that transformation was instantaneous and unprompted. Thirdly, a near-famine followed within weeks. I make nested analytical, functional, and explanatory arguments. The analytical argument is that targeted sanctions are best understood not as tools of international coercion but primarily as domestic regulations. The functional argument is that the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) uses tactical and strategic ambiguity to maximize its regulatory reach over financial intuitions, humanitarian aid organizations, and money transfer organizations. The explanatory argument returns to the puzzles. I argue that, without any signal from OFAC, which was the signal, and reflecting OFAC’s regulatory domination, when the Taliban took Kabul, the international financial community, humanitarian aid organizations, and remittance providers all dissociated from Afghanistan with immediate effect and particularly acute consequences on food entitlements.

Research on optimal configuration of natural gas electric hybrid energy system

Natural gas resources are crucial for the development of the international community, which has the advantages of energy conservation, economy, and environmental protection. By optimizing the allocation of natural gas energy storage resources, the negative impact of randomness and volatility on the energy system can be effectively suppressed. Therefore, this article proposes a research on optimal configuration of natural gas electric hybrid energy system. Using the investment payback period as the economic evaluation indicator, analyze the influencing factors of the economic performance of the natural gas electricity hybrid energy system from a technical and economic perspective. By using historical data of actual natural gas electricity hybrid energy systems for example calculation and analysis, the configuration method under the proposed strategy was verified to meet the multi time scale requirements of the system while considering equipment characteristics, effectively improving system economy. l gas electric hybrid energy system

The Troll Observing Network (TONe): plugging observation holes in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean play vital roles in the Earth system, exerting significant influence on global atmospheric, cryospheric, and oceanic processes. Understanding the ongoing changes in Antarctica and their broader impact on global dynamics is imperative. Achieving this understanding necessitates dedicated and coordinated observations of environmental parameters in the region. The Troll Observing Network (TONe) is Norway's proactive initiative to the call for sustained, coordinated, complementary, geographically spread, and societally relevant long-term observations from Antarctica. Centered around the Troll Research Station in Dronning Maud Land, a region characterized by limited data availability, TONe constitutes a comprehensive state-of-the-art observatory network, specifically designed for environmental observations for studying and monitoring of the atmosphere, terrestrial, and marine environments. TONe aims to facilitate broad and open access to observational data and shared services to the international research communities as a foundation for acquiring knowledge of societal significance. TONe will, however, be a limited contribution the broader international data gathering effort required to underpin a strengthened understanding of Antarctica in the Earth system. TONE is an important initiative focused on a data sparse region of Antarctica, but has only substantial added value when seen in the context of similar ongoing and future efforts around the continent.

A Review of Research on Russia’s Strategic Adjustment to the West under the Background of Russia-Ukraine Conflict

This study aims to analyze Russia’s strategic adjustment to the West under the background of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and to sort out and analyze the articles related to Russia’s strategic adjustment to the West in Chinese core journals and foreign journals from 2022 to 2024. This paper summarizes the views of domestic and foreign experts and scholars, and believes that since Russia took special military action against Ukraine, the United States and Europe have imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia. In order to survive and develop the country and maintain its national status and interests, Russia has made a series of strategic adjustments in economy, science and technology, diplomacy and other fields, and made a strong response and counterattack to the Western sanctions policy. To some extent, it has effectively hedged the huge pressure brought by the sanctions, and showed the stability and resistance of Russia’s image as a major country to the international community.

Three perspectives on the notion of ‘the best interests of the child’

The research reported in this article was centred on three research questions about the issue of ensuring that, in education and schooling, the principle of the best interests of the child is respected. The inauspicious treatment of children through the ages led the international community in the form of the United Nations to adopt its Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989. The series of developments culminating in the adoption of the CRC led to the formulation of the following three research questions: (1) What motivated the United Nations to adopt its CRC, in particular its formulation of the notion of ‘the best interests of the child’? (2) How did the notion of ‘the best interests of the child’ subsequently find expression in the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the South African jurisprudence following thereafter? (3) What perspectives does the Bible, as the Word of God, provide on the notion of ‘the best interests of the child’? Interpretivism-constructivism was used in putting together the thesis developed in this article. Interpretivism was applied to the results of an initial literature study on the status of the child, followed by constructivism in construing the line of argumentation that follows. The second part of the article emerged after a critical analysis of the post-1994 legislation and jurisprudence in South Africa. The norm set by the CRC has been respected since the advent of the new political dispensation in South African legislation and subsequent jurisprudence. The Bible, as the Word of God, also provides perspectives regarding the notion of ‘the best interests of the child’, although it does not employ this phrase as such. It teaches that since children are human beings and created in the image of God, and also because they are vulnerable, they have to be treated with loving care, respect, sympathy, and empathy.Contribution: The article sheds light on the way the concept ‘best interests of the child’ attained international acceptance and subsequently obtained application in the South African constitutional arena since 1994. It also creates a link between legal stipulations and biblical perspectives regarding the notion of ‘the best interests of the child’.

The 1st International Babylon Conference on Clinical and Experimental Pharmacological Research: mapping the Iraqi pharmacological research activity and priorities

The proceedings of the 1st International Babylon Conference on Clinical and Experimental Pharmacological Research (taking place at the College of Pharmacy of the University of Babylon, in Hillah, Iraq; May 4-5, 2024) are hereby hosted by the Review of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics – International Edition; a journal that has provided a significant service to the international pharmacological community since 1987. These proceedings include a total of 50 papers (including this editorial) and provide a representative overview of the conference’s rich scientific pro¬gramme. The latter has served two objectives: (i) to facilitate the mapping of the Iraqi pharmacological research and priorities, and (ii) to enable the establishment of international collaborations in the field. In that respect, the proceed¬ings host the inspiring messages of several conference keynote speakers from abroad, and feature a variety of clinical and experimental studies that well relate to the priorities currently set by the Iraqi pharmacological community.

Motivational drivers and Sense of Belonging: unpacking the persistence in Chinese Martial Arts practice among international practitioners

BackgroundChinese Martial Arts (CMAs) have garnered a global following, with their rich historical and cultural heritage transcending geographical and cultural differences, sparking profound interest among an international community. As an increasing number of non-Chinese individuals persist in practicing CMAs, investigating the motivations behind their continued participation has emerged as a compelling question. This study aims to delve deeper into the factors driving international practitioners to sustain their practice of CMAs, thereby broadening our understanding of the global resonance of CMAs.MethodsEmploying Self-Determination Theory, 226 international CMAs practitioners completed the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale, Perceived Belonging Scale, and Persistence in Practicing CMAs Scale. SPSS 20.0 was utilized for conducting descriptive statistics, common method bias tests, and correlation analyses. Structural equation modeling was performed using AMOS 26.0.ResultsMotivation for Practicing CMAs, comprised of enjoyment, mastery, physical condition, psychological condition, and appearance, has a positive impact on Persistence in Practicing CMAs (β = 0.297, p < 0.01). Sense of Belonging also positively affects Persistence in Practicing CMAs (β = 0.268, p < 0.01). The aforementioned variables account for 22.1% of the variance in Persistence in Practicing CMAs. Furthermore, Affiliation, Competition/Ego, and Others’ Expectations were found to have no significant correlation with Persistence in Practicing CMAs.ConclusionThe formation of persistence in the practice of CMAs among international practitioners is propelled by their ongoing desire for skill mastery, enjoyment, enhanced physical and mental health, body shape improvement, and a Sense of Belonging. The study reveals that a stronger motivation and Sense of Belonging significantly enhance their commitment to CMAs. Recommendations include that international instructors should center their teaching strategies around the practitioners, helping them to find joy in their practice, achieve skill mastery, and foster the development of physical, mental, and aesthetic qualities, alongside virtues and etiquette. Additionally, building a supportive CMAs community and cultivating a sense of ritual are essential. Such strategies are intended to reinforce practitioners’ self-affirmation and group identity, thus boosting their Sense of Belonging and encouraging their continued engagement in CMAs.