Critical Perspective Research Articles

Streamlining Human Resources through Blockchain HR Technology: A Critical Perspective

Technology changes at a fast pace, attracting global attention across industries, including human resource management. One of the innovations that can revolutionize human resources (HR) is blockchain technology, which uses smart contracts in recruitment, payroll management, employee administration, and more. This article aims to evaluate the influence of blockchain HR technology in the performance of HR management functions by examining earlier studies and documentary evidence. It highlights the challenges faced in the use of this recent technology for sustainability through qualitative research methods. Through document analysis, 45 papers were examined from Scopus, Web of Science, and reports from various credible sources, based on set criteria. Findings showed that blockchain technology significantly affects HR management functions. However, challenges were identified in implementing HR technology. Further studies should be conducted across more industries with quantitative validation of their results.

Biobased Strategies for E-Waste Metal Recovery: A Critical Overview of Recent Advances

The increasing e-waste volumes represent a great challenge in the current waste management landscape, primarily due to the massive production and turnover of electronic devices and the complexity of their components and constituents. Traditional strategies for e-waste treatment focus on metal recovery through costly, energetically intensive, and environmentally hazardous processes, such as pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical approaches, often neglecting other e-waste constituents. As efforts are directed towards creating a more sustainable and circular economic model, biobased alternative approaches to these traditional techniques have been increasingly investigated. This critical review focuses on recent advances towards sustainable e-waste treatment, exclusively considering studies using e-waste sources. It addresses, from a critical perspective, approaches using inactive biomass, live biomass, and biogenic compounds, showcasing the diversity of strategies and discussing reaction parameters, advantages and disadvantages, challenges, and potential for valorization of generated by-products. While ongoing research focuses on optimizing operational times and metal recovery efficiencies, bioprocessing approaches still offer significant potential for metal recovery from e-waste. These approaches include lower environmental impact by reducing energy consumption and effluent treatments and the ability to recover metals from complex e-waste streams, paving the way for a more circular economy in the electronics industry.

Human platelet lysate: a potential therapeutic for intracerebral hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a major public health challenge worldwide, and is associated with elevated rates of mortality, disability, and morbidity, especially in low- and middle-income nations. However, our knowledge of the detailed molecular processes involved in ICH remains insufficient, particularly those involved in the secondary injury stage, resulting in a lack of effective treatments for ICH. Human platelet lysates (HPL) are abundant in bioactive factors, and numerous studies have demonstrated their beneficial effects on neurological diseases, including their anti-neuroinflammatory ability, anti-oxidant effects, maintenance of blood–brain barrier integrity, and promotion of neurogenesis. In this review, we thoroughly explore the potential of HPL for treating ICH from three critical perspectives: the rationale for selecting HPL as a treatment for ICH, the mechanisms through which HPL contributes to ICH management, and the additional measures necessary for HPL as a treatment for ICH. We elucidate the role of platelets in ICH pathophysiology and highlight the limitations of the current treatment options and advancements in preclinical research on the application of HPL in neurological disorders. Furthermore, historical developments and preparation methods of HPL in the field of biomedicine are discussed. Additionally, we summarize the bioactive molecules present in HPL and their potential therapeutic effects in ICH. Finally, we outline the issues that must be addressed regarding utilizing HPL as a treatment modality for ICH.

MicroRNAs in pancreatic cancer drug resistance: mechanisms and therapeutic potential

Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies, primarily due to its intrinsic resistance to conventional therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), key regulators of gene expression, have been identified as crucial modulators of drug resistance mechanisms in this cancer type. This review synthesizes recent advancements in our understanding of how miRNAs influence treatment efficacy in PC. We have thoroughly summarized and discussed the complex role of miRNA in mediating drug resistance in PC treatment. By highlighting specific miRNAs that are implicated in drug resistance pathways, we provide insights into their functional mechanisms and interactions with key molecular targets. We also explore the potential of miRNA-based strategies as novel therapeutic approaches and diagnostic tools to overcome resistance and improve patient outcomes. Despite promising developments, challenges such as specificity, stability, and effective delivery of miRNA-based therapeutics remain. This review aims to offer a critical perspective on current research and propose future directions for leveraging miRNA-based interventions in the fight against PC.

Book Review: Ageing in Place in Urban Environments: Critical Perspectives, by TineBuffel and ChrisPhilipson. Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon. 2023. 218 pp. $175.81. ISBN: 9781032127316 (hbk)

Book Review: Ageing in Place in Urban Environments: Critical Perspectives, by TineBuffel and ChrisPhilipson. Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon. 2023. 218 pp. $175.81. ISBN: 9781032127316 (hbk)

REMEDIES IN EU ANTITRUST LAW

Abstract Remedies are central in contemporary EU antitrust enforcement. However, they remain relatively misunderstood. Against this background, this article has three main objectives. It seeks, first, to shed light on the nature and purpose of remedial action under Articles 101 and 102 TFEU, with a focus on the European Commission’s activity. The point of intervention, the case law shows, is to bring an infringement effectively to an end. As a matter of positive law, it is unclear that there is room for restorative remedies (that is, remedies that seek to recreate the conditions of competition as they would have existed in the absence of the practice). Second, the article takes a critical perspective on the practice of the past decade. It appears, in particular, that a ‘principles-based approach’ to the administration of remedies is likely to lead to suboptimal outcomes. Finally, some recommendations are outlined so that the letter of the law matches the demands and ambitions of the sort of regulatory-like intervention that is necessary in digital markets and other industries presenting similar features.

Enhancing Ammonia Synthesis and CO Hydrogenation to Methanol via Nonthermal Plasma Catalysis: A Focus on Catalyst Pore Structure and Active Site Design

The increasing energy demand, climate change and sustainable development necessitate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources (such feedstock and energy). Green hydrogen is one of the key components in sustainable energies/fuels being crucial for reducing carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. However, hydrogen storage and transportation are challenging, and chemical hydrogen storage reactions such as ammonia synthesis and CO2 hydrogenation (to methanol) are considered promising solutions. Nonthermal plasmas (NTPs) are partially ionized gases with various energetic species, which are produced under ambient conditions being able to facilitate efficient chemical reactions under mild conditions. Importantly, NTP technologies can theoretically utilize green electricity produced by renewable energies (such as solar and wind) showing significant low-carbon potential. Previous studies have shown the catalysts design has an important impact on the performance of catalytic reactions under NTP conditions, and hence this aspect deserves attention. Here this mini review comments on the application of NTP catalytic technologies in ammonia synthesis and CO2 hydrogenation to methanol, with a special focus on catalyst pore structure and active site design. The critical summary and perspective can serve as the most current snapshot of the relevant research fields in NTP technologies, helping their further development.

Korean peace and unification education as teacher lived experiences

ABSTRACT This article explores the practice of peace education within the Korean context, where national division has exerted significant cultural and structural impacts. By interviewing South Korean teachers actively involved in peace education, this study examines how such education can contribute to peacebuilding in a politically divisive environment. Employing interpretative phenomenological approach, the author interprets how the teacher participants understand the meaning of peace education and their school practice. By doing so, the author suggests that teachers strategically take a holistic approach, from managing interpersonal conflicts and emotions at a micro level to reflecting their critical macro perspective on divisive society in individual lesson design.

Cooling down AI regulation controversies: Three closure processes in the Chilean legislative arena

According to social studies of artificial intelligence (AI), public AI controversies tend to dissipate relatively quickly despite well-documented risks and harms. The reasons for this lack of controversiality are beginning to be studied. Drawing on the framework of sociotechnical controversies, we analyze the de-escalation of contentious discussions observed in the AI legislative process by Chile's National Congress. Utilizing a qualitative approach, we tracked the deliberations hosted by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of Chile across 51 sessions between 2023 and 2024. We describe three processes of cooling down in the AI debates: (1) deflection of technology liability, (2) instrumentalization of technology policy, and (3) moralization of technology use. However, constructive exchanges appear in some circumstances, which allow us to foresee some favorable conditions for participation in the debates on AI regulation. This paper contributes to AI controversy studies by outlining cooling-down processes and conditions that foster dialogue and providing a critical perspective on the formation of AI regulation.

Do Performance-Based Funding Policies Promote Prestige Ambitions? An Interest-Convergence Analysis

ABSTRACT Through engagement in theory and analysis of institutional data, this study advances a critical organizational framework that integrates concepts from institutional logics and critical race theory – the hybridity of institutional logics of divergence framework – as an explicit centering of critical perspectives to advance our understanding of how multiple systems work to the disadvantage of students of color. We apply the framework to understanding the relationship between prestige seeking and PBF within an institutional case of an urban-serving research university within a state with recently implemented PBF policies, to examine the implications of the convergence of prestige seeking and pbf and its impacts on students of color. The study finds that within the logics dominating the confluence of prestige and PBF, divergence from interests of people of color is the preferred and rationalized approach. The analytical framework developed provides an alternative framing to capture the intersections and interactions of oppressive systems, policies, and practices, and pushes for greater attention to these interactions through critical lenses that center the self-serving aspects of compliance to them..

A Right-Brain-Based Epistemology Grounded on Local Wisdom: Intuilytics as a Culturally-Meaningful Alternative in Science

Epistemology, the study of knowledge, has long grappled with the challenge of determining truth. While the combination of deductive and inductive reasoning has been a cornerstone of scientific inquiry, several limitations emerge in its application to contemporary epistemology. One significant issue lies within the core of falsificationism, a prominent philosophy championed by Karl Popper. Falsificationism posits that a scientific theory can only be proven false, not true. While this approach aims to prevent dogmatic adherence to untested ideas, it can lead to an endless cycle of trial and error. As Popper himself acknowledged, no single experiment can definitively prove a theory correct. Summarizing, the dominance of rationalist thinking has shaped the way we view the world and conduct scientific research. However, this approach often neglects the subjective dimensions of human experience, such as intuition, emotion, and creativity. Consequently, many complex phenomena are difficult to fully explain through the lens of rationalism alone. This article aims to explore the potential of right-brain-based epistemology, which we call intuilytics. This approach emphasizes the role of intuition, creativity, and holistic thinking in the process of acquiring knowledge. This article presents a critical perspective on today’s epistemological practices. It does not intend to discredit the importance of deductive-inductive reasoning or the valuable contributions of philosophers like Karl Popper and economists like Ronald Coase.

Observational drift: a methodological research proposal for community prospecting in socio-educational services

PurposeThis article aims to describe the process of application of the technique of Observational Drift for prospection in three territories of Catalonia and to present recommendations for its application in research and socio-educational action with young people.Design/methodology/approachObservational Drift is a qualitative research technique that has proven effective as a practice for community prospection. The process of design and application in the pilot implementation of this technique is presented together with a reflection on the outcome.FindingsThe pilot implementation of the technique has made it possible, within the framework of the research project, to identify methodological recommendations such as the edition of an observation manual; the training of the research team; the identification of supporting computer applications and registration questionnaires. Records of youth dynamics have been obtained in the 3 communities studied: the town of Celrà, the western district of the city of Girona and the “Ciutat Vella” district of Barcelona, 3 environments of different sizes located in Catalonia, Spain.Practical implicationsObservational drift is a qualitative technique that shows, with methodological rigour, the observation of relational dynamics together with the relevant facilities and places, presenting a situational reality. The information obtained must be contrasted with other qualitative methodologies to be transferable. It is a methodological technique that requires a large team and a significant amount of work.Social implicationsThis technique provides the opportunity to carry out prospections, and introduce researchers and professionals to specific realities with a critical perspective. We recommend its use in qualitative research and socio-educational care to improve the design of socio-educational youth care programs and policies.Originality/valueThe use of this technique (Observational Drift) has been provided initial qualitative data to understand youth dynamics in three communities in Catalonia, Spain. This is interesting because helping research to improve community services addressing youth.

Reimagining Islamic education: Critical perspectives inspired by Nurcholish Madjid

Reimagining Islamic education: Critical perspectives inspired by Nurcholish Madjid

Timing in Orthopaedic Surgery – Rethinking Traditional Myths with a Critical Perspective

Timing in Orthopaedic Surgery – Rethinking Traditional Myths with a Critical Perspective

Supply Chain Stability and Corporate Green Technology Innovation

The supply chain is a critical perspective that enables understanding a company's business decisions. This paper indicates that corporate green technology innovation activity has significantly improved supply chain stability, as evidenced by data from 2011 to 2022. Supply chain stability can effectively stimulate corporate green technology innovation, alleviating financing constraints and enhancing risk-taking ability. Further analysis confirms that the impacts of supply chain stability in non-state-owned enterprises and firms with higher competitive industries play multiplier effects. Providing empirical data and management insights for establishing a green innovation environment system that is concentrated on both the enterprise and the market, the findings contribute to the existing research on the influencing factors of corporate green innovation.

Dance therapy and the criminal justice system: Considering traditional and critical perspectives in prisons, forensic mental health and addiction care

Dance therapy and the criminal justice system: Considering traditional and critical perspectives in prisons, forensic mental health and addiction care

Responsive deep eutectic solvents: mechanisms, applications and their role in sustainable chemistry.

In an era so focused on sustainability, it is important to improve chemical processes by developing and using more environmentally friendly solvents and technologies. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have proven to be a promising replacement for conventional solvents. In recent years, a new type of DES has emerged that responds to various stimuli. These responsive DES (RDES) may offer all the advantages of DES while allowing the recycling and reuse of solvents. As such, RDES can further contribute to a greener future. This review provides an overview of the diverse types of RDES, their switching mechanisms and their application in several fields. Lastly, it offers a critical perspective on current shortcomings and prospects.

“I Have Become a Warrior in the Xiang Army”: Legacies, Nostalgia, and Identity in Chinese Regional Hip-Hop

Hip-hop and rap music culture have shaped various local cultural forms in Asian countries and regions. This study explores hip-hop cultural politics at a local level, drawing on Chinese regional traditions and knowledge and responding to Western-axis hip-hop culture making. Through an analysis of the corpus of lyrics, videos, and performances of the ‘Huxiang Flow’ hip-hop genre in Hunan, China and 20 semi-structured interviews with Hunanese hip-hop audiences, this study identified how the parochial hip-hop genre has conceived local discursive fields and cultural identity through the rejuvenation of dialects and cultural ingredients and how it has preserved local linguistic and cultural heritages. Our analysis revealed the thoughtful, philosophical, and moral transmission of locality based on school instruction and incorporated in hip-hop music that has been well received by local audiences and communities. Based on our findings, we propose that hip-hop music is a vehicle of identity in the local community, presenting a grassroots, interactive, and critical perspective on the interpretation of identity in locality.

Threats and ambivalence in land formalization: The case of settler-colonial land regime in East Jerusalem/al-Quds

Urban land formalization, i.e., land titling and registration, is commonly viewed as a primary policy tool for addressing urban poverty and fostering socioeconomic and spatial development, especially in the urban informalities of the Global Southeast. While critical perspectives on urban land formalization highlight the threats and risks associated with the market-driven logic of land formalization, in this paper, we examine the perils of displacement and property rights erosion in the context of settler colonial land regime. Through the analysis of Israel’s initiative to formalize Palestinian land in East Jerusalem, we contend that risks and benefits of land formalization programs are contingent upon the land regime whithin which they are implemented. We demonstrate how potential benefits of land formalization, alongside its potential threats, produce ambivalence among target communities. This ambiguity becomes ingrained in settler colonial land practices of land formalisation and translates into noncooperation by Palestinians with the Israeli land formalization initiative. Thus, we emphasize the significance of analyzing local land regimes and politics to better understand the specific threats and opportunities and their impact on target communities.

Marx and Engels on prisons and capitalism

This paper rethinks Marx and Engels’ comments on imprisonment and capitalism. While there has been a tendency to suggest the authors’ comments on crime and punishment were peripheral and secondary to their major projects, such as Marx’s Capital, this paper claims, in fact, their writings on incarceration were guided by their shared theoretical project which included historicizing systems of punishment as correlating with modes of production. Also, while more has been written on their ideas of criminality, instead, this paper excavates their thoughts on prisons, which have often been neglected. Overall, it shows there has been a tendency to underestimate the ways the authors viewed prisons as an important disciplinary mechanism for class control, and a part of the capitalist state more generally. Their work provides an important conceptual foundation for critical sociological perspectives on incarceration.